Plumbing advice needed Re: Toilets -

[Madrone]

I find out this morning (the hard way) that the 18 year old I'm letting stay with me has been flushing plastic tampon applicators down the toilet. No one ever told her not to, and she didn't know - I'm not mad at her. I am however about ready to cry from frustration.

What do I DO? Does the toilet have to be taken off to fix this? Will someone have to clear the ENTIRE pipe that leads to the sewer?

I have no experience with this at all --- and I am having trouble dealing at the moment. Until this is taken care of NO ONE can use the bathroom.

[taterguy]

1. If you have no experience call a plumber

Trust me, trying to fix plumbing when you don't know what you're doing can just lead to a much bigger and more expensive mess

[Kajsa]

3. Ditto on that great advice from taterguy.

I learned that lesson the hard way.

It's best to call a plumber, ASAP.

Good luck.

:hi:

[LostinVA]

2. PM me

[JackBeck]

4. You definitely need to snake the line.

The ENTIRE pipe. Our last apartment had two levels, with our kitchen and bathroom built in what was essentially the basement of the house. Since they were below the sidewalk, every time it rained real hard, the kitchen would flood. And I mean FLOOD. It finally turns out that someone had flushed a tampon that ended up clogging the line. And it wasn't found during the first time the line was snaked. Call a professional and get the line cleared.

[Madrone]

6. ShitFuck&DAMN!!

That's going to be EXPENSIVE. :cry:

To top it all off - I live in a tiny little town and my boss has been looking for a plumber for the last 2 weeks w/ no luck.

[RayOfHope]

8. It might not be as bad as you think. My 4 yo flushed his undies

(long story) and we had to have them snake the toilet. We called sewer guys instead of plumbers. It was about $60, although it only took one minute for the entire call from the time they walked in til the time they left.

[Blue Diadem]

5. They're probably stuck in the toilet itself, the openings are quite small.

I'd try plunging first to attempt to move them along. Then I'd try a plumber's snake(not sure what the "real" name is for that device,it's what we call it around here) if you have one handy. Otherwise, I'd say call a plumber especially if you've never removed a toilet and re-installed one.

Your pipes to the sewer should be big enough to handle the applicators. I'd only see a problem if there were tree roots or something in the lines.

[Madrone]

7. I'm going to try this route first....

I really can't afford a plumber if I can avoid it. It would be cheaper to buy a snake than to call someone for sure. Thanks.

[izzybeans]

12. You can get a cheap plumber's snake from a home improvement/hardware store

make sure it is meant for the toilet, though. regular drain snakes may not be sturdy enough to wind there way through the toilet without getting bunced up (a lesson from personal experience). it is likely that either they are stopped up inside the toiler or were the toilet connects with the drain pipe. You want something that can push past all of that just in case.

[trof]

13. I second trying plunger first. Get one like this:

This shape works best on toilets.
Many times the clog just needs a little shove to clear it right out.
Good luck.

[jmowreader]

17. There are two kinds of snakes

There is the Sink Snake.

and there is the Toilet Snake.

There's also the Airplane Snake, but that's a totally different issue.

I would try the Toilet Snake first.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Tell the 18 year old she needs to act like a fucking adult, not a toddler, and call a plumber

[Madrone]

10. She's TRYING.

#1 - she's fresh out of rehab and trying to get her life in order.

#2 - it's really not her fault that her mother spent her childhood protecting the man that molested her for years (the mother's husband) instead of teaching her daughter what the rest of us would view as simple common sense.

Seriously, I understand your point, but this girl's situation isn't the norm. She doesn't know how to do a lot of things the rest of us take for granted. She's making a serious effort.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. I spoke too soon!

Violating my own rule to gather more data before judging...

Sounds like she had a crappy childhood - no wonders she's messed up and having problems. Bless you for taking her in and helping her out!

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Call a plumber.

The line needs to be snaked, more than likely.

And bless you for doing this.


(And maybe buy tampons with cardboard applicators until she gets the message)

:hug:

[Goblinmonger]

15. Roto-Rooter

could do the trick to and they may run a little less expensive than a "real" plumber. They may not even have to take off the toilet. They can clear all the way out to the road and make sure there are no roots out there.

Lots of things will clog this up. Even those "flushable" wipes shouldn't be flushed because they can catch and clog.

[Porcupine]

16. And hide the Q-tips!!!

God only knows why but some women like to use q-tips on the toilet and then flush them. Three or four of them are enough to start catching paper and plug up the works. The plastic ones are especially bad.

Call your local independant drain service. They should cost you about $75 to clear things out. The DIY option is only viable if you are prepared to dismount the toilet and remount it yourself. This could require three trips to the hardware store.

FWIW- A five gallon bucket and a bag of sawdust will take care of your #2's while you wait for help. For #1 pee in the shower and sluice with a mild bleach solution.

[youthere]

18. You need a professional, but not necessarily a plumber..

you could probably call a sewer/septic service and they would be able to help you. Much less expensive than a union plumber, too.

[Zookeeper]

19. I've snaked out my drains with an auger that attached to...

my electric drill. It was, maybe, twelve dollars at a home improvement store. It's not a pretty job, but can save a lot of money.

Although, I have removed a toliet, changed the wax seal, and reseated the toliet, I haven't tried snaking it. Look on-line for information. That's how I figure out all of my DIY projects.

Good luck, Madrone!

[Madrone]

20. UPDATE: Disaster averted.

I hope.

I went for the plunger after all this morning - something I initially didn't do because I was thinking lodged *plastic* ain't budging, and thought it was probably down in the pipe somewhere. My immediate reaction was "worst case scenario" - and that's what I was reacting to.

Anyway - after a vigorous plunging I was able to flush. I woke Jen up and drug her into the bathroom and gave her instructions to not walk away from the toilet when she flushes, and if the water gets to a certain level to IMMEDIATELY shut the water to the tank off - and demonstrated how to do so. I'm still not convinced that something's not lodged further down the pipe and may cause issues later - so I want to keep an eye on it.

Jen feels HORRIBLE and, sadly, very stupid. But like I told her - it's not her fault her family completely failed her. She'll get there eventually.


Thanks for all the advice!!!

[trof]

21. YEA! Yeppers. Plunger works 90% of the time.

[auntAgonist]

22. glad it seems to be fixed!

:hug:

she'll learn, with your loving patience. :)

aA

[GOPisEvil]

23. I'm so happy it all worked out well.

:hug::loveya: