When I flush my toilet the water does not flow down. The tank fills the toilet and it almost floods the bathroom then the water slowly empties from the tank. I have plunged and have not made any head way. What can I do?
I sure sounds like something is clogging the flow. If you have young kids in the house, I'll bet one of them is missing a toy.)
It will need to be snaked. The tools are available at the hardware store. It does not usually take any special skill, but it can be a messy job and sometimes the snake the sell at the hardware store is not up to the job. You may just want to call in the plumber.
It would appear that you have a blockage in your drain pipe system. If you are on a septic system, make sure the tank is not over-full.
Calling a plumber would be the clean way to solve the problem, doing it yourself will likely be dirty and stinky.
I'd try a plumbing tool called a "snake" first. There is a short version designed for toilets that has a bend that fits into the toilet trap which prevents scratching the porcelain. You rotate the snake as you feed it into the toilet trap, and if you're lucky, the pointed end of the snake will snag whatever is blocking the drain and you can pull it out.
If that doesn't work, you'll have to start opening up cleanout downline from the toilet. You can run in a full length snake into each cleanout until the snake eventually snags the blockage.
Good luck.
Mr Fixit eh
However... remember the plumber's creed: If it stinks, it's money!
Or roots have invaded your sewer drain pipe - another common cause for blockage.
Our sewer drain pipe was recently blocked about 28 feet out from the cleanout hole. Reaming out the pipe took an industrial strength (motorized) snake, run by a plumber. I suppose you might be able to rent such a snake, but calling a plumber was much easier - if more expensive.
FurPaw
Sorry to say, but most of the time once roots get into a pipe, it is a sign that they will be back. It means you have water hungry roots in the area and you have a leak in your pipe. The roots go for the leak and follow it right into the pipe. The only real fix is replacement of, at least, that section of pipe.
go to the hardware store and ask for a "closet auger". The cheep one is about $8, the good one is $25, and the industrial one is about $40.
Either it comes with instructions, or ask how to use it. Put the snake down the bowl, crank for awhile. Flush to rinse off the snake. Retract snake.
Not dificult, but takes some figuring out to make the thing work.
Yep, I know. It's on the money pit list.
FurPaw
Could be that there's not enough water going into the bowl to make a good flush (it takes a minimum amount of water in the bowl to force its way past the 'p' trap and down the drain...not enough water results in slow flushes). Do this: fill a bucket about half way with water. Flush your toilet, and while it's flushing, start pouring water into the bowl from the bucket. If it flushes fine, look at adjusting the water level in your tank higher (to force more water down the bowl when you flush), if it doesn't, look in the bowl during a flush to see if the holes under the rim of the bowl are not letting the water flow sufficiently into the bowl (how old is the toilet?).. If that's the case, you can't really clean the holes...just get a new toilet.
If the bucket trick doesn't work and the bowl fill holes are clean and flowing strongly, buy the toilet auger and try it in the toilet.
If it's the main line that is clogged, you'd notice more than just one toilet draining slowly, you'd notice sinks, bathtubs and other toilets draining slowly, since they all share the one line to the city sewer line.
Good luck...
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