Low water level in Bog.
Discussion
Our downstairs bog has recently developed a problem. The water level in the pan sinks to a ludicrously low level almost immediately after flushing. Doesn't rise again, either.
The cistern fills normally. There is no detectable leak - there's nothing nasty on the floor.
It's as if something was "sucking" harder on the far side!
The bog works every time.
Blockage? Any ideas?
The cistern fills normally. There is no detectable leak - there's nothing nasty on the floor.
It's as if something was "sucking" harder on the far side!
The bog works every time.
Blockage? Any ideas?
If there is no crack in the u bend at the same level of the water, then you probably have a partial blockage the other side of the bog. This will cause a venturi effect when flushing, and draw more water from the bowl to the waste pipe.
Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
SeeFive said:
If there is no crack in the u bend at the same level of the water, then you probably have a partial blockage the other side of the bog. This will cause a venturi effect when flushing, and draw more water from the bowl to the waste pipe.
Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
I have a drain unblocker - stiff cable on a reel with a probe on the end - I got from Screwfix a while back. I'll dig it out and have a go. I take it I am likely to find something truly putrid stuck down there? Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
Thanks for the tip. Oh...it's going to be nasty :shudder:
Don said:
SeeFive said:
If there is no crack in the u bend at the same level of the water, then you probably have a partial blockage the other side of the bog. This will cause a venturi effect when flushing, and draw more water from the bowl to the waste pipe.
Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
I have a drain unblocker - stiff cable on a reel with a probe on the end - I got from Screwfix a while back. I'll dig it out and have a go. I take it I am likely to find something truly putrid stuck down there? Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
Thanks for the tip. Oh...it's going to be nasty :shudder:
The soil blockage is possibly something like a nappy or "ladies item", but could also be just a build up of waste around lime if you are in a hard water area. It does not take much to cause the venturi problem in a pipe of that size, so it may not be too bad to shift - not like you had high water in the bowl!!
Take it gently and try to move it out waste side bit by bit rather than pulling it back indoors. That should make it less nasty, and no issues about fishing it out and disposing of whatever it happens to be.
I am sorry to say that my money is on the nasty problem... but at least it'll stop you biting your fingernails for a while
Fish said:
Is the end of the run vented to air or via a durgo. A blocked durgo could create similar problems including low levels in other toilets and gurgling
You have now used words beyond my ken. 
But this is the only pan affected of four in the house.
So I reckon I'll have to have a go with me unblocker no matter how stinky it's going to get. After all if the unblocker doesn't fix it I've lost nothing other than "enjoying" the admittedly stinky experience. And probably my wife. Who, instead of lauding my efforts to solve a household problem without recourse to a professional, is more likely to look upon it an an outbreak of biological warfare intended solely on the destruction of the fragrant purity of her home.
One cannot win. One should not try.
SeeFive said:
Don said:
SeeFive said:
If there is no crack in the u bend at the same level of the water, then you probably have a partial blockage the other side of the bog. This will cause a venturi effect when flushing, and draw more water from the bowl to the waste pipe.
Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
I have a drain unblocker - stiff cable on a reel with a probe on the end - I got from Screwfix a while back. I'll dig it out and have a go. I take it I am likely to find something truly putrid stuck down there? Have you recently had an Evo Stick curry? Time to get the rods out, or a man in if you don't like bad smells.
Thanks for the tip. Oh...it's going to be nasty :shudder:
The soil blockage is possibly something like a nappy or "ladies item", but could also be just a build up of waste around lime if you are in a hard water area. It does not take much to cause the venturi problem in a pipe of that size, so it may not be too bad to shift - not like you had high water in the bowl!!
Take it gently and try to move it out waste side bit by bit rather than pulling it back indoors. That should make it less nasty, and no issues about fishing it out and disposing of whatever it happens to be.
I am sorry to say that my money is on the nasty problem... but at least it'll stop you biting your fingernails for a while
Ferg said:
Fish said:
Is the end of the run vented to air or via a durgo. A blocked durgo could create similar problems including low levels in other toilets and gurgling
My money would be on that too, but I'd have called it an 'Air Admittance Valve'... 
I wonder if the word 'durgo' is onomatopoeic? My 'durgo' goes actually 'durgo'
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