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-   -   My grandson flushed a toy into the toilet my husband took toilet off but we still ca (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=508758)

  • Sep 18, 2010, 06:11 PM
    scottshome
    My grandson flushed a toy into the toilet my husband took toilet off but we still ca
    My grandson told us he flushed a toy down the toilet but we took the toilet off and cleaned it all out didn't find it so we put toilet back on and it still won't flush water comes to the top and drains slowly down but doesn't take waste out of toilet> where else could my husband look?
  • Sep 18, 2010, 08:08 PM
    hkstroud

    What kind of toy? The toy is obviously stuck in the sewer pipe. You will have to snake the pipe and hopefully the toy is something the snake can grind up to be flushed away. Otherwise you will have to push the toy all the way to the street sewer.
  • Sep 19, 2010, 01:15 AM
    MartinChr
    I manage apartments and this happened to me. All toilets have a 'P' trap built into them. The main line arcs in the shape of a 'P' lying on it's back. This shape traps water after every flush so that the bad smells stay in the sewer.

    The flushed toy is probably stuck in the 'P' trap. Here are two things to try.

    1. Get a hand operated toilet snake. You could rent one but they are available at most big home improvement stores. Put the end with the coiled wire in the toilet and crank the handle while pushing down into the toilet. If you are lucky the wire end will push the toy on threw. This has the added advantage of not requiring the removal of the toilet.

    2. Remove the toilet. Looking at the bottom of the toilet you will see about a 3" hole. This is the end of the 'P' trap, You may be able to see the toy. If so pull it out with some needle nose pliers. If not you may need to fish in the hole with some stiff wire or plastic. If you still can't find it, try fishing from the bowl. The 'P' trap is only twelve incges or so long.

    Good luck and good 'fishing'!
  • Sep 19, 2010, 08:20 AM
    speedball1
    2 Attachment(s)

    I like Martins solutions.
    The "toilet snake" he mentions is called a "closet auger" (see image) and are quite inexpensive. Every home should have one.
    His number two solution needs more explanation.
    Pulling a toilet and going into the bottom to clear a obstruction is a dirty messy job best left to us dirty messy plumbers. Having said that.
    If you have used a closet auger on it and it's still clogged, chances are you will find it in the bend of the trap in the bowl. Turn off the water at the angle stop. Sponge out the tank and bowl. Remove the closet bolts and lift straight up. Have a piece of cardboard to set it on. Now tilt it over on its side. Careful, you still have about a gallon of water left in the trap. Now take a coathanger, put a hook in it and go fishing up the bottom to see if you can hook the ,comb, ballpoint pen, pencil or whatevers caught up there. All you will need to reset the stool is a new wax seal. If your tub and lavatory drains OK and nothing backs up in your tub or shower then it's almost certain it's in the bowl. Good luck and thank you for rating my reply. TOM

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