Our 2 year old son has managed to block our downstairs toilet by dropping the "Harpic on the rim cleaner" down the toilet and flushing it in a fit of rage. Aside from why the door was unlocked at the time, any ideas for fishing it back out?
I think it's jammed in because although the toilet flushes from the cistern the water only drains slowly from the actual toilet which would indicate that somewhere in the U-bend the offending item is wedged.
Without taking the cistern off and moving the toilet from its fixings to get into it both ways does anyone have any ideas?
2006-12-20 23:39:24 · 12 answers · asked by cheerfulwaster 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
you wont need to take cistern off unless its a sit on type.just pull the flush pipe out of the back of toilet unscrew bowl from floor then pull it out of the quick fit plastic bend.you can fish it back by hand use a pair of kitchen gloves, get your hand round the bend.or go to your manhole outside in building regs toilets should go direct to manhole for rodding purposes.lift lid get someone flush toilet then you will she which pipe it is.get some drain rods with a plunger on it. push rods back to toilet and see if you can force it back.have someone their to grab it or listen for it.
2006-12-21 00:01:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am guessing that the easiest way will be to remove the toilet and reach into it from underneath. That definitely will work.
As far as things to try instead, you need to be able to reach down into the bend of the toilet and snag the stuck container. If it is made of plastic (I have no idea what that kind of cleaner is packaged in) then using a plumbers snake that has a pointed hook on the end might be able to grab it. There are a variety of them most having a flexible shaft and a handle to turn. Try turning and if you think you have hooked it keep turning and pulling up. If you can't snag it try pushing down to send it past the bend.
2006-12-21 04:06:49 · answer #2 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first 2 answers you were given i would try first if that does not work. The plastic connection at the back of the toilet called a multi wick is very easy to remove.and get back into place again. It is basically a rubber ring which you can push back and then twist to gain access to the back of the toilet bowl. . You don't have to turn the water off of anything like that and no matter what happens do not go near the cistern.
2006-12-20 23:58:29 · answer #3 · answered by selig 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My son flushed a toy boat down the toilet, and I made him reach in and get it out. Never had that problem again.
The opening is quite large, and a skinny hand/arm can reach in there, possibly enough to reach the obstruction.
You might be able to "suck" it out with a plunger....you put the plunger in, tipping it to the side to get the air out of it...then slowly push it down...and yank it back out putting suction on it.
A snake might hook it and pull it out, too. Even a bent coat hanger might work...it's probably in the bend of the toilet, and you can get an idea of where that bend is from the side of the toilet, depending on the model.
If these methods fail, you will have to pull the toilet, turn it over and get it out. I suggest you have the 2 yr old do it.
2006-12-20 23:58:32 · answer #4 · answered by roadlessgraveled 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Removing the toilet is not as hard as people think. Just make sure that you a new wax ring for the base. Two bolts and viola! I never done anything like it before, but armed with common sense and ability to think under pressure you won't have a problem.
Good Luck
2006-12-21 06:51:59 · answer #5 · answered by mrjrpadilla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try using a "snake" but I think your best course of action would be to remove the toilet and see if you can get " Harpi " out that way. If it ends up getting into the main pipe it could lead to some very expensive repairs if it becomes lodged in it... good luck!
2006-12-20 23:46:16 · answer #6 · answered by Doug 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pocket mirror and a coat hanger so you can see it and fish it out ,other than that pull unit and retrive it from bottom with hanger .make sure you bend the hanger so it can grab the object and position the mirror so that you can see what you are doing. OH and in case I forgot to mention drain the bowl of the toilet first before you try to stick the mirror and hanger in the bowl.
2006-12-21 05:40:04 · answer #7 · answered by Half Breed 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I saw on here the other day that someone used a wet-vac to suck out something that was pluggin his toilet. You could give that a try.
2006-12-21 03:39:02 · answer #8 · answered by badneighborvt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
use a coat hanger.
the metal wire one. unravel it and use the hook to retrieve harpi
2006-12-20 23:52:33 · answer #9 · answered by speedball182 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rent a plumbing snake...it will either retrieve the harpic or push it thru...
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b5/boorite/plumbing_snake.jpg
http://www.sweethaven02.com/BldgConst/EN5115a0012.gif
http://www.ehow.com/how_397_plumbers-helper-snake.html
2006-12-20 23:47:11 · answer #10 · answered by sadie_oyes 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋