Toilet issue, Moms

Posted by dpb on October 12, 2009, 10:53 am

cshenk wrote:
...

> I'm thinking vacumn pulling via vent sounds most likely just now but
> I'll have her give it another good go with a plunger and change out the
> flapper since those are simple cheap fixes.

...

I'd also suggest a good dose of vinegar in the tank and a squirt of CLR
or similar in the ring area of the feeds--I'd still suspect liming there
as a culprit in low flow during flushing, particularly if water supply
is a little or a lot hard...

I suppose the changes enumerated _could_ have changed the venting and
caused a problem but I'd think it fairly unlikely--I don't think I've
ever known of a case that caused measurable/noticeable volume to go down
the drain on a consistent basis. That would imply somehow having a
persistent vacuum problem which doesn't seem too likely to be caused by
wind or other changes of the type you've noted as that would be variable.

Easy enough to test (altho probably not for Mom) by adding a baffle at

the vent exit. Sister good at climbing too???? <vbg>

Posted by cshenk on October 12, 2009, 12:22 pm

"dpb" wrote

> cshenk wrote:

>> I'm thinking vacumn pulling via vent sounds most likely just now but I'll
>> have her give it another good go with a plunger and change out the
>> flapper since those are simple cheap fixes.

> ...
> I'd also suggest a good dose of vinegar in the tank and a squirt of CLR or
> similar in the ring area of the feeds--I'd still suspect liming there as a
> culprit in low flow during flushing, particularly if water supply is a
> little or a lot hard...

Grin, more info. It's not when flushing the toilet. Acts normal then.
Sporadically though, the bowl volume goes way down, sometimes coming back up
later on it's own. Flushing restores it always.

> I suppose the changes enumerated _could_ have changed the venting and
> caused a problem but I'd think it fairly unlikely--I don't think I've ever
> known of a case that caused measurable/noticeable volume to go down the
> drain on a consistent basis. That would imply somehow having a persistent
> vacuum problem which doesn't seem too likely to be caused by wind or other
> changes of the type you've noted as that would be variable.

I'm wondering if it's a combination thing?

> Easy enough to test (altho probably not for Mom) by adding a baffle at the

Sadly, Sister pretty much out of the picture. So's the brother. Life moved
on and she isnt part of their world anymore. I'm the only one with daily
communication. Unfortunate but happens.

Posted by dpb on October 12, 2009, 12:49 pm

cshenk wrote:

> "dpb" wrote

>> cshenk wrote:

>>> I'm thinking vacumn pulling via vent sounds most likely just now but
>>> I'll have her give it another good go with a plunger and change out
>>> the flapper since those are simple cheap fixes.

>> ...
>> I'd also suggest a good dose of vinegar in the tank and a squirt of
>> CLR or similar in the ring area of the feeds--I'd still suspect liming
>> there as a culprit in low flow during flushing, particularly if water
>> supply is a little or a lot hard...

>
> Grin, more info. It's not when flushing the toilet. Acts normal then.
> Sporadically though, the bowl volume goes way down, sometimes coming
> back up later on it's own. Flushing restores it always.

...

Ah, that's a completely different kettle of fish than simply going down
gradually over time...

Need to (as somebody else noted, I think I recall???) watch and test
other drains one at a time starting w/ other toilets and those near in
proximity to this one.

Sounds like an obstruction in drain vent--perhaps a varmint or something
else fell into one. When another drain using the same line operates,
that creates either vacuum or pressure depending on which side it's on
relative to this commode.

She can do the testing herself by establishing a level and going to do
something and coming back to check results but it would be far quicker
to have an observer and operator.

Too bad of sister; sorry, your earlier post indicated she was the handy
type and had been involved w/ repair/fixup but didn't mention that was
in days of yore...

Anyway, think this has isolated a root cause; solution is probably going
to require rooftop rooting of vent line although if lucky perhaps
there's just an obstruction retrievable from the top easily.

--

Posted by BQ340 on October 10, 2009, 11:26 am

cshenk wrote:

> Hi folks, this in from Mom. "comode is not holding water but fills up
> fine but leaks out over time so must be refilled."
>
> Ideas? She'd mean the toilet bowl not the tank.

Evaporation if toilet is not used much?
Vent issues causing suction in drainpipe when other drains are used?
Dog water bowl is empty?

MikeB

Posted by aemeijers on October 10, 2009, 4:59 pm

BQ340 wrote:

> cshenk wrote:

>> Hi folks, this in from Mom. "comode is not holding water but fills up
>> fine but leaks out over time so must be refilled."
>> Ideas? She'd mean the toilet bowl not the tank.

>
>
> Evaporation if toilet is not used much?
> Vent issues causing suction in drainpipe when other drains are used?
> Dog water bowl is empty?
>
> MikeB

'Dog water bowl is empty?'

Snort. Best post I've read today.

--
aem sends...

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Toilet issue, Moms - Page 2