Any plumbers to help Alice

[Alice]

Any help welcome here. Moved house recently and toilet bowl performance is very intermittent. Sometimes fine, other times bowl fills right to the top, looks like it might come right over the top, then goes right down, too far down below the drain line, sits going gloop, gloop, gloop, disgusting me - on the next flush all can be well.
What's going on. Other drains and in between times, all is well.

[smallblueplanet]

Sounds like there's a blocked drain somewhere - had a similar occurence at our last place. Tried to ignore it for as long as possible, then the weekend before our house went up for sale the drains started overflowing at the manhole cover in the garage!

Called out one of the 'drain unblocking' services - and they were fairly kind, as I made pleasant conversation with the chap as he unblocked a very messy drain, and so he didn't charge me totally what they should even though it was a Bank Holiday! Oh yes it always goes totally t*ts up at the worst time.....

...so search your Yellow Pages, give some firms a ring and ask for quotes on drain unblocking, unless you think its the fault of the water company, in which case ring them and demand they sort it!

[Paulottie]

Too much paper? but sounds like there may be a blockage in the U tube. It maybe that some object is wedged in there and is causing a partial obstruction. No pleasant solution ...probably a fishing trip with a coat hanger.

Hey, I'm a chippy though!

[sewer rat]

Hi Alice
Do you have any problems with other drains in the house - second toilet, sinks, baths taking longer than you would expect to drain away ? If so then the fault probably lies in the main sewage outlet for the property - and you should be able to locate a manhole where your house sewer has it's junction with the main sewer. Fill the bath and see what sort of flow you get at the junction. If it's not too good you could call Scottish Water and give them hell - tell them the smell of sewage is coming back up through your toilet and you can't take it any longer.
However, if all the other outlets are fine, then itwould suggest that your problem lies in the U bend or beyond. You can buy toilet augers, which are flexible wire spirals that you rotate down past the U bend and then twist the handle and the action should break up and dislodge any obstruction. A cheaper quick fix may be to get a full bucket of water and pour it down the toilet quickly - sometimes the sudden burst of water can help dislodge any obstruction.
As to what the obstruction may be - nothing, and I mean nothing would surprise me - saw the lot when I was doing the job that gave me my forum name.
Let me know how you get on - maybe able to suggest something else if these don't work.

[Alice]

Thanks everybody and happy birthday Rat. I'll get in there tomorrow and report findings. Bet you can't wait