Home maintenance advice?

[nolly]

Sunday, my upstairs toilet suddenly decided not to flush, and plunging was no help.

Monday, I called my home warranty company, who sent out a plumber, who took a look, said "There's a clog, and the augur won't go through it. You'll probably need a new toilet. We don't do that. We've spoken to the warrantyy company, and they want to send someone else out."

Today, the other plumber came. "Yep, there's a clog, and the augur won't go through it. You need a new toilet." After a call, it was determined that yes, the home warranty will cover the replacement -- yay, that's why I have it.

Unfortunately, they have to order the new toilet for some reason, or so I've been told, and it may take a while. Meanwhile, I have a toilet that a) doesn't flush and b) has been sitting, unflushed, for nearly 48 hours so far. It's, er, rather unspeakably nasty, really. I'd like, if possible, to do something to minimize the nastiness, but I'm not sure what I can do. Any sugggestions? Would a wetvac be of any help, and if so a) where do I get one and b) How do I dispose of the grossness once it's extracted from my toilet?

Comments

[nolly.livejournal.com]

(oh, right, that does include ammonia, doesn't it? Fun.)

[bovil.livejournal.com]

The ammonia levels should be very low (unless you're smelling it, and ammonia is one of those smells that cuts through everything). Still, turn on the fan, dump the bleach (or do it in several small doses) and close the door behind you after you leave.

I'm trying to think of other disinfectant options besides bleach. Sulfite powder might be an option, but it's not a common household item.

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought too, but a quick Wiki search informed me that chloramines are already in our drinking water, so you'd probably need a "Hey Bubba, hold mah beer and watch this!" amount of bleach to really get memorable effects from you. Definitely run your fan.

I really don't think much of your plumbers. I can't quite imagine what kind of clog would fubar a toilet, but getting beyond that to that two plumbers came by your ... ahem ... full toilet, neither knowing how long it would be before it could be repaired, and neither sucking the ick out themselves seems like a public health hazard.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

Current leading theory is foreign object (such as a cat toy). My understanding is that none of the plumbers had the equipment to clear it. The first guys were from a roto-rooter type company; the second guy...well, I'm not sure he's going to last in the plumbing business. He seemed more grossed out then the first guys who were told me "We've seen way worse than this", and I don't think it got that much worse in the 24 hours between visits.

[usqueba.livejournal.com]

What kind of bone-headed plumbers don't have the "right equipment"?! My bro is a plumber and he carries most stuff in his truck.

::shrug::

[nolly.livejournal.com]

The first ones weren't full-service plumbers, I believe, and the home warranty folks sent them away anyhow. I'm not sure what the second guy's problem was; possibly just attitude. Anyway, I took my mom's advice (the anonymous comment), and things are much improved.

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

Yabbut... if you've got a cat toy stuck in your toilet then one would lift the toilet off the floor, push the toy out from the back end, and then screw the toilet back onto the floor. You need a new wax ring like someone upstream said, but that's a tiny fraction of a new toilet cost. It's not like your current toilet is broken or that it would become broken in the process of getting a solid blockage removed from it.

Is this a low-flow toilet? I wonder if the problem is that licensed plumbers aren't even allowed to "install" a vintage toilet under circumstances like this.