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    jakendall's Avatar
    jakendall Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Sep 14, 2010, 10:48 PM
    I dropped the toilet paper holder down the toilet as it was flushing what should I do
    parttime's Avatar
    parttime Posts: 1,440, Reputation: 113
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    #2

    Sep 15, 2010, 05:19 AM

    Jake, with a little luck it passed on through, if not your in for some line snaking. Have you used the toilet since the paper roll went down? If it worked, it may be all right. I'd keep an eye on it for the next several flushes to be sure of no overflow. Good luck
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #3

    Sep 15, 2010, 06:02 AM

    If you can't reach it with your fingers it's one of two places.

    1) It's hung up in the trap. In which case you'll have to attempt to push it out in the main, ( you'll never drag it back) using a closet auger, (see image). **OR**
    2) It went through then trap and is now out in the main. To check this you will have tom flush down massive bunches of toilet paper to try to get it to back up.
    If it doesn't you're home free.

    If not you'll have to snake the main and attempt to push it out into the street main.
    Good luck and let me know how you make out, Tom
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    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
     
    #4

    Sep 15, 2010, 06:54 AM

    Hi all:

    When I get a call like this I usually end up removing the toilet and can almost always find it tied up inside the toilet.

    I'd lift the toilet and then use a flashlight and look up inside the base of the toilet. You may also want to use the closet auger posted by Tom in case the tissue holder is caught in the trapway of the toilet... see if you can push the holder through while the toilet is off.

    If you are lucky the tissue holder will be right at the outlet and will be easy to remove. If you're not lucky the tissue holder will be in the main and then things get tougher.

    Good luck!

    Mark
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #5

    Sep 15, 2010, 07:01 AM

    I had some success with getting one of these out by getting out my fishing tackle box. I put about 24" of line on a treble hook and held the end of the line as I flushed the treble hook down the drain. Slowly tug on the line and you should snag that holder in one or two tries.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #6

    Sep 15, 2010, 03:57 PM

    Bob and Mark gave excellent solutions but I would save Marks till the last. Pulling a toilet is my last resort. Sometimes you just got to but if I can clear the toilet without the messy job of pulling and resetting it that makes both the lady of the house and me very happy.
    Good luck Tom
    scottgall's Avatar
    scottgall Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #7

    Aug 18, 2012, 09:58 AM
    Assuming that the TP-roll holder is still stuck in the toilet, here's a relatively easy solution:
    Step 1. shut off water to toilet & flush to get most of the water out
    Step 2. get a hold of an old (older the better) but still highly functioning wet/dry shop-vac via garage/yard sale, Craigslist, or borrow from friend/neighbor
    Step 3. suck it out with shop vac (you may have to push hose into the toilet a bit)
    Step 4. cleanup & you're done!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #8

    Aug 18, 2012, 11:35 AM
    Hi scottgall and welcome to The Plumbing Page at AskMeHelpDesk.com You are responding to a 2 old dead thread . Please check the date before you post. Thanks,
    assuming that the TP-roll holder is still stuck in the toilet, here's a relatively easy solution:
    Step 1. shut off water to toilet & flush to get most of the water out
    Step 2. get a hold of an old (older the better) but still highly functioning wet/dry shop-vac via garage/yard sale, Craigslist, or borrow from friend/neighbor
    Step 3. suck it out with shop vac (you may have to push hose into the toilet a bit)
    None of the above. You can try a shop vac butb if it were my call I'd put a hook on a hanger and attempt to drag it back to where I could get my fingers on it to pull it out.
    But perhaps it's already slipped by into the main. To check if you still have something down in there take the lid off from the tank. Now wad up a BIG double handful of TP and Reach down into the tank and lift the flapper by hand. If everything's OK let it flush normally. But if it starts to back up close the flapper at once . Your roll's still down there. You may have to pull the toilet and go fish it out from the bottom. Good, luck, Tom

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