Plumbing experts? Help needed!

[rockzilla]

So, I wake up this morning at 8:55 (my alarm didn''t go off...I think I was too tired when I set it) and hurredly start getting ready for work....

As I''m about to leave, I notice that my toilet isn''t flushing (!) actually, it sort of is, this is what happens:

-Bowl fills up w/ water
-Water slowly drains
-At the end the water is way below the normal place

There isn''t really anything that could be obviously blocking it - I tried plunging but that didn''t do anything. I tried looking on toilet troubleshooting sites, but couldn''t find anything helpful.

I really want to avoid having the plumber come because I believe he stole some of my jewelry the last time he came =(

Right now I''m taking the "hope it magically repairs itself while I''m at work" approach - I leave Saturday for Cancun though and I don''t want to come back from my trip to a flooded bathroom or something =(

If you know anything about plumbing (that you can explain to a complete novice) please help!!

 

[eks6426]

My experience with your situation usually means there is a clog further down in the pipe that isn''t completely blocking things yet. You can try plunging it more or snaking it which is a total pain.

If you decide not to mess with it before you leave, turn the water off to the toilet just to be sure.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Sounds like one of your seals isn't sealing. Open the back of the tank and check the seal at the bottom that's connected to the chain and float. When you flush, lift this chain which opens the seal. It could be that the seal is broken and is allowing your toilet to constantly drain the tank into the bowl. As the bowl fills and you allow water to enter the bowl, it triggers the "flush" (which I think is just gravitational pull). I THINK this is how it works, not positive though.

I may have misread your message I thought you meant your bowl was constantly filling and emptying

 

[scarleta]

I would get a professional before your departure.Have a great holiday..

 

[rockzilla]

So, my boyfriend is going by on his lunch break to see if he can fix it (he has been living in apartments longer than me so maybe he can do something) If that doesn''t work I''ll try to arrange to have the plumber come at least at a time when my roommate is home...

ARGH! Worst timing ever!

Can''t believe my guy is so sweet though

 

[rockzilla]

Boyfriend fixed the toilet over lunch!

My hero

 

[iheartscience]

What a good boyfriend, fixing your toilet! That reminds me of a good toilet-related story about my boyfriend:

My best friend moved into a one bedroom and she wasn''t too handy. Well, she *ahem* clogged the toilet at her apartment and couldn''t fix it. So my boyfriend of a few months (now my fiance) went over to her apartement with me and fixed it. She was super embarassed, but very impressed with the nice boyfriend I had recently acquired! He''s a keeper, that''s for sure!

P.S. That''s WACK about the plumber stealing your jewelry! Did you ever complain about him?

 

[scarleta]

Glad to hear that.Now you can enjoy your trip.Have fun..

 

[monarch64]

Glad to hear your BF was able to fix the toilet situation! For future reference if you ever get a really bad clog, and MUST call a plumber, here in Chicagoland it ran us about $100 to have a guy come in and snake our sink drain. I imagine it would be about the same for toilets...unless you''re calling on a weekend or holiday (when they start charging time and a half or overtime) that''s ~ what you''re looking at as far as expense, I think.

My hubby is in sales and is a self-described "pencil-pusher" and has never picked up some of the traditional male household skills, but we are fortunate enough to have good friends who are carpet-installers, plumbers, electricions, general contractors, etc., and they all live within a 15-mile radius so we''ve been able to call on their expertise at least. I always try to be around or on another phone when they are talking with my DH or when they come over to do work, that way I get to learn a bit as well for any future recurrences.

Have a wonderful trip, Rockzilla!!!

 

[Independent Gal]

One of the guys at the hardware store around the corner from me is a toilet genius (ok, that sounds gross) and the couple of times I''ve had a problem, he''s diagnosed it, sold me the necessary tools to fix it (usually it''s less than $5) and given me excellent instructions for how to fix it. I love that guy! He''s my toilet-hero! Maybe I''ll bring him a christmas present or something.