Its a flexible steel spring cord, you feed it down the pipe while turning the handle and the corkscrew on the front bites into whatever is blocking the pipe.
Blocked toilet?
- Thread starter helpimcrap
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Its a flexible steel spring cord, you feed it down the pipe while turning the handle and the corkscrew on the front bites into whatever is blocking the pipe.
I've never understood why everyone's first instinct these days is to pour all sorts of chemicals down the loo when nine times out of ten a plunger/rod/gloved hand will do the job in half the time for a fraction of the cost.
Less messy?
We tried the mop trick at our old house for a super slow draining toilet - didn't help.
Ended up lifting two manhole covers on the drive - the smell was not nice but showed we'd found the block. Some effort with a makeshift plunger and then the Karcher had the drains sparkling once we'd done.
Ended up lifting two manhole covers on the drive - the smell was not nice but showed we'd found the block. Some effort with a makeshift plunger and then the Karcher had the drains sparkling once we'd done.
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I've got some One Shot, this is last chance, then I will lift the manhole cover in the garden.
Best way to apply? Just tip half in, open window, close door and let it do its job? Then feed some water in slowly (not flush, pour in slowly from bowl)?
Best way to apply? Just tip half in, open window, close door and let it do its job? Then feed some water in slowly (not flush, pour in slowly from bowl)?
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I don't like doing this however it's the mess and the tools - I'd never need them again and you have to clean and store them somewhere. With this stuff I just store it under sink.
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Glad it wasn't just me
In my first job in a dilapidated old council swimming baths that had plumbing older and in worse state than the Titanic we used to use the mop trick all the time, usually worked after some vigorous thrusting.
Your first port of call should be the nearest manhole cover to the toilet. Only once you've checked this is not blocked should you turn your attention to the toilet itself. Believe me I've unblocked more **** than you've imagined. We have our own mini sewage treatment plant here and I'm the maintenance man
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That 91% sulphuric acid stuff looks ace. If it doesn't clear the blockage, you could do it with your hands and then use it to sanitize them
Didn't work so did it again but without taking the water out. Still didn't do anything so will empty rest of bottle down coffee.
Then if still no joy lifting up the manhole cover. Weird how its happened after all this rain (well, not weird as it's pointing more towards manhole). If there is a problem then with all the acid I've tipped down i'll get someone in lol.
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Your first port of call should be the nearest manhole cover to the toilet. Only once you've checked this is not blocked should you turn your attention to the toilet itself. Believe me I've unblocked more **** than you've imagined. We have our own mini sewage treatment plant here and I'm the maintenance man
I'll have a look tomorrow.
Soldato
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Do yourself a favour - Lift the cover off, then immediately back away and let it vent for a good 20 minutes before you do anything, just in case.
It might (or might not) smell bad, but you'll lessen the risk of being overcome by any possible fumes and falling (unconscious and headfirst) down a manhole to your death.
Might sound funny, but every year we lose a number of sewer workers who don't follow basic safety procedures...
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Noted mate. Thanks for the warning.
Soldato
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Happens all too often.
Wasn't so long ago someone lifted the top hatch on a slurry tank - All three guys on the crew sucumbed to the vapours within seconds and pitched head-first into it. Got a training film all about it on the safety courses.
90% of the time there's no worry... but about 10% of lifts result in the immediate ear-splitting siren of everyone's gas alarms going off. Working down in the sewers is a whole new set of worries!!
Also, remember you only need to take care of the pipes up to where it joins with someone else's, or the main sewer. Anything beyond that is down to your water utilities company.
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Checked the drains outside - back ones look clear apart from a bit of muck and couple of leaves. I ran the sink to see which one and it drained away fine. Other one in back garden I tipped bucket of water down, drained away fine.
One on front garden could possibly be toilet waste but theres some stones in it and amount of rain over last few days may have pushed some down. But sink upstairs is draining slowly as well and that drains to same drain as sink downstairs so thinking pipe blockage not the drains.
Luckily I have home emergency cover costing me nothing to fix which I completely forgot I had until a mate suggested checking my home insurance!
One on front garden could possibly be toilet waste but theres some stones in it and amount of rain over last few days may have pushed some down. But sink upstairs is draining slowly as well and that drains to same drain as sink downstairs so thinking pipe blockage not the drains.
Luckily I have home emergency cover costing me nothing to fix which I completely forgot I had until a mate suggested checking my home insurance!
