Clogged toilet saga...

[gerti]

Had a clogged toilet this morning. Pulled out the plunger, but nothing would budge. Remembered the other plunger with the extension nozzle thingy. No joy, still nothing would budge.

So off to the hardware store to get a snake. Snaked the darn toilet for quite some time. Finally minimal success, it would drain in like 5 minutes or so, but that was it. Noticed some odd air noises. Vent clogged? One morning a few years ago we had a dead squirrel in that toilet... I added chicken wire to the vent tops that same day.

Off to the roof, 16' cutoff from some profile in hand. Did I mention it was raining heavily and we still had a foot of snow on the roof? At least it was easy access. Not long enough. Grabbed another cutoff and some duct tape to join them. OK, that got me down to the bend, not resistance and no help with the draining.

So I guessed we'd have to live with it until monday (not ready to pay emergency weekend plumber fee). But check the internet, just in case I missed something. Liquid dishwashing detergent and hot water? No way, but what did I have to loose?

So I put about a gallon of water on the range, and about an ounce or two of detergent into the toilet. Slowly added the water (NOT boiling, don't want to crack the porcelain!). Go find the plunger again. Barely a plunge, and IT DRAINED!

Next time that'll be the first I will try! Maybe it'll help someone else.

[crokett]

I am glad you got it fixed.

What exactly does the water and dishwashing soap do? Clear the clog? Or is it a temporary fix?

[iceman61]

Thats wild. I've never heard of that one but will definately remember it. Thanks for sharing. I guess it beats the M-80 or Cherry Bomb in the toilet.

[sparkeyjames]

The hot water tends soften and break up um certain things in the pipe. While the dish washing soap gives some power to dissolve oil and grease and act as a lubricant. He gave it an enema.

[cabinetman]

That's a new one, sounds reasonable. LOML had difficulty with the bell shaped rubber plungers. I didn't gift wrap it, but picked up this type (I got mine at HD). It was about $8.00 and works wonders. Easy to plunge, no backsplash.
.

[Pappy]

Wonder if that would work for a slow tub/shower drain?

[Tom Slick]

Thanks for the tip on the soap.

A "zip-it" works wonders on showers and sinks. won't work on toilets though.

http://www.zipitclean.com/

[Norm in Fujino]

Another thanks for the tip. What won't they think of next?

[cgallery]

Wonder if that would work for a slow tub/shower drain?

Not the OP but for a slow tub drain I use boiling water.

I'll get four pots of water boiling on the stove and use dump/refill each one about 2-3 times. By the time the last pot goes down, the drain is running FAST.

I live with three girls w/ long hair. I do have a screen on the drain, but the chemicals they use (moisturizers, etc.) that don't foam like shampoo really do a number on drains. So I have to hit it w/ the boiling water every year or two.

[Richard in Smithville]

When I bought my first house, my mum gave me the idea about pouring boiling water in the kitchen sink to keep it flowing. When she would boil the kettle for tea or something, she would pour the rest down the drain.