So ...

About that time, I suggested we pour some draino or something down the line to help eat away the excess TP. Friend said, don't have any but I do have some bleach.

Poured half a bottle of bleach down the toilet and lo and behold, in no time the clog was gone!

So ... did my buddy do bad by pouring down bleach instead of draino? Will this hurt his sewer? What if he was on septic?

Inquiring minds wanna know. Thanks in advance.

FWIW: bleach is a darn sight cheaper than draino per bottle ...

[This message has been edited by techno-ag (edited 4/27/2011 8:35p).]

Well no bleach is not bad for it. It will clean it too. What did he clog it with that bleach unclogged it, but plunging did not? Also, sometimes just sitting will help it dissolve and then let go.

Brad

Sponsor Message: http://www.johngauseplumbing.com/
FOR SERVICE 24 HOURS CALL 979-492-9094
or click Appointments on our site to schedule online

Thanks JGP. Perhaps it was a combination of sitting there a while, and the bleach. Was a simple TP clog.

quote:

---

What if he was on septic?

---

Depends on a lot of factors, largely how big his system is and how much bleach he flushed.

For the most part, it should be fine. He may get a slight odor for a few days, but that's it.

It won't hurt the pumps or anything mechanical in the system, just kill off some of the microbes.

Introduce courtesy flushes to the young man. This is a basic step to avoid plumbers, cleaners, dranos, and public forums.

A courtesy flush involves a flush during the beginning of the procedure. As time passes, and the young man checks his email on his iPhone, he would reach back and do yet another flush. Upon completion, the young man would do one more flush. Finally, upon inspection of the bowl, a last flush may be required.

A good rule of thumb is one flush per 3 minutes. This keeps the pipes from being clogged. In addition, it allows others to breathe easier.

unless it backs up on the first flush. Then you have real problems.

quote:

---

A courtesy flush involves a flush during the beginning of the procedure. As time passes, and the young man checks his email on his iPhone, he would reach back and do yet another flush. Upon completion, the young man would do one more flush. Finally, upon inspection of the bowl, a last flush may be required.

---

I don't think the courtesy flush would have helped in this case. If I read the Op correctly, the child in question used too much TP. He needs to learn that he doesn't need as much s he thinks he does. Not always easy to teach the young 'uns...

I get lots of too much TP calls. Then I feel bad when I arrive and it flushes.

Lesson, if toilet clogs. Let it sit a bit. Then carefully try it.

Brad

Sponsor Message: http://www.johngauseplumbing.com/
FOR SERVICE 24 HOURS CALL 979-492-9094
or click Appointments on our site to schedule online

A toilet is like anything else. Too much input can clog. Ye ol' courtesy flush is a proven technique used by the pros. I started using around 1999, and never had a problem. I encourage my house guests to use. It's no fun for anyone to respond to a jammed toilet. Good luck.

I blame high fiber diets on toilet clogs!