Why won't my toilets flush?

[Patch]

@Mtgman

This is a good suggestion. Pull up an aerial shot of your house and see how many roof vent pipes you have. If all the vent stacks are through a common vent you may have debris(leaves, bird nest, etc.) in there that’s limiting the “pull” of the column of flushed water once it makes it past the trap(u-bend) in the individual toilets. This problem would also affect any other drains on the same vent stack, showers, sinks, etc. The reason I say to count roof vents is because, depending on the layout of the home(are all the bathrooms/kitchen on a common wet wall?) it is pretty rare to have everything on a single vent stack, but it can happen. Multiple vents reduces the likelihood of this being the issue.

Enjoy,
Steven

One of the first things I did. There isn’t a common wet wall for all the bathrooms, and there are 5-6 pipes on the roof. I looked down them the best I could with a flashlight, and could not see any blockages.

[Patch]

@Grestarian

I would second (third? Ninth?) the suggestion of getting a sewer-camera down there.
–G!

I hate plumbers. The first one I called wanted $90 to show up and give me an estimate (deductible from the final cost, if I chose them). That’s just insane. Coudn’t even get a ballpark number.

More shopping around on Monday.

[filmore]

How would you feel about renting a drain camera and doing it yourself?

General Wire Spring Drain Camera Rental CGPF-ECAM-ACE - The Home Depot

The rental would be about the same price as just having the plumber show up. I’ve never done it, but I would guess it’s not too complicated.

[digs]

My wife grew up with constantly clogging toilets (and the embarrassment they provided a young child).

When we bought our ancient house with sporadically-flushing toilets, she found a pressurized one. They don’t use more water, they just SLAM it (and any toilet contents).

The force is strong with this one…

Imagine a bowl full of frozen dog poop getting Punkin-Chunked all the way to the sewage processing plant at 60 mph.

[GaryM]

@digs

My wife grew up with constantly clogging toilets (and the embarrassment they provided a young child).

When we bought our ancient house with sporadically-flushing toilets, she found a pressurized one. They don’t use more water, they just SLAM it (and any toilet contents).

The force is strong with this one…

Imagine a bowl full of frozen dog poop getting Punkin-Chunked all the way to the sewage processing plant at 60 mph.

I’d installed one of those in my old house. Hit that lever and it’s gone baby! My wife claimed she could hear it out in the yard.

[digs]

@GaryM

I’d installed one of those in my old house. Hit that lever and it’s gone baby! My wife claimed she could hear it out in the yard.

Yeah, that’s what happens when something breaks the sound barrier underground.

[Patch]

@filmore

How would you feel about renting a drain camera and doing it yourself?

https://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/Drain-Camera/CGPF-ECAM-ACE/index.html

The rental would be about the same price as just having the plumber show up. I’ve never done it, but I would guess it’s not too complicated.

Been thinking about it. Was going to call around Monday. Didn’t know HD rented the things. Thanks!