Is there a way to get fish gravel out of a toilet that's clogged?

Question

My daughters kids put gravel in her toilet from a fish tank in her tub that she was cleaning and clogged it which has been that way for quite awhile now. She has tried plunging as well using a shop vac which has not helped. She has even tried drain cleaners and some unclogging device. Anything else to try or is a plummer the only way.

Answer 1

It's filled up the U trap in the toilet base. You can't plunge it out because there's not enough of a plug to suction off of, and drain cleaners won't work because you can't dissolve the gravel. It's too far in for the shop vac to work, not enough suction to pull gravel through the bends. A snake won't work either because the gravel isn't solid or snagable like hair or a wad of toilet paper. She's gonna need a plumber unless she's the handy sort.

Shut off the water line going to the toilet. There should be a shut off valve on the floor or wall. Flush it to empty the tank, then disconnect the tank and unbolt the base from the floor. Stuff a rag into the sewer pipe to prevent the gas from coming into the house, take the base outside. Turn it upside down and stick a garden hose in to start flushing out the gravel. She'll need a new wax ring to reinstall it afterwards, they're at any hardware store for a few bucks. Any home improvement book will walk you through toilet removal/installation. It's really not that hard.

Tell her not to feel bad. I dumped clumping cat litter in my toilet without thinking. It solidified all through the outflow line in the toilet. I had to get a new one.

Answer 2

Do you mean a Wet Vac? If not, then get hold of a Vax or similar, and Vacuum the gravel out. The 'general layout' which you have is the toilet, which has a U bend (that you can see) then 4inch pipe to a vertical (vented) pipe.
Is the toilet "Close Coupled"(tank sits on top/back of toilet pan) or "Low Level" (tank feeds toilet on short length pipe, tank fixed to wall) flush?
To remove the complete toilet pan in the case of a "Close Couple" you need to isolate the tank water supply, disconnect the supply & overflow, then release two bolts under the tank where it bolts to the pan. Now, undo the four screws securing the pan to the floor, and slide the pan forward(good idea to wet vac the pan first!!). The soil pipe, now open, may smell a bit, cover with plastic bag.
For a Low Level Flush, simply undo the 4 screws securing the toilet, slide forward.
Now, you can easily ensure the pan is clear, from both ends. If this is clear, then try a flexible spring wire (B&Q) or even a hosepipe straight down the open end of the soil pipe, if this fails, its time for the plumber.
If you have removed the pan, replacing is easy, line it up, push it in, screw it down. Then, refitting the tank is the reverse of removal, in the case of the "Close Couple" get a new "donut" washer @B&Q(big foam one) If in UK, use my email for further info.

Answer 3

Fish Tank Toilet

Answer 4

I have been called out on jobs like this a few times, it's good money. I don't know why they think drain cleaner is going to open the drains though. It only makes my job harder.

Your going to have to take your pipes apart as far as it takes and get them free. That gravel packs in like cement and you have to work it loose. A rooter-rooter only packs it in worse.

This could be anywhere from a few hours to a few days, it all depends on how much they put in and how bad it is. If pipes (PVC) have to be cut, they'll have to be replaced.

I got $48.00 for coming out, $48.00 for the first hour then the first hour is deducted after the second hour starts and, it's $48.00 an hour after that. I bring a helper with. We take an hour for lunch, no pay, and quit at five.

Answer 5

you can shut off the water and pull the toilet up or hire a plumber to do it. its not a exactly a party. i don't think there is any other way to get it out -- the bottom of the U part of the drain is probably full of gravel and its not going anywhere without drastic measures.

Answer 6

hehe What an odd question... I think it's probably best to just get a plumber to mess with it; I wouldn't want to mess anything up and cause even more damages :(