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#1
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a
toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. After reading all of the suggestions, I figured it would be easier to just replace the toilet and see what happens. My plumber indirectly suggested that I do my own plumbing from now on by handing me a choker of a bill for the last job so went to Home Despot to look at the toilets with the intention of installing it myself. I found one that grabbed my eye: "Virtually guaranteed to flush a bucket of golf balls" (note the operative word 'virtually'). Rated a '10' on the flush scale (seriously). An American Standard (made in Mexico) Champion 4 toilet. About $140 on sale. The bottom part must have weighed just a wee less than myself. I nearly broke my back getting it upstairs. Okay, having never replaced a toilet before I approached the job with much trepidation. I had outlined a battle plan days in advance. I read all of the instructions many times. I bought all the necessary equipment. I was ready for action. The day before I replaced the toilet, I flushed the toilet (no solid wastes at all) and it overflowed massively. As there was no caulking around the trim work, the water I wasn't able to vacuum up with a Floormate came down through the floor and stained the living room ceiling. Another project for another day. The old toilet came off easily. As expected, with no children or pets, I found nothing in the drain. I noticed that the bolts that attach the toilet to the floor came off fairly easily so I figured out that the goal was to tighten the bolts just enough but no so much that the pressure breaks the fixture. When I attached the toilet, I used a small wrench and didn't apply any significant torque. After several hours, I completed the task. Of course, now that I've installed a toilet, I can smugly tell everyone that it's so easy, simple and quick to replace a toilet. The next toilet will take less than an hour to replace. If I was bigger, I could do it faster. After assembling, I anxiously turned the water on looking for leaks. Initially there wasn't any but after flushing the toilet a few times I noticed that some dripping coming from the tank. I hadn't tighten down the tank enough because I was terrified of cracking something. A few more turns and the dripping disappeared. Now for the litmus test: Will the toilet flush solid wastes or not? Since there was no immediate demand to fulfill that task, I resorted to placing a large bunch of old wet clumps of paper in the toilet. 99.99% flushed down. There is no flapper with this toilet and it acts very differently than any other toilet I've ever seen. It seems that a quick press on the lever is sufficient for non-solid wastes and holding the lever for an extra second or two does the trick for solid wastes. I don't know if that's by design or not. There's nothing in the instructions to suggest that it's a design feature. Anyway, the toilet flushes quickly and it seems that the water is pressurized. It doesn't have that forever swirling action. Just a quick "whoomp" and it's gone. I'm going to replace another toilet (that must have cost $50 10 years ago and built for young children since it's so tiny) to see if the toilet flushes in the same manner or if the replaced toilet doesn't have enough venting. Aside from the time, I saved myself about $150 in labor costs and received an education. Stay tuned for more of my exciting adventures in toilets. Suggested uses for recycling old fixtures. My neighbor thought it was cute. http://i31.tinypic.com/2qin511.jpg John |
#2
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Aug 30, 10:22*am, John wrote:
Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. After reading all of the suggestions, I figured it would be easier to just replace the toilet and see what happens. My plumber indirectly suggested that I do my own plumbing from now on by handing me a choker of a bill for the last job so went to Home Despot to look at the toilets with the intention of installing it myself. I found one that grabbed my eye: *"Virtually guaranteed to flush a bucket of golf balls" *(note the operative word 'virtually'). *Rated a '10' on the flush scale (seriously). An American Standard (made in Mexico) Champion 4 toilet. *About $140 on sale. The bottom part must have weighed just a wee less than myself. *I nearly broke my back getting it upstairs. Okay, having never replaced a toilet before I approached the job with much trepidation. I had outlined a battle plan days in advance. *I read all of the instructions many times. *I bought all the necessary equipment. *I was ready for action. The day before I replaced the toilet, I flushed the toilet (no solid wastes at all) and it overflowed massively. *As there was no caulking around the trim work, the water I wasn't able to vacuum up with a Floormate came down through the floor and stained the living room ceiling. *Another project for another day. The old toilet came off easily. *As expected, with no children or pets, I found nothing in the drain. I noticed that the bolts that attach the toilet to the floor came off fairly easily so I figured out that the goal was to tighten the bolts just enough but no so much that the pressure breaks the fixture. *When I attached the toilet, I used a small wrench and didn't apply any significant torque. After several hours, I completed the task. Of course, now that I've installed a toilet, I can smugly tell everyone that it's so easy, simple and quick to replace a toilet. *The next toilet will take less than an hour to replace. *If I was bigger, I could do it faster. After assembling, I anxiously turned the water on looking for leaks. Initially there wasn't any but after flushing the toilet a few times I noticed that some dripping coming from the tank. *I hadn't tighten down the tank enough because I was terrified of cracking something. *A few more turns and the dripping disappeared. Now for the litmus test: *Will the toilet flush solid wastes or not? Since there was no immediate demand to fulfill that task, I resorted to placing a large bunch of old wet clumps of paper in the toilet. *99.99% flushed down. *There is no flapper with this toilet and it acts very differently than any other toilet I've ever seen. *It seems that a quick press on the lever is sufficient for non-solid wastes and holding the lever for an extra second or two does the trick for solid wastes. *I don't know if that's by design or not. *There's nothing in the instructions to suggest that it's a design feature. *Anyway, the toilet flushes quickly and it seems that the water is pressurized. *It doesn't have that forever swirling action. *Just a quick "whoomp" and it's gone.. * I'm going to replace another toilet (that must have cost $50 10 years ago and built for young children since it's so tiny) to see if the toilet flushes in the same manner or if the replaced toilet doesn't have enough venting. Aside from the time, I saved myself about $150 in labor costs and received an education. Stay tuned for more of my exciting adventures in toilets. Suggested uses for recycling old fixtures. *My neighbor thought it was cute. http://i31.tinypic.com/2qin511.jpg John Congratulations! Oh, and nice photo. Joe |
#3
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
John wrote:
Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. Since you just about proven that the fixture itself was to blame for your earlier problems, I'd disassemble the sucker to satisfy my curiosity (you need a hammer). |
#4
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
"HeyBub" wrote in message ... John wrote: Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. Since you just about proven that the fixture itself was to blame for your earlier problems, I'd disassemble the sucker to satisfy my curiosity (you need a hammer). Well I don't think he needs a hammer, but an after action report on the old unit might prove interesting. I would disassemble the tank from the bowl and invert the bowl on the lawn. Using a garden hose, I would "snake the trap" to see if there was anything stuck inside. My kid once dropped a plastic cap that caused similar issues. -- __ Roger Shoaf Important factors in selecting a mate: 1] Depth of gene pool 2] Position on the food chain. |
#5
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
Roger Shoaf wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in message ... John wrote: Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. Since you just about proven that the fixture itself was to blame for your earlier problems, I'd disassemble the sucker to satisfy my curiosity (you need a hammer). Well I don't think he needs a hammer, but an after action report on the old unit might prove interesting. I would disassemble the tank from the bowl and invert the bowl on the lawn. Using a garden hose, I would "snake the trap" to see if there was anything stuck inside. My kid once dropped a plastic cap that caused similar issues. I could do that, but for the time being we kind of like the incongruous garden planter. Maybe after awhile, we'll get tired of it or someone will complain and I'll do a postmortem on the john. ------ John |
#6
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Aug 30, 1:32*pm, John wrote:
Roger Shoaf wrote: "HeyBub" wrote in message ... John wrote: Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. Since you just about proven that the fixture itself was to blame for your earlier problems, I'd disassemble the sucker to satisfy my curiosity (you need a hammer). Well I don't think he needs a hammer, but an after action report on the old unit might prove interesting. I would disassemble the tank from the bowl and invert the bowl on the lawn. Using a garden hose, I would "snake the trap" to see if there was anything stuck inside. *My kid once dropped a plastic cap that caused similar issues. I could do that, but for the time being we kind of like the incongruous garden planter. *Maybe after awhile, we'll get tired of it or someone will complain and I'll do a postmortem on the john. ------ John nice jobs ! |
#7
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
John wrote:
Well I don't think he needs a hammer, but an after action report on the old unit might prove interesting. I would disassemble the tank from the bowl and invert the bowl on the lawn. Using a garden hose, I would "snake the trap" to see if there was anything stuck inside. My kid once dropped a plastic cap that caused similar issues. I could do that, but for the time being we kind of like the incongruous garden planter. Maybe after awhile, we'll get tired of it or someone will complain and I'll do a postmortem on the john. Cracking the thing open with a very large hammer to discover the cause of all the consternation was just an excuse. The real reason is revenge. |
#8
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
Well yes I'm curious too! And note to the OP.
Well done; after a few more 'successful' jobs you will be qualified to join the DIYF (do it yourself) fraternity. In fact by tackling the toilet reckon you are more than half way there! Since DIY takes a modicum of sense and the humility to ask questions (at least 50% of which will be misread and possibly deliberately misconstrued by other diyers), macho types who think they know everything are not allowed to join! I must be a pretty junior member, yet, although been asking questions, receiving good advice and learning here and elsewhere; for years. Despite having built much of the three homes we have lived in since 1958 and still doing own repairs. It's stopped raining so got to get back to painting the house siding. Not only saves cost but also sense of satisfaction knowing how well it was done and with what materials. Also thanks for your good humour; IMO it's part of learning when you have to remind yourself that you needed to tighten something, "Cos it still drips" or, worse, didn't need to tighten it 'as much'. Cos; "Oops. It now leaks copiously and all the time!". Please post again. |
#9
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Aug 31, 12:28*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
John wrote: Well I don't think he needs a hammer, but an after action report on the old unit might prove interesting. I would disassemble the tank from the bowl and invert the bowl on the lawn. Using a garden hose, I would "snake the trap" to see if there was anything stuck inside. *My kid once dropped a plastic cap that caused similar issues. I could do that, but for the time being we kind of like the incongruous garden planter. *Maybe after awhile, we'll get tired of it or someone will complain and I'll do a postmortem on the john. Cracking the thing open with a very large hammer to discover the cause of all the consternation was just an excuse. The real reason is revenge. |
#10
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Aug 30, 2:32*pm, John wrote:
Roger Shoaf wrote: "HeyBub" wrote in message ... John wrote: Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. Since you just about proven that the fixture itself was to blame for your earlier problems, I'd disassemble the sucker to satisfy my curiosity (you need a hammer). Well I don't think he needs a hammer, but an after action report on the old unit might prove interesting. I would disassemble the tank from the bowl and invert the bowl on the lawn. Using a garden hose, I would "snake the trap" to see if there was anything stuck inside. *My kid once dropped a plastic cap that caused similar issues. I could do that, but for the time being we kind of like the incongruous garden planter. *Maybe after awhile, we'll get tired of it or someone will complain and I'll do a postmortem on the john. ------ John- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - The cause of non-flushing of solids in my case was the attempted flush of a toilet paper roll. D*mn Kids! It lodged upright just above the stack, so liquids (and the snake) went past, but toilet paper got caught on the lip and blocked the toilet until it was plunged. Had I waited, it probably would have dissolved, but I didn't know the cause until I had pulled the toilet and looked underneath. What a sh*tty mess! It was packed. Kids are the reason I always have a spare wax ring and johnny bolts stored with my plumbing tools. With those 2 items on hand, you can pull, clear and re-install most toilets in under an hour. |
#11
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
John wrote:
Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. After reading all of the suggestions, I figured it would be easier to just replace thetoiletand see what happens. Interesting. I have a toilet with the same problem as your old one: Sluggish and won't flush solids. I have suspected that the problem is not with the toilet, but with the vent or drain pipe. Since the toilet used to flush fine, what would account for a decrease in flushing power? Is there a standard method of isolating the problem? You were lucky, but I'd hate to replace the toilet only to find that the real problem was something else. Art Harris |
#12
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:39:13 -0700 (PDT), Art Harris
wrote: John wrote: Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. After reading all of the suggestions, I figured it would be easier to just replace thetoiletand see what happens. Interesting. I have a toilet with the same problem as your old one: Sluggish and won't flush solids. I have suspected that the problem is not with the toilet, but with the vent or drain pipe. Since the toilet used to flush fine, what would account for a decrease in flushing power? Is there a standard method of isolating the problem? You were lucky, but I'd hate to replace the toilet only to find that the real problem was something else. Art Harris Roto Router. Or a plumber's snake. |
#13
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
I had a similar problem with a toilet which hung up on any solids including
plain toilet paper. It turns out the problem was an improperly installed wax ring which allowed excess wax to protrude into the waste pipe. Solids would stick to the wax and impede emptying of the bowl. Carefully snake the bowl trap with a small snake and see if any wax comes out on the snake. Bob "Art Harris" wrote in message ... John wrote: Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. After reading all of the suggestions, I figured it would be easier to just replace thetoiletand see what happens. Interesting. I have a toilet with the same problem as your old one: Sluggish and won't flush solids. I have suspected that the problem is not with the toilet, but with the vent or drain pipe. Since the toilet used to flush fine, what would account for a decrease in flushing power? Is there a standard method of isolating the problem? You were lucky, but I'd hate to replace the toilet only to find that the real problem was something else. Art Harris |
#14
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Aug 30, 11:22*am, John wrote:
Two weeks ago I wrote about my trials and tribulations regarding a toilet that wouldn't flush any solids. After reading all of the suggestions, I figured it would be easier to just replace the toilet and see what happens. My plumber indirectly suggested that I do my own plumbing from now on by handing me a choker of a bill for the last job so went to Home Despot to look at the toilets with the intention of installing it myself. I found one that grabbed my eye: *"Virtually guaranteed to flush a bucket of golf balls" *(note the operative word 'virtually'). *Rated a '10' on the flush scale (seriously). An American Standard (made in Mexico) Champion 4 toilet. *About $140 on sale. The bottom part must have weighed just a wee less than myself. *I nearly broke my back getting it upstairs. Okay, having never replaced a toilet before I approached the job with much trepidation. I had outlined a battle plan days in advance. *I read all of the instructions many times. *I bought all the necessary equipment. *I was ready for action. The day before I replaced the toilet, I flushed the toilet (no solid wastes at all) and it overflowed massively. *As there was no caulking around the trim work, the water I wasn't able to vacuum up with a Floormate came down through the floor and stained the living room ceiling. *Another project for another day. The old toilet came off easily. *As expected, with no children or pets, I found nothing in the drain. I noticed that the bolts that attach the toilet to the floor came off fairly easily so I figured out that the goal was to tighten the bolts just enough but no so much that the pressure breaks the fixture. *When I attached the toilet, I used a small wrench and didn't apply any significant torque. After several hours, I completed the task. Of course, now that I've installed a toilet, I can smugly tell everyone that it's so easy, simple and quick to replace a toilet. *The next toilet will take less than an hour to replace. *If I was bigger, I could do it faster. After assembling, I anxiously turned the water on looking for leaks. Initially there wasn't any but after flushing the toilet a few times I noticed that some dripping coming from the tank. *I hadn't tighten down the tank enough because I was terrified of cracking something. *A few more turns and the dripping disappeared. Now for the litmus test: *Will the toilet flush solid wastes or not? Since there was no immediate demand to fulfill that task, I resorted to placing a large bunch of old wet clumps of paper in the toilet. *99.99% flushed down. *There is no flapper with this toilet and it acts very differently than any other toilet I've ever seen. *It seems that a quick press on the lever is sufficient for non-solid wastes and holding the lever for an extra second or two does the trick for solid wastes. *I don't know if that's by design or not. *There's nothing in the instructions to suggest that it's a design feature. *Anyway, the toilet flushes quickly and it seems that the water is pressurized. *It doesn't have that forever swirling action. *Just a quick "whoomp" and it's gone.. * I'm going to replace another toilet (that must have cost $50 10 years ago and built for young children since it's so tiny) to see if the toilet flushes in the same manner or if the replaced toilet doesn't have enough venting. Aside from the time, I saved myself about $150 in labor costs and received an education. Stay tuned for more of my exciting adventures in toilets. Suggested uses for recycling old fixtures. *My neighbor thought it was cute. http://i31.tinypic.com/2qin511.jpg John I know a guy who was PO with his neighbor across the street so he kept setting the toilet out to be picked up and bringing it in just before pickup. He must have kept the thing out there a month or more. Jimmie |
#15
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:49:37 -0700 (PDT), JIMMIE
wrote: I know a guy who was PO with his neighbor across the street so he kept setting the toilet out to be picked up and bringing it in just before pickup. He must have kept the thing out there a month or more. Jimmie Nice guy. Hmm, that gives me an idea. |
#16
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
if toilet swirls and doesnt flush solids, but flushes solids fine if
you use a bucket the interior passages are likely clogged easily solved with 5 bucks of acid and 15 minutes of time no disassembly necessary this is safe effective ad cheap |
#17
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
Art Harris wrote:
Interesting. I have a toilet with the same problem as your old one: Sluggish and won't flush solids. I have suspected that the problem is not with the toilet, but with the vent or drain pipe. Since the toilet used to flush fine, what would account for a decrease in flushing power? Is there a standard method of isolating the problem? You were lucky, but I'd hate to replace the toilet only to find that the real problem was something else. The kids had their own bathroom and for about 1 year or more, their commode would clog up about once a month. I could clean it out with a plunger, and would accuse them of using too much paper, or flushing stuff that shouldn't be flushed (daughter). Ran a snake though, no luck although it was a little hard getting through. Eventually I went up on the roof and snaked out the vent, but found nothing, and it still clogged. As a last resort, I ripped out the commode.... Well, low and behold, stuck in the trap was a ceramic bar about the width of a roll of toilet paper. I looked at the toilet paper holder, which was ceramic, but had a stainless steel, spring loaded paper holder... I knew immediately what happened, and both kids deny it to this day, knowing I may still kill anyone that owns up to it, not for doing it, but not telling me... The amazing thing is I spent 3 hours trying to get the thing out, but no way, it seemed to not fit around the bend... had to though, unless they built the commode with the ceramic bar in it. I carried the damned thing to the basement, to work on it and after another hour, I gave up, sat the thing down to leave and when I sat it down, the damned bar just fell out on it's own.... -- Jack Using FREE News Server: http://www.eternal-september.org/ http://jbstein.com |
#18
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
Jack Stein wrote:
(snip) The amazing thing is I spent 3 hours trying to get the thing out, but no way, it seemed to not fit around the bend... had to though, unless they built the commode with the ceramic bar in it. I carried the damned thing to the basement, to work on it and after another hour, I gave up, sat the thing down to leave and when I sat it down, the damned bar just fell out on it's own.... Aw, that is just the DIY gods screwing with you. That is their way of keeping us from getting too cocky. -- aem sends... |
#19
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Clogged toilet (yes, for the billionth time). RESOLVED!
bob haller wrote:
if toilet swirls and doesnt flush solids, but flushes solids fine if you use a bucket the interior passages are likely clogged easily solved with 5 bucks of acid and 15 minutes of time no disassembly necessary Bingo! I tried the bucket flush and it worked great! A check of the internal passage confirmed a significant blockage. So now I know what the problem is. Thanks for tip. I would never have thought of that. How does the acid treatment work? Does water need to be drained from the toilet? How much acid and what kind are needed? Art Harris |
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