I've been having a problem with my toilet. Evertime I flush, the water fills up to the top and it takes a while to go down. I've tried using a plunger but it hasn't worked. I even bought some liquid stuff that I've used for three days and it's still the same. It's getting worse and worse. I can't even flush toilet paper.

 

fashion77, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
I would say the drainline is clogged. You didn't say if the liquid you used was a caustic type (Drano, Liquid Plumber etc). If you have children, something could have been flushed that is caught in the toilet trap. I would suggest you buy or rent a closet auger. This will clear the trap out. A small snake will probably not work for this.
As far as using drain cleaners, I always suggest an enzyme cleaner such as Draincare. It comes in liquid or powder form. Enzyme cleaners cling to organic matter and eat it. Caustic cleaners eat a hole in the clog and flow out the pipe leaving the rest of the clog there to start again. Draincare is about $8 at Home Centers, hardwares, Walmart and even some grocery stores. Follow the label directions including using hot water. Good luck.

 

Thanks much for your quick response. Yes, it is caustic. I got it from Target. I know this may sound stupid but where can I purchase an auger?

Thanks

 

Most large hardware stores carry them. Call ahead and ask. Home centers also have them if you have a Home Depot or Lowes near you. Probably less than $20. One member here said he bought one for almost the same price as renting.

 

you can get a closet auger at any home depot or equivalent. I knew someone years ago that had a similar problem and lived with it for months. I came over with a closet auger turned it one time and there was a snap and 2 peices of an old comb came floating up. Worked fine after that.

 

Thanks guys for the responses. I'll google the home centers right now.

cheers

 

Hi everyone. I still need help with my toilet. I bought a toilet auger and tried to use it. I might be using it wrong but I tried to follow instructions. I did it three times and the water now doesn't fill the bowl and goes down a little bit quicker but I still can't flush toilet paper. Is it because I couldn't catch anything with the corkscrew head?

Thanks in advance

 

Still going with the thought that someting is wedged in the toilet. What probably happened with the auger is that you did remove some of the "hung-up" paper and this is allowing more flow. What didn't happen was the object catching the paper is still there. I would try the auger a few more times because the next step is to remove the toilet and physically look at the bottom of it and the pipe leaving it. We can help you with removal if it comes to that.

 

I once had to replace a toilet that had a makeup brush wedged in the trap. I tried just about everything to get it out without success. I eventually removed it in my driveway with a small sledge.

 

I'll give the auger another try after work today. Thanks much guys

 

Tips:

Turn off the toilet shut off valve and get all the water out of the toilet bowl. This will allow objects in the toilet that want to float, to fall back into the bowl when the auger clunks into it.

Yes, you won't snag an object with the corkscrew of the auger, usually. Just the general rooting around in there could loosen it, with luck. Sometimes the auger will go right around a really stuck object. You have to make several attempts and various techniques of removal of the auger, like yo would trying to snag a fish. After unsuccessful attempts (let's hope though you get lucky), then...

...or maybe you should do this the very first thing ....Use a bright flashlight and mechanics mirror and use it to look up into the bowl, as you can see right up to the top of the trap on many toilets. If you see something, that will give you more cause to vigorously auger, and/or bend a coathanger or flexible 1/2 inch wide bottle brush, or something.

Those scratches that will appear from augering are not really scratches, but deposits of metal on the china, as the china is very hard, and will come off with either bleach, hydrocloric toilet bowl cleaners or some other cleaners.

getting objects out of toilets can be hit and miss. I have tried violent plunging...rapidly pouring water into the bowl with a 5 gallon pail to create more pressure...the augering...even a powerful 5 hp shop vac (although it has been recomended to me from others that this could cause a methane explosion inside the shopvac from a motor spark, in theory. So maybe you better not do this due to me not wanting any liability to fall on my shoulder).

The last toilet I worked on I had to pull the toilet. I saw the glass object wedged in the trap of the toilet with the mechanics mirror. I had to remove, turn upside down the toilet, and auger it from the bottom side and even then it barely came back out (dropping into the bowl)! It was REALLY wedged. If I had known at the start, I would have just pulled the toilet from the get-go and saved that wasted hour in the beginning!

 

Maybe it's time I called for help. How much would such a service cost? I live in Los Angeles and I don't really have much money. Any estimates?

 

FINALLY, I did it. The closet auger, I mean. I managed, I don't know how but I did. Thanks guys for all your help. As a female, I must say that I'm proud to have fixed my toilet.

 

With such new found experience, you can maybe help a friend or relative out sometime.

BTW, did you find some object in the toilet, or did you just auger it and your problem went away?

 

I'm bettting it was a toothbrush.