There was a clog in my main-level toilet. 1st attempt at removal was using a plunger. 2nd attempt was using a snake. It took a few attempts with the snake to get it in the right place, then it pulled some stuff out. After that, I vigorously plunged the toilet again and suddenly everything cleared up.

Now enter the new problem:

When I flush the toilet, the bowl empties, fills up a bit, empties again, fills up a bit, empties a 3rd time, then stops. Water remains in the bowl.

Ideas?

Hey Brenton...

Does it multi. Flush for every flush now? Does it evacuate the entire bowl including waste/toilet paper every time now? I can only guess without knowing this info. OK? Read on...

Did you even lift the lid to the toilet tank? If you did, did you mess with the flapper, by chance? If so, that is probably the problem and the flapper will need to be adjusted back to the proper place.

Did you mess with the fill valve? If so, and say you allowed more water into the tank that would keep the flapper up longer and this could result in "multiple" flushes.

Otherwise, I am afraid to say that I am thinking the toilet bowl got broken in the trapway where you can't see it when you were using that snake and unfortunately that toilet bowl will need to be replaced to restore proper function.

Let me know more about the flush, OK?

Mark

Hi Mark. I tested a piece of toilet paper and it went down the on the first 'flush'. This time however the bowl only emptied twice. Is there a vacuum issue that is trying to self-correct?

Ah, also, I removed the tank lid but I didn't play with the flapper.

If you touched anything it needs to be undone. I'd also like to see you flush lots of toilet paper down and do it a number of times. Report back on results if possible.

Otherwise, I'm thinkin' you could have a cracked trapway and water is pushing out of that as fast as it can and causing the multi. Flush. Does this sound possible? Did you push really hard on that snake?

Have you tried snaking the toilet again?

Finally, did you use a CLOSET AUGER or a real 3/8" or 1/2" drain snake?

Let me know the answers...

Hi! I used a real drain snake, not the auger.

Hi Mark,

I pushed on it pretty good but I don't feel like I jammed it that hard. I did remove some of the debris and was able to plunge the rest free. That when the 3-for-1 flushing began. It seems to be random though: sometimes it's 2-for-1, sometimes it's 3-for-1. After the 'final' flush the bowl retains water. Trial bits of toilet paper are gone on the 'first' flush.

I used a regular drain snake, for it at Harbor Freight for about $8.

If I did damage the trap, is that part of the toilet and therefore I'll need to get a new toilet? I've considered that possibility already, to be more eco-friendly. My new concern, in regards to damaging the trap, is there anything potentially 'really bad' with that? Along the lines of secretly flooding my basement or is it that the toilet just won't work properly like it isn't now.

If I do replace the toilet, SAMS club had one that had two buttons in order to conserve water. Is that a real thing or just a toy?

I appreciate your efforts!

I went to the harborfreight site... small hand-held snake they sell for $8.00, right? If so, it's almost impossible to break the toilet trapway using this snake... *whew*.

The 2-3 flushes confuses me then... hmmmm.

Let me think on this a bit overnight... I'll post in the early AM before going off to work, OK?

For now, I'd plunge the toilet again and then use it a few times... YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN... ;)

Let me know the results when you do.

Mark

PS: The two button eco-friendly toilets look like they could be a nice thing, but be careful to make sure that there are replacement parts readily available in the future if needed as some of these may be hard to run parts down for years from now! I usually recommend, Toto, kohler, or american standard toilets... been around forever and parts are usually available everywhere.

Hi Mark,

I haven't played with the toilet since last night. I'm going to 'use' it tonight and maybe plunge it again. While it is flushing now, should I use something like liquid plumber-foaming snake? Or is that a gimmick?

I am wondering if you may have moved your clog downstream to the vent stack. A clogged vent stack can cause your bowl to siphon. What do you think Mark?

If it's in the vent stack now, can that cause any kind of smell around the outside of the house?

Bob... could be vent issue especially since Brenten just mentioned the fact that an odor is occurring outside now...

Need to be clear on one thing still though. Brenton, is the bowl siphoning out or is it actually flushing 2-3 times? Here, a siphoned bowl will usually leave very little water in the toilet bowl at the very end (sometimes minutes later) and a multi.flush toilet will leave plenty of water, or at least enough to cover the hole(s) in the bottom of the toilet.

Let us know...

Mark