Replies

1. 
   rdesigns | Dec 30, 2010 05:55pm | #1

   No.

1. 
   Ted W. | Dec 30, 2010 06:14pm | #2

   "No."

   Not big on words, are

   "No."

   Not big on words, are ya? Tell me then, if there is nothing clogging the toilet, the roof vent is not clogged, and the only thing that's changed since yesterday is the temperature... then what else could be causing the toilet to suddenly decide it doesn't want to flush?

   On a related note.. how does a barometer work?

1. 
   Ted W. | Dec 30, 2010 07:26pm | #3

   Ahh.. don't bother.. these forums have gone to the shitter. I'm out of here.

1. 
   calvin | Dec 30, 2010 09:17pm | #5

   Ted

   Do I remember you as being from Chicago?

2. 
   Piffin | Dec 30, 2010 09:39pm | #6

   Congratulations Ted!
   You have just described the first step in determining why you have a poor flushing toilet. Now that you know what it isn't, you can be fairly sure that the waste line is clogged. This calls for locating the cleanout for that line and augering it to determine what sort of item you are going to be embarassed over

2. 
   Scott | Dec 30, 2010 08:47pm | #4

   If you plunged and rodded it (I don't zackly know what rodding is.... you mean a closet auger?). Then I'd say you've got a clog downstream.

3. 
   DanH | Dec 30, 2010 11:28pm | #7

   If you were on a septic tank this would be a surefire sign that the septic tank was overflowing.

   (It's definitely not "atmospheric pressure".)

4. 
   Shacko | Dec 31, 2010 04:52pm | #8

   Toilet Problem

   >>>I threw that idea at the owner and he thinks that is about the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard.<<<

   So do I!

1. 
   Piffin | Dec 31, 2010 06:38pm | #9

   I have heard more rediculous, but this one is definitely in the running

5. 
   Ted W. | Dec 31, 2010 08:10pm | #10

   Well, if ya'll think my atmospheric pressure theory is ridiculous, imagine a tenant not realizing he flushed a deodorant lid down the toilet. Now "Thats" ridiculous!

   Apparently the narrow spring on my power rodder went right past it, several times. I'll have to invest in one of those fancy closet augers, with the big spring on the end. The building owner finally called in the pros and they got it out in no time. 

   I don't know if "No." was meant to be rude, but it was taken that way. I don't treat people like that I don't appreciate being treated that way, unless they ask for it, assuming that's the way it was meant. And ridiculous (stupid) questions don't qualify as askin for it. But anyway, if it wasn't meant that way then I made a jobsite word out of myself twice in one thread, which may be a new record.... for me, anyway. 

   Windy City, Baby! They been trying to get rid of me for decades. But like on these forums, I ain't goin no where no time soon. How's goin' Cal? Did ya do the 3 season porch yet? I wish I lived closer..  sure could use the work these days. =)

   Shacko.. yeah, me too. But really.. if a toilet always rises near the rim, seems a change in the atmospheric pressure could make the difference of whether it overflows or not. They say it's always been bad, they say they absolutely did not flush anything down there they shouldn't have, today is unusually warm, warmer air means lower atmospheric pressure (I like saying that, makes me feel smart), so the column of air above the toilet weighs less and, thus, is doing less to help push the water down. It's not completely crazy. But I digress...

   Piffin.. I use your products all the time and they work great. But I gotta tell ya, I tried regular ol drywall screws and they seem to do the same thing for the same price. If the big boxes ever start stocking them you may have some serious competition. You may have to work on your marketing while you still have it cornered. I have some ideas about collating them and making a specially modified drill that will drive more of them quicker. Also some ideas about making extensions to reach ceilings and floors. I'll be glad to share my ideas for a piece of the action. 

1. 
   Scott | Dec 31, 2010 09:12pm | #11

   >>>imagine a tenant not

   >>>imagine a tenant not realizing he flushed a deodorant lid down the toilet. Now "Thats" ridiculous!

   Hahaha....ridiculous enough to pay for the repair I'm hoping.

   >>>Apparently the narrow spring on my power rodder went right past it, several times. I'll have to invest in one of those fancy closet augers, with the big spring on the end.

   Rigid makes a good one. I've used it a few times; it's one of those tools that you hate paying for.....until it works exactly as it should.

2. 
   DanH | Dec 31, 2010 09:50pm | #12

   I don't think it was "ridiculous" (actually a good shot at "thinking outside the box"), but the idea was easily discounted for two reasons:

   1) Many, many clogs have been found in systems that someone claimed they had rodded and could not possibly be clogged.

   2) The atmospheric pressure on both ends of the pipe is the same.  Atmospheric pressure could go up or down by it's full natural swing and the pressure would be equalized on both ends within seconds.  Yes, there are vacuum/pressure problems that can occur as a result of the movement of water, but they occur much more rapidly (by several orders of magnitude) than do the changes in atmospheric pressure.

3. 
   Piffin | Jan 01, 2011 06:31am | #15

   Well, at least with it being from a de-0derant can, it smelled good.

   just thinking about the process reminds me of the last couple times I've had to ream out a waste line and I start gagging

4. 
   calvin | Jan 01, 2011 08:48am | #17

   http://www.quittintime.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/12865/an/0/page/0#Post12865

   Spent a bit of time on that porch last night-the neighbors still love it and me too I guess.  NewYearsEve with 50 degrees.  Felt like spring after the december sub freezing.

   Look in the HelpWanted folder-someone has a thread in there I believe-Chicago Porch Rebuild.  Best of luck.

6. 
   MarkH | Dec 31, 2010 10:13pm | #13

   I clawed my way up a steep cape cod roof in an ice storm on old couch foam cushions with sand and salt thrown on the roof once to clear a clog that apparently was at the basement, but right over the clean out.  Everything drained fine from the basement drain, and when I took the clean out off, it was dry.  So I'm plunging with a flat rod from the roof, but I only had a 25' rod and couldn't clear it because the rod was about 3 or 4 feet short..  So I climbed off the roof, and I hunted a 50' rod down at lowes, clawed my way up again , and proceeded to ram that rod down the vent with all my might until I heard what sounded like a waterfall as it broke through.  All was well, despite my concern that something bad happened in the basement.  I lost my cell phone that night too, I made a call from Lowes, when get off the roof it's gone.  I really think I rammed it down the drain.  What a miserable night.

   Yeah I used the closet auger, plunged with a plunger yada yada yada. No dice. 

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 01, 2011 06:28am | #14

   dial that cell phone and see if any rats or alligators answer.

1. 
   MarkH | Jan 01, 2011 08:10am | #16

   The bad thing was, I had turned it off because the battery was almost dead, and it was making those annoying low battery sounds.

7. 
   snowwwovel | Aug 30, 2018 10:43am | #18

   I have this same issue.  When it is super hot and humid, toilet flush is weak and water rises to rim, then slowly drains.  Auguring, plunging, issues kept coming back.  Temp and humdity drops and flushes fine.  Every time.  Don't think clogged vents, roots or whatever would be affected by the air pressure.  

1. 
   florida | Aug 30, 2018 03:24pm | #19

   This thread is 11 years old. Start a new one for more responses. The guys you're responding to are long gone.