HELP!! Major Toilet Problems!!
#1
12-09-04, 08:03 PM
HELP!! Major Toilet Problems!!
All-
I recently purchased a home (my first). We have a bathroom on the first floor which my wife and I believe I may have clogged with baby wipes. Plunging helped a bit, but the toilet became clogged again shortly after. This morning I plunged it again before departing for work. When I went to the basement to get the plunger, I noticed water coming out of the pipe attached to the toilet on the first floor. I believe the water is coming from around the toilet, however I have no clue how I should approach resolving this. Is it possible I need to replace the toilet? The wax ring (and if so, how)? Something else? All the other toilets seem to flush with no problem. Any advise or help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
I recently purchased a home (my first). We have a bathroom on the first floor which my wife and I believe I may have clogged with baby wipes. Plunging helped a bit, but the toilet became clogged again shortly after. This morning I plunged it again before departing for work. When I went to the basement to get the plunger, I noticed water coming out of the pipe attached to the toilet on the first floor. I believe the water is coming from around the toilet, however I have no clue how I should approach resolving this. Is it possible I need to replace the toilet? The wax ring (and if so, how)? Something else? All the other toilets seem to flush with no problem. Any advise or help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
#2
12-09-04, 08:48 PM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Northeastern NC On The Albemarle Sound
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O.K. It seems that you may have ruptured the wax seal trying to plunge down the baby wipes (NEVER put anything into a toilet except human waste and toilet paper...period.)
If the toilet is still clogged, get a crank-handle toilet auger at a hardware or plumbing store and snake the baby wipes out of the built-in toilet trap with it. They aren't that expensive, and should do the job.
If the baby wipes aren't washed on down the drain, you may have to snake the drain line with a heavy-duty plumber's snake when you remove the toilet or through a clean-out plug.
As far as replacing the wax ring:
A. Turn the water off to the toilet, flush it, and sponge out the remaining water in the tank into a nearby drain.
B. Disconnect the water tube from the toilet tank.
C. Remove the caps, nuts and washers from the two bolts at 3 and 9 o'clock on the base of the toilet.
D. Carefully lay the toilet over onto a pile of old towels, or pile of rugs or carpet. Porcelain breaks easily.
E. Scrape and clean the old wax ring off of the base of the toilet and the flange on the floor.
F. Set and center the new wax ring on the flange and lower the toilet straight down onto it and the two bolts.
G. Sit or stand on the toilet bowl and wiggle the toilet back down level to the floor.
H. Snug the nuts back down on the two bolts tight enough to keep the toilet from moving, but do not overtighten or it may crack the base.
I. Re-connect the water tube and turn the water back on.
Good luck!
Mike
If the toilet is still clogged, get a crank-handle toilet auger at a hardware or plumbing store and snake the baby wipes out of the built-in toilet trap with it. They aren't that expensive, and should do the job.
If the baby wipes aren't washed on down the drain, you may have to snake the drain line with a heavy-duty plumber's snake when you remove the toilet or through a clean-out plug.
As far as replacing the wax ring:
A. Turn the water off to the toilet, flush it, and sponge out the remaining water in the tank into a nearby drain.
B. Disconnect the water tube from the toilet tank.
C. Remove the caps, nuts and washers from the two bolts at 3 and 9 o'clock on the base of the toilet.
D. Carefully lay the toilet over onto a pile of old towels, or pile of rugs or carpet. Porcelain breaks easily.
E. Scrape and clean the old wax ring off of the base of the toilet and the flange on the floor.
F. Set and center the new wax ring on the flange and lower the toilet straight down onto it and the two bolts.
G. Sit or stand on the toilet bowl and wiggle the toilet back down level to the floor.
H. Snug the nuts back down on the two bolts tight enough to keep the toilet from moving, but do not overtighten or it may crack the base.
I. Re-connect the water tube and turn the water back on.
Good luck!
Mike
#3
12-09-04, 08:49 PM
Member
Hi Jeremynj,
Welcome to the DIY forums.
As you have discovered baby wipes are not flushable. It sounds like your wax seal has most likely failed. This is relativly easy to repair.
First turn off the water supply to the toilet. Should be a shut off below the tank on the wall or floor. Since you are unable to flush the toilet to remove the water. You will need to bail as much water out of the bowl and tank as possible, soak up the rest with a towel or 2. All the water needs to be removed.
When you have all the water removed,disconnect the toilet water supply line from the bottom of the tank. have a towel ready as there may be some water in the line. Remove the nuts from the base of the toilet(holding it to the floor). They may have covers on them so remove these first. The covers just pull off. Once the nuts are removed you are ready to lift it off the floor. You may need a helper as toilets are heavy and bulky. Have something ready(plastic or newspapers) to set the toilet on. You will need to tip the toilet back a little to see if any baby wipes remain(may have some water come out of the trap so have towel ready).You need to place your hand into the trap on the bottom to make sure the trap is clear if you can't see anything. Clean off any of the wax seal that remains on the bottom of the toilet.
Remove any wax seal that is on the floor flange. Be careful not to let any of this seal drop into the drain pipe. Peer into the pipe and see if you can see anything blocking it. If you see something please remove it. If nothing is seen pour a gallon or so of water into the drain to see if it will drain. If it does not drain the clog is too far down. You will need to snake the line to see if you can free the clog.
If water drains freely you are ready to reinstall the toilet.
When you buy your new wax seal be sure it comes with new bolts. If it doesn't please buy some at the same time as they should not be reused. Get the regular wax seal without the plastic funnel as its not code is some areas.
Place the wax seal onto the floor flange and slide the bolts into the flange slots. Make sure the bolts are centered on the drain hole. Most bolts come with keepers to hold them in place but if yours doesn't you can pinch a small amount of the wax seal around them to hold.
Now set the toilet on the seal,lineing up the bolts with the holes in the base.Seat the wax seal by pushing down on the toilet or sitting on it. Put the new washers over the bolts and install the nuts. Tighten evenly(back and forth) until snug. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. Cracked base due to over tightened bolts means a new toilet. If the bolts are to long they can be cut off. Reconnect the water supply line to the bottom of the tank being careful not to cross thread. Turn the water on and check for leaks.
Good luck with your project and reply back if you have further questions.
Welcome to the DIY forums.
As you have discovered baby wipes are not flushable. It sounds like your wax seal has most likely failed. This is relativly easy to repair.
First turn off the water supply to the toilet. Should be a shut off below the tank on the wall or floor. Since you are unable to flush the toilet to remove the water. You will need to bail as much water out of the bowl and tank as possible, soak up the rest with a towel or 2. All the water needs to be removed.
When you have all the water removed,disconnect the toilet water supply line from the bottom of the tank. have a towel ready as there may be some water in the line. Remove the nuts from the base of the toilet(holding it to the floor). They may have covers on them so remove these first. The covers just pull off. Once the nuts are removed you are ready to lift it off the floor. You may need a helper as toilets are heavy and bulky. Have something ready(plastic or newspapers) to set the toilet on. You will need to tip the toilet back a little to see if any baby wipes remain(may have some water come out of the trap so have towel ready).You need to place your hand into the trap on the bottom to make sure the trap is clear if you can't see anything. Clean off any of the wax seal that remains on the bottom of the toilet.
Remove any wax seal that is on the floor flange. Be careful not to let any of this seal drop into the drain pipe. Peer into the pipe and see if you can see anything blocking it. If you see something please remove it. If nothing is seen pour a gallon or so of water into the drain to see if it will drain. If it does not drain the clog is too far down. You will need to snake the line to see if you can free the clog.
If water drains freely you are ready to reinstall the toilet.
When you buy your new wax seal be sure it comes with new bolts. If it doesn't please buy some at the same time as they should not be reused. Get the regular wax seal without the plastic funnel as its not code is some areas.
Place the wax seal onto the floor flange and slide the bolts into the flange slots. Make sure the bolts are centered on the drain hole. Most bolts come with keepers to hold them in place but if yours doesn't you can pinch a small amount of the wax seal around them to hold.
Now set the toilet on the seal,lineing up the bolts with the holes in the base.Seat the wax seal by pushing down on the toilet or sitting on it. Put the new washers over the bolts and install the nuts. Tighten evenly(back and forth) until snug. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. Cracked base due to over tightened bolts means a new toilet. If the bolts are to long they can be cut off. Reconnect the water supply line to the bottom of the tank being careful not to cross thread. Turn the water on and check for leaks.
Good luck with your project and reply back if you have further questions.
#4
12-10-04, 01:34 AM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Northeastern NC On The Albemarle Sound
Posts: 10,701
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(My buddy majak and I are at it again...the same-same old one-two punch. I'd like to say that "I taught the boy all that he knows", but he's been a pro plumber for over 25 years, and I'm just an old DIY knuckle-banger. LOL)
In any case, I trust that you get the idea with the toilet and drain fixes, Jeremy.
Good luck!
Mike
In any case, I trust that you get the idea with the toilet and drain fixes, Jeremy.
Good luck!
Mike
#5
12-10-04, 07:18 PM
Here Goes Sunday...
You guys have provided some good advive. I plan to take this on come Sunday, and will be printing out your replies so I can follow them closely. I was losing my mind when I saw the water pouring into the basement of this new old house. I'll let you all know how it went when I'm done. Tomorrow I have to work on installing laminate flooring in my dining room. Luckilly I'm going to have some help from a carpenter friend of mine. Thanks to both of you....
Jeremy
Jeremy
