Hi y'all, new here. Hope everyone is having a great Friday.
We are having an odd problem with the downstairs toilet. Let me start by saying it is not clogged (I will offer proof of this in the explanation of what we have tried) It may also be important to say that all drains are running fine, sinks, dishwashers, full bathtub (in the same bathroom with the problem toilet) etc.
About a month ago, we had roots removed from the main line leading to the septic. Everything was backing up at this time. These were tiny hairlike roots that appear to have entered via a seem. No break was seen with the camera.
As there is no clean out for the line, the toilet was removed and the line augured through the opening in the floor. The roots were about 60 feet out from the toilet opening.
When the toilet was removed, the old wax seal was in pretty bad shape. This is a cheap home depot brand 1.6 gallon low flow toilet that was here when we moved in 3 years ago. The old wax seal was replaced with a Danco Perfect Seal (wax on the floor, rubber against the toilet.) Everything worked great for about two weeks.
Then the toilet quit working. Nothing else, just the one toilet. This was not the identical problem as before so we figured we'd take a look before getting the plumber out again. We pulled the toilet, rented a large 75 ft toilet auger and augured the pipe again. We hand fed the full length of the snake with no resistance. We retracted, turned it on and augured it for half an hour with every head it had...nothing.
We took the toilet outside, augured every hole, clean ever tube including the siphon, cleaned the jets, checked with mirrors, and ran water through with the garden hose. Found no obstructions and the water ran fine. We set it on blocks, filled the tank, it flushed like a dream.
We went back inside thinking it HAS to be the line. Poured five gallon buckets down the opening, crammed it full of TP and poured more water down, ran the garden hose into the house and let the water run non stop. None of this caused a back up. The water ran freely.
We figured, we got whatever it was, set the toilet over the hole, filled the tank, flushed and woosh water went down, flushed again and again it was a properly functioning toilet again! We danced, held hands and sang Kumbaya. Put a new wax seal on, replaced the toilet, flushed and the water just sat there laughing at us and doing a slow trickle down the hole. I think it actually waved while doing the backstroke.
We thought crap, we plugged it with the seal. Took it back off, seal was right where it was supposed to be. No wax filling the outlet, Removed the seal, set the toilet over the hole, flushed and woooosh toilet worked fine and NO, the water was not running out on the floor, not one drop. We washed, rinsed and repeated and it flushed every time.
Put a new seal down, set the toilet, flushed and yep the water just sat there. When it finally trickles down, the water level is very low. We removed the P trap on the bathroom sink, no change, still wouldn't flush. We augured the vent stack, no change. Ran a hose with the water running for about 75 feet down the stack, no change When you flush the toilet air shoots out of the vent stack pretty forcefully.
We cant figure out for the life of us why when you seal the toilet it wont flush. The last two times we used a wax ring with the flange attached. The closet flange for the toilet actually sits slightly below the finished floor on the sub flooring. The previous owners removed the old flooring completely and just left a cut out around the flange. House is 35 years old.
Plumber is now scratching his head. Any ideas from any of you guys as to what the problem might be or anything else to try? Thanks in advance for any advice.
We are having an odd problem with the downstairs toilet. Let me start by saying it is not clogged (I will offer proof of this in the explanation of what we have tried) It may also be important to say that all drains are running fine, sinks, dishwashers, full bathtub (in the same bathroom with the problem toilet) etc.
About a month ago, we had roots removed from the main line leading to the septic. Everything was backing up at this time. These were tiny hairlike roots that appear to have entered via a seem. No break was seen with the camera.
As there is no clean out for the line, the toilet was removed and the line augured through the opening in the floor. The roots were about 60 feet out from the toilet opening.
When the toilet was removed, the old wax seal was in pretty bad shape. This is a cheap home depot brand 1.6 gallon low flow toilet that was here when we moved in 3 years ago. The old wax seal was replaced with a Danco Perfect Seal (wax on the floor, rubber against the toilet.) Everything worked great for about two weeks.
Then the toilet quit working. Nothing else, just the one toilet. This was not the identical problem as before so we figured we'd take a look before getting the plumber out again. We pulled the toilet, rented a large 75 ft toilet auger and augured the pipe again. We hand fed the full length of the snake with no resistance. We retracted, turned it on and augured it for half an hour with every head it had...nothing.
We took the toilet outside, augured every hole, clean ever tube including the siphon, cleaned the jets, checked with mirrors, and ran water through with the garden hose. Found no obstructions and the water ran fine. We set it on blocks, filled the tank, it flushed like a dream.
We went back inside thinking it HAS to be the line. Poured five gallon buckets down the opening, crammed it full of TP and poured more water down, ran the garden hose into the house and let the water run non stop. None of this caused a back up. The water ran freely.
We figured, we got whatever it was, set the toilet over the hole, filled the tank, flushed and woosh water went down, flushed again and again it was a properly functioning toilet again! We danced, held hands and sang Kumbaya. Put a new wax seal on, replaced the toilet, flushed and the water just sat there laughing at us and doing a slow trickle down the hole. I think it actually waved while doing the backstroke.
We thought crap, we plugged it with the seal. Took it back off, seal was right where it was supposed to be. No wax filling the outlet, Removed the seal, set the toilet over the hole, flushed and woooosh toilet worked fine and NO, the water was not running out on the floor, not one drop. We washed, rinsed and repeated and it flushed every time.
Put a new seal down, set the toilet, flushed and yep the water just sat there. When it finally trickles down, the water level is very low. We removed the P trap on the bathroom sink, no change, still wouldn't flush. We augured the vent stack, no change. Ran a hose with the water running for about 75 feet down the stack, no change When you flush the toilet air shoots out of the vent stack pretty forcefully.
We cant figure out for the life of us why when you seal the toilet it wont flush. The last two times we used a wax ring with the flange attached. The closet flange for the toilet actually sits slightly below the finished floor on the sub flooring. The previous owners removed the old flooring completely and just left a cut out around the flange. House is 35 years old.
Plumber is now scratching his head. Any ideas from any of you guys as to what the problem might be or anything else to try? Thanks in advance for any advice.
