Toilet issue, Moms

[cshenk]

Well, she says she'll go to the HW store and get a new one tomorrow.

I appreciate you guys (and gals) patience! It's frustrating to not be able to answer in details other than I do 'Mom-speak' quite well, so yes, it's the bowl and she's not hearing anything (her hearing is still tip-top). She's checked the tank (The other bathroom had a tank problem last year and we talked her through fixing it)

Yes, re-fills on flush.

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.

The reason why I think it may be wind driven is 2 things recently changed the wind pattern. She put up a much better wind barrier and re-insulated underneath. She also mentioned a large tree was taken out fairly near her lot, just a little bit ago. That might be affecting any top venting.

[cshenk]

"Stormin Mormon" wrote

Looks easy! I sent her that one too and combined all the notes. I probably won't hear back from her until Monday. She uses the library for her internet access.

[jeff_wisnia]

TWO words?

I count THREE.

Jeff

[dpb]

cshenk wrote: ...

...

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????

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[cshenk]

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'm wondering if it's a combination thing?

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.

[dpb]

...

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.

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[Stormin Mormon]

About time someone pointed out. Thanks for being observant. Two words: Congratulations!

[cshenk]

"cshenk" wrote

Grin, back from Mom 'You are a gem, now tell all them cute young men thanks!' (Mom's 79 so all of you qualify ;-)

She's shut the water off to that one and taken the flapper off. It's in her purse as the generic one from the HD didnt fit. There's this cute young guy, mid-50's that she's gonna charm up to help her find the right one. Local plumming supply place. Lordy mighty, knowing Mom, he's gonna be lucky if he gets away just selling her a flapper! (hehe the ladies will catch on, guys at that age tend to be a little slow on the uptake).

Thats my Mom! Go girl go!