Icky, very icky, toilet problem

In My Humble Opinion
1

After a sewage back up (root and a broken line on city property, all repaired and camera-ed to verify) we decided to bite the bullet and do a whole new bathroom for a long time tenant. (yes, it’s me again with the same tenant/unit) All new fixtures. We did a flush test of course. The second day she complained that the toilet wouldn’t flush. Ok, send over plumber, he augers, finds no problem and now what. So I call her.

Now I get the history. When she first rented the place, the landlord at that time, told her that he was leaving a plunger, since the toilet would sometimes not flush properly. (Bowel movement) She accepted the unit, and after a period of time dealing with this, she had a plumber replace the toilet, which she paid for. I bought the property sometime after that, and there was nothing found on inspection, and we didn’t know about all this.

About 3 yrs. after I bought the property, she tells me the toilet won’t flush. Auger and replace. She tells me she has been plunging after every movement since then, as it would not flush. I knew nothing about this.

Now this latest issue. A brand new and tested fixture, clear lines, nothing backing up into tub etc. But it won’t flush, she says, after a bowel movement.

Without the history, and my latest thorough repairs, I would suggest she’s using too much paper or is defecating puppies. The plumber who did the install, and replumb, and who was there today, says that if it happens again, he will camera the toilet line, and we’ll consider a large throat toilet. Which is problematical, as with such a stool, the bathroom door won’t close. She knows this and accepts the possibility.

So to you: how can a toilet simply not flush, when the lines are clear? Any ideas? Wits end.

2

the vent has to allow air to flow freely to allow the flush load to rapidly enter the drain system.

one possibility.

3

What does she mean when she says it won’t flush? It flushes but gets stopped up? Or it doesn’t even try to flush?

4

Vent–good idea, will have the plumber check

Waste just remains in the bowl.

5

Definitely. You should check the vent on the roof to make sure the vent is not clogged with a bird’s nest or similar. I would even take a drill auger up there and run it down. Roofers are notorious for dropping beer bottles down the vents (to hide them when the boss is coming.)

6

Your flush mechanism might not be properly installed. There may not be enough water draining out of the tank fast enough to get a good flush. The last time I changed a flapper valve I had to change the arm as well. The handle is corner mounted which means it’s hard to get an arm that is the right length and shape. A flush would empty about two thirds of the tank but it wasn’t enough to totally evacuate the bowl. I had to get another arm and make a lot bends and test runs before using a cable tie to lock the chain on the arm at the right distance. The tank now drains only about 10% more of it’s volume, but it works much better, even better than with the older mechanism in place. I’m hoping your plumber checked for this, but maybe he didn’t anticipate the magnitude of your tenants needs.

7

Could you check if it’s a water dispensing problem by dumping a pail of water in the bowl?

8

Well, dammit, it’s not the vent. Partner reminded me that since the house had no outdoor clean-out (we’ve rectified that), the camera was done thru the vent. It’s clear.

Tenant reports that a bucket of water will push the waste thru, as long as she encourages it with her plunger.

9

At this point, have you considered the possibility of user error?

10

Have you considered one of the pressure-assisted toilets? I know that the discussions I’ve seen about some of those seem to indicate they’ll suck down just about anything.

Why would a large-throat toilet prevent the door from closing?

11

The large throat toilet may be longer or wider than a standard one. All our toilets are elongated bowl models and they are a little longer.

This may be TMI, but when my mom lived with us I was always having to plunge the toilet. She did not eat much fruit or fiber, so her “product” was always hard and did not want to make the turn and go through the trap.

12

Probably has an elongated style bowl.

Has anyone (other than the tenant) put a bunch of paper in there to simulate a full bowl and try to flush? Given your tenant’s issues, I’d guess she’s probably using half a roll per visit or something.

13

People. The door-closing problem is not caused by a “large throat toilet” or an “enlogated bowl.” Read the OP:

In addition, I think I found the source of the problem.

14

Have you tried sending JohnClay over there?

15

“That’s a hell of a door-stop.”
“Thanks, it works in a pinch.”

16

I’ll second this. My brother the plumber has installed Gerber Powerflush Elongated Bowl Handicap height toilets in my apartments, and I swear, those suckers could flush a freaking baked potato!

Gerber is an industry-only line, but the flush mechanism is made by Sloan Valve. I truly cannot say enough good things about this company, and urge anyone to seek out a toilet with a Sloan Flushmaster mechanism.

17

Thanks, gaffa, I’ll pass that on to the plumber.

I have no idea what folks up yonder are one about, but what I was trying to say was that if the toilet (commonly referred to as the “stool” is too large, the bathroom door won’t close. Very tiny bathroom.

And yes, SmellMyWort, the big handfuls of TP is the standard flush test. No problem. We even did it to a level that made my plumber nervous!

Pressure assisted-baked potato-sounds good!

18

How far out did the line get augured? Several years back, I encountered this sort of thing, I had no success with my ten-foot snake, nor my thirty footer. Had to get the guy out with the TurdCam[sup]TM[/sup] and the two hundred footer. He found and cleared the obstruction 191 feet into the line. It was, to say the least, a non-standard install, and bent around to connect to the sanitary sewer.

One of the most satisfying moments of my life, though, to hear the chunk and giant gush of water when that block cleared.

Regards,
Shodan

19

Another possibility is, how shall I put this delicately, someone who has infrequent but very large bowel movements. The products of such a system can, as someone mentioned earlier, be difficult.

20

Is she trying to flush tampons?