Keeping toilet unblocked

[Clive]

Is it worthwhile every few months putting some Caustic soda crystals down the toilet to prevent blocking?

Every year my toilet gets blocked. About half an hour with flexible rods and "pumping" with a toilet brush seems to push it all through.

I live alone so I know what goes down there - and there ain't nothing that should cause a problem. However, the soil pipe has all kinds of interesting bends and twists into a shared soil pipe for all the flats. Now the problem doesn't occur in the shared stack (though it would be a nightmare if the shared stack did block as there are no "inspection" or "rodding" points along the pipe - and the bloody thing is inside the building. God help us if it blocks.)

So, I am guessing the rather twisted nature of the pipe from the pan makes it vulnerable to blocking. Can I keep it ultra clean with chemicals or will it just block from time to time?

Thanks

Clive

[The Natural Philosopher]

Actually a selection of good flushes is often enough..I did this to my loo whilst buildng the new bathroom - LOT of cement and plaster went down it..I just kept flushing till there was an enormous WHOOSH and it all cleared.

Plenty of water is te secret of keeping stuff clean. Hot water is good, and hot caustic is better, but I try not to do it too often.

once a problem starts it usually builds..as flow rate is what keeps the thing swept clean.

[Mike]

I think some loo designs are just cra* . Ours has such a tight bend I'm amazed it works at all. It's always getting blocked and we have a plunger thing on perm. standby. I've tried caustic, leave it stand overnight etc but nothing seems to improve it. I seem to remember some pressure thing (aerosol) that claimed to blast away blockages - can't recall where though - it may have been on QVC (yes I'm their occasional viewer).

[PeTe33]

When our toilet in the shop used to get blocked with a "big hard one" I just crumbled up a washing powder tablet (Fairy FWIW) and left it a few hours. The extra slippery water and I guess softening action on the offending object always seemed to shi(f)t it on the next flush.

I occasionally crumble up a dishwasher tablet in the bowl at home just to keep things slipping along.

:¬)