Blocked Lavatory

[mikesnr]

Was advised that a strong hot soda solution would clear a blocked lavatory, but it hasn't . Much obliged for any advice/possible solution - short of 'rodding'.

[kwicky]

Have you tried a plunger?

[heathfield]

Try plunging a mop up and down hard in the water in the pan, in the same way as you'd use a sink plunger. If that doesn't clear it, it means the blockage is somewhere after where the soil pipe from the pan meets the soil pipe vent , (the pipe that goes up the side of the house to above the guttering). That would mean some kind of rodding, alas. Good luck!

[mikesnr]

Yes, tried plunger without success. Thank you both very much for your help; as suggested, likely blockage is beyond pan soil pipe. I had hoped there might be a chemical solution to the problem, but maybe not.

[raysparx1]

Have you lifted manhole ? it could be blocked as far back as that, check to see if water from nearby taps is flowing quickly if waste pipes connect into same soil pipe, Have you got little ones in the house that might have poked a toy down there ?

[gumboot]

You can buy a drain/sink unblocking spring that might well work out cheaper than buying or hiring rods.

The spring is around two metres long and as long as the blockage is not too compacted, it might well work. You could also try one of those spring type pick-up tools although it's not as long.

Another possibility might be an old flexible pipe from a shower unit. Although the pipe is rubber-based, the wide coils around it are flexible enough to go around the bend and it's usually a good metre long. It's worked for me in the past when the kids have thrown too much paper down the bog and I always keep one handy.

Good luck!

[smudge]

Was going to post the same as Ray regarding removing the manhole cover to check. Also wondered if a little one had p'raps put too much loo roll &/or the empty cardboard roll down there. It happened in our house once & we had a housefull of children at the time for a birthday party!

What a palaver!

[ACB312]

Some hardware stores stock stuff called "Drain Magic". It is about �3.99 for a tub and it is a very strong acid. I've used it a few times and it is particularly effective. Read and obey the safety insructions - it is nasty stuff if it gets on the wrong places, like skin. Cheers, Andy

[mikesnr]

How can I thank you all enough!

I checked the manhole; clinically clean almost!

I found an unopened 450g bottle of "Drain Magic" by chance, and applied it as instructed (it is actually 92%+ Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 solution and very powerful); after a suitable interval, and with little obvious sign of free flow, got to work with the shower hose, then left everything to settle.

Have just now flushed the loo.........hey presto! And what a relief! I'll save these posts for reference......you never know!

Once again, thanks for so much good advice.Cheers, Mike