Major problem with downstairs toilet

billyhead

I moved into a new house 2 months ago and there is now a problem with the downstairs toilet. First when i flush the toilet the water level always rises to the top and also if I leave either the hot or cold water tap running bubbles start appearing in the toilet bowl water. At night there is also a banging noise coming from the pipes under the sink in the downstairs toilet. It would make a kind of banging noise twice with an interval of about 1 minute and then after a while it would stop making the noise. What could be the problem. As far as i know the pipes are not blocked which could be causing the water level to rise in the toilet bowl. Does this sound like a big job to fix and if so how much would a plumber charge?

If it's a new build, I'd get the builder back. It sounds like an air lock in the sewer drain caused by the pipes not being laid in a level fall, but snaking up and down trapping air somewhere along it's length.

The Hill Billy

I had a similar problem recently where the water level in the toilet bowl was rising after flushing & also bubbling when the sink taps were running. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the connection was between the two.

The upshot is that you most likely have a blockage in the waste pipe beyone the point where the general waste water from the house (ie, sinks, etc.) joins the main sewer. When you run the taps this is causing pressure to feed back up into the toilet bowl. Hence the bubbles.

Time to get the Marigolds on & the rods out!

(I haven't a clue about your pipe banging.)

billyhead

Hi Hillbilly,


Did you fix this problem yourselve and if so how? Knowing the builder if I contact him he will come up with some excuse not to call out and I will end up having to either fix it myself or call in and pay for a plumber who will charge me a mint.

The Hill Billy

billyhead:

I got a loan of some rods from a mate, put my Marigold gloves on & started pushing.

I suppose that the first thing for you to do is to locate the access cover for your waste pipe. Best way to do this is identify the waste downpipe on the side of your house (will generally come out the wall where your bathroom is) & then look for an access cover set into the ground nearby. They are generally 30cm x 30cm black square plastic covers these days. Open this up & if you cannot see the pipe clearly in the bottom of it for all the cr@p & soggy toilet paper - then you probably have a blockage. To clear this you will need to get a set of rods & clear it yourself or get a plumber to do it for you.

billyhead

Thanks HillBilly:)