# Toilet Problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986 "2008-02-24T20:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/1 "2008-02-24T20:06:23Z")
My mother has had a problem with her toilet fo the last 2 days. When she flushes the bowl fills with water almost to the top and then takes a long time to empty. As much as 20-30 mins. I used some caustic soda and some vigorous plunging today and it made a temporary difference but it still wasnt right. ealier tonight it went back to emptying very very slowy. I have done a little research online and i cannot see anything in the bottom part of the toilet that can break so i am assuming it must be blocked. If i get hold of a auger do you think that will clear the problem? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/2 "2008-02-24T20:08:49Z")
Your toilets blocked or there’s something up with you’re ballcock. You can take the lid off the cistern and check the ballcock is in good working order. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/3 "2008-02-24T20:08:53Z")
A snake is your best bet. Something is almost certainly clogging the trap; if you can force whatever it is past that and into the 4" downpipe, you should be ok. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/4 "2008-02-24T20:09:29Z")
Sound like a toilet snake is your next angle of attack. Either it will clear it, or whatever is in there will require fishing out. I think **Snakes Cat Lady** is a plumber. Maybe she’ll happen along. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/5 "2008-02-24T20:10:01Z")
[QUOTE=These are my own pants] You can take the lid off the cistern and check the ballcock is in good working order. [/QUOTE] The ballcock has nothing whatsoever to do with the level in the bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/6 "2008-02-24T20:21:16Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] The ballcock has nothing whatsoever to do with the level in the bowl. [/QUOTE] He just wanted an excuse to say “ballcock.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/7 "2008-02-24T20:21:45Z")
Hehe. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/8 "2008-02-24T20:24:54Z")
Does she have her own septic system, or is this a sewer system? If it’s a septic system, it might just be time to get the tank pumped. In either case, it may well be root invasion of the pipes. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/9 "2008-02-24T20:29:51Z")
Some questions: is your mother connected to municipal sewer service, or do you have lot septic? If the latter, is it septic tank with drain field, sand mound, or other, and are there any elevation issues, such as a grinder pump/lift system? Also, the V in DWV (Drain Waste Vent) is important for proper function. Is there anything blocking the vent stack through the dwelling roof? ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/10 "2008-02-24T20:55:57Z")
looks like an auger could be what i need then. Its a public sewer system btw. Can anybody tell me if there is anything in the lower part of toilet than can actually break? She did have a plumber look at it on friday and he said “the suction is broken and you need a new toilet”. This smells of bullshit to me so I didnt want to mention this first in case it tainted the answers i got. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/11 "2008-02-24T21:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=bryanmaguire] Can anybody tell me if there is anything in the lower part of toilet than can actually break? [/QUOTE] Not is such a way as to cause the bowl to drain so slowly. It’s possible for the ceramic comprising the trap to crack, which would result in leakage. This leakage may or may not be immediately visible, depending on where the water was going, but its pretty certain that any such leaking would serve to empty the bowl faster, not more slowly. You might also want to have a plumber look at the sewage vent mentioned earlier. This is a pipe that runs from the main sewage drain to the roof of the building. It allows displaced air to flow out as water flows in and also keeps sewage gas pressure from building up. If this vent is blocked, the drainage rate will be decreased, which can contribute to more frequent clogging. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/12 "2008-02-24T21:06:53Z")
There you are, **danceswithcats** Sorry for my Doper confusion :o ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-problem/438986/13 "2008-02-25T19:04:30Z")
Problem solved. A neighbour had a set of drain rods so 30 minutes of pushing later and the jobs oxo. Thanks for all the help.