Toilet auger won't go all the way down

[greg9840]

Hi all,
I have a clogged toilet and I am looking to avoid having anyone come into my house due to the fact I live in a pandemic hotspot. But I'm not very handy. My toilet was completely clogged and plunging only helped a little, allowing it to slowly drain. I bought the $6 3 foot toilet augur they sell on Amazon and Walmart, and snaked it, and everything seemed to be working great, but it clogged almost immediately. I tried it again and it worked fine again, and the toilet was flushing fine, and then clogged a short time later. I tried to snake it a third time and this time, the snake would not go all the way down. And when I turned the handle, it would wind up tight and then spin backwards when I let go. If I pushed the snake really heard, it would fold over itself and the tip would come back out. So, I figured I need a stronger snake that won't fold and come back out, so I bought the $55 Rigid 6 foot auger. It will not go all the way down. I have been pushing and turning as hard as I can, and it only goes maybe 2 or 2 1/2 feet down. I really don't want to take the toilet off myself to try to find a toy or something in there (I have a 3 year old) and have to do a new wax ring, etc. and I'm afraid I'll mess it up and have a leak, etc. Is there anything else I can try?
Thanks!

 

[Geofd]

Hi all,
I have a clogged toilet and I am looking to avoid having anyone come into my house due to the fact I live in a pandemic hotspot. But I'm not very handy. My toilet was completely clogged and plunging only helped a little, allowing it to slowly drain. I bought the $6 3 foot toilet augur they sell on Amazon and Walmart, and snaked it, and everything seemed to be working great, but it clogged almost immediately. I tried it again and it worked fine again, and the toilet was flushing fine, and then clogged a short time later. I tried to snake it a third time and this time, the snake would not go all the way down. And when I turned the handle, it would wind up tight and then spin backwards when I let go. If I pushed the snake really heard, it would fold over itself and the tip would come back out. So, I figured I need a stronger snake that won't fold and come back out, so I bought the $55 Rigid 6 foot auger. It will not go all the way down. I have been pushing and turning as hard as I can, and it only goes maybe 2 or 2 1/2 feet down. I really don't want to take the toilet off myself to try to find a toy or something in there (I have a 3 year old) and have to do a new wax ring, etc. and I'm afraid I'll mess it up and have a leak, etc. Is there anything else I can try?
Thanks!

With the rigid auger try it again this time don’t force it, when you hit the obstruction just stay there and use a little pressure if yo7 hook something pull it back , but if you can’t get it out you will have to remove the toilet ,vac out all the water from the bowl and tank lay it on it’s side look in it hole exiting the toilet sometimes it’s right there sometimes you have to run the auger in from the base it just takes patience

 

[Jeff Handy]

The Ridgid six foot auger is usually very successful.

Operator error is usually why it fails to do its job, IMHO.

First of all, rotate the hell out of the auger handle as you advance, never just push it in, even if it pushes easily.
Lots of vigorous clockwise cranking.
Advance the auger more slowly.
But do not let it twist and kink up down there.

Imagine you are drilling through wood, not a plug of crap and paper.

Add some extra water to the bowl if needed, above the normal water level, so you will know if you have pierced the clog as the water suddenly drops.
If the level drops at all, keep cranking, move forward and back, keep pulverizing, don’t pull the auger too early thinking you have beaten the clog.

If you can’t get all six feet of auger snake to go down there, try rotating counter-clockwise at any place where it won’t advance, while applying mild insertion pressure.

Crank waaaay more than you think is needed!

You might be trying to dig through a bar of soap, or a foot long sausage of poop and paper.

Or a toy could be wrapped up in paper.

Always keep the J bend of the auger firmly pressed into the bottom of the bowl, or the auger will twist on itself.

Switch back and forth from clockwise to counter-clockwise and hope for the best!

 

[Copymutt]

I sense kids in the home. Watch the toys go round & round.

 

[Jeff Handy]

Yes, Hotwheels or little action figures are common.
Or a lipstick or makeup bottle.

 

[greg9840]

The Ridgid six foot auger is usually very successful.

Operator error is usually why it fails to do its job, IMHO.

First of all, rotate the hell out of the auger handle as you advance, never just push it in, even if it pushes easily.
Lots of vigorous clockwise cranking.
Advance the auger more slowly.
But do not let it twist and kink up down there.

Imagine you are drilling through wood, not a plug of crap and paper.

Add some extra water to the bowl if needed, above the normal water level, so you will know if you have pierced the clog as the water suddenly drops.
If the level drops at all, keep cranking, move forward and back, keep pulverizing, don’t pull the auger too early thinking you have beaten the clog.

If you can’t get all six feet of auger snake to go down there, try rotating counter-clockwise at any place where it won’t advance, while applying mild insertion pressure.

Crank waaaay more than you think is needed!

You might be trying to dig through a bar of soap, or a foot long sausage of poop and paper.

Or a toy could be wrapped up in paper.

Always keep the J bend of the auger firmly pressed into the bottom of the bowl, or the auger will twist on itself.

Switch back and forth from clockwise to counter-clockwise and hope for the best!

Thanks for the tips. I worked it pretty hard but I'll try it again. If it's a plastic toy, the augur is probably not going to work, right?

 

[Jeff Handy]

I have snagged toys and other hard objects with that auger.
By grabbing the paper that is wrapped around it.
Or by punching enough holes that the toy goes down the main drain.

Does yours have the regular coil bulb type of head?
That is what mine has.

 

[greg9840]

Yes, it's a coil bulb. I tried turning the snake and ramming it, doing it gentle and hard, rotating left, rotating right, doing it fast or slow, every possible combination. Nothing helps and the snake will not go all the way down the drain. I think something very solid, like a toy, is in there. And it won't budge.

 

[Jeff Handy]

Sounds like time to pull off the toilet.
Maybe rent an electric drain auger.
Or just call a pro, so you don’t break something.

 

[Jeff Handy]

PS, if there is a john topper cabinet above this toilet, then get in the habit of keeping the toilet seat cover down.

 

[greg9840]

Sounds like time to pull off the toilet.
Maybe rent an electric drain auger.
Or just call a pro, so you don’t break something.

If it wasn't for the pandemic, I would have called a pro days ago. I even have a home warranty so it's only going to cost me the $75 co-pay to fix it. But I haven't let anyone in my house since the pandemic started and I'd like to avoid taking any risk of getting covid if I can. But I have a bad feeling about doing it myself. Plus, it's a low-boy one piece toilet, so it's going to be heavy. And it's in a tiny water closet, so very little room to operate, which only makes it even more likely that I'll screw it up.

 

[Jeff Handy]

If you wear a mask, and glasses or goggles, and the plumber wears a mask, and you maintain distance, both of you wash hands several times, and clean the bathroom afterwards, plus doorknobs etc, you will be fine.
Keep the exhaust fan in the bathroom running at all times.

Primary method of infection from Covid is from inhaling recently released airborne droplets.
Surface virus seems to be very remote chance of infection.

Maybe even keep the front and back door open, let a breeze flow through during the service call.
Mosquitos or flies might come in but big deal.
Put a fan in a window or doorway to bring in fresh air.

Just have the plumber let himself in your unlocked door, let him do his thing, maybe even wait outside, in your car, whatever, til he signals you that he has it all fixed.

Pay him by online payment or mail a check, or Zelle, Venmo, or just leave a blank check he can fill in himself and he can text you a copy to show the correct amount he wrote in.

 

[Jeff Handy]

The OP hasn’t posted or replied for a month.

It sounds like he had a partial blockage downstream, which he thought was right at the toilet, which he eventually let turn into a complete blocked drain, jam packed with paper and poop, by continuing to use the toilet

At that point, toilet augering was too late, and not reaching the actual source of the problem much farther away.

Or maybe my analysis is totally wrong.

Maybe he will pop back in with an update with good news.

 

[jimsinoregon]

The Ridgid six foot auger is usually very successful.

Operator error is usually why it fails to do its job, IMHO.

First of all, rotate the hell out of the auger handle as you advance, never just push it in, even if it pushes easily.
Lots of vigorous clockwise cranking.
Advance the auger more slowly.
But do not let it twist and kink up down there.

Imagine you are drilling through wood, not a plug of crap and paper.

Add some extra water to the bowl if needed, above the normal water level, so you will know if you have pierced the clog as the water suddenly drops.
If the level drops at all, keep cranking, move forward and back, keep pulverizing, don’t pull the auger too early thinking you have beaten the clog.

If you can’t get all six feet of auger snake to go down there, try rotating counter-clockwise at any place where it won’t advance, while applying mild insertion pressure.

Crank waaaay more than you think is needed!

You might be trying to dig through a bar of soap, or a foot long sausage of poop and paper.

Or a toy could be wrapped up in paper.

Always keep the J bend of the auger firmly pressed into the bottom of the bowl, or the auger will twist on itself.

Switch back and forth from clockwise to counter-clockwise and hope for the best!

Thanks Jeff,
Your counterclockwise suggestion did the trick!

Jim

 

[Jeff Handy]

Hurray, send me a big Christmas gift, haha!

 

[TomFOhio]

Hey Jeff I can send you a little tip. Don't eat yellow snow.

 

[arctic bill]

The Ridgid six foot auger is usually very successful.

Operator error is usually why it fails to do its job, IMHO.

First of all, rotate the hell out of the auger handle as you advance, never just push it in, even if it pushes easily.
Lots of vigorous clockwise cranking.
Advance the auger more slowly.
But do not let it twist and kink up down there.

Imagine you are drilling through wood, not a plug of crap and paper.

Add some extra water to the bowl if needed, above the normal water level, so you will know if you have pierced the clog as the water suddenly drops.
If the level drops at all, keep cranking, move forward and back, keep pulverizing, don’t pull the auger too early thinking you have beaten the clog.

If you can’t get all six feet of auger snake to go down there, try rotating counter-clockwise at any place where it won’t advance, while applying mild insertion pressure.

Crank waaaay more than you think is needed!

You might be trying to dig through a bar of soap, or a foot long sausage of poop and paper.

Or a toy could be wrapped up in paper.

Always keep the J bend of the auger firmly pressed into the bottom of the bowl, or the auger will twist on itself.

Switch back and forth from clockwise to counter-clockwise and hope for the best!

try rotating counter-clockwise

 

[Twowaxhack]

Hurray, send me a big Christmas gift, haha!

Send me your address via private message and I’ll send you a plumbing Christmas present. No joke.

 

[Jeff Handy]

try rotating counter-clockwise

THey did that, they were just giving me a shout out for suggesting that.

 

[Twowaxhack]

I’ve blown the back out of the bowl with my general auger. Sometimes I get a little to rough with it.