Partial blockage - please advise on how I tackle this.

[peter lanky]

I have an en suite bathroom with a shower sink and toilet that all appear to be connected. Every so often I get a blockage, but this clears itself usually before returning some months later. The symptoms are:
When I drain either the shower or sink or flush the toilet, I get bubbles in the other two units.
The toilet fills up more than usual on flushing before draining to normal level.
The shower fails to drain at all, but does so on using a plunger, clearing quickly.
If I fill the sink, it may fail to empty, but does so immediately on using the plunger in the shower. Same with shower/toilet.
I have been trying to fill all three and empty simultaneously. If I do this, I get some upward leakage from the small (9" approx) manhole outside, with some paper visible but no smell.
Sometimes the water in the toilet bowl discolours after not using for some time, starting at the back.
At no time is there any sewage smell from the sink or shower.

What is most likely to be the problem, and how do I approach this? Reading various forums has suggested to me that this may be a venting issue, but if it is, I've no idea how to tackle it.

 

[rpm]

Ground floor/ top floor, house or flats?

 

[Vicdiy]

I have an en suite bathroom with a shower sink and toilet that all appear to be connected. Every so often I get a blockage, but this clears itself usually before returning some months later. The symptoms are:
When I drain either the shower or sink or flush the toilet, I get bubbles in the other two units.
The toilet fills up more than usual on flushing before draining to normal level.
The shower fails to drain at all, but does so on using a plunger, clearing quickly.
If I fill the sink, it may fail to empty, but does so immediately on using the plunger in the shower. Same with shower/toilet.
I have been trying to fill all three and empty simultaneously. If I do this, I get some upward leakage from the small (9" approx) manhole outside, with some paper visible but no smell.
Sometimes the water in the toilet bowl discolours after not using for some time, starting at the back.
At no time is there any sewage smell from the sink or shower.

What is most likely to be the problem, and how do I approach this? Reading various forums has suggested to me that this may be a venting issue, but if it is, I've no idea how to tackle it.

Sounds like a blockage further down the drain, get some drain rods from Screwfix or Toolstation ( they don't cost much) throw plenty of buckets of water down and have a good old rod.Remember to turn the rods clockwise so they and the attachment don't unscrew.

 

[peter lanky]

House first floor.
I've got some rods.
Does the advice above refer to the toilet or the drain outside?

 

[king of pipes]

Get a drain company in its not pleasent working with human waste a blockage is the most likely cause , is there a external drain cover ? if so this would be the place to start making sure your drainage system is free flowing . Cheers kop

 

[Vicdiy]

House first floor.
I've got some rods.
Does the advice above refer to the toilet or the drain outside?

Drain outside, take the lid off, throw a few buckets of water down, if the don't immediately flow away there is a blockage in the drain. If they flow nicely the problem is upstream.

 

[peter lanky]

I have identified the problem which is that the outside drain is full of roots from the garden. I have cleared a small bucketful, which has probably helped, but there is still a large clump that I can reach but can't dislodge. Using drain rods isn't working.

Is there a recognised way of removing or dissolving roots?

 

[oz-plumber]

High pressure water jetter and a camera behind it to make sure you clean all the roots. If the drain is clogged with roots, either find where the roots are coming in from and replace that section of drain.
Depending on condition of drain it may be worthwhile replaceing the whole drain.
A drain camera will tell you the full story

 

[Vicdiy]

I have identified the problem which is that the outside drain is full of roots from the garden. I have cleared a small bucketful, which has probably helped, but there is still a large clump that I can reach but can't dislodge. Using drain rods isn't working.

Is there a recognised way of removing or dissolving roots?

Use the corkscrew type attachment and plenty of patience to keep turning pulling out then doing it again and again. I did it with roots and cleared it eventually.

 

[peter lanky]

I eventually discovered that the problem with roots was quite extensive and have had the roots cleared and the pipe lined on insurance.

However now that I know the system is clear there is still one problem remaining. Although there is no evidence of any blockage, when the toilet has not been used for a few hours, a brown stain starts to creep in to the water in the bowl from the back, so I end up with the water being half clear and half stained. I have tried to look up a solution to this online, but every topic that comes up is for a problem with brown limescale clinging to the bowl below the water line. Having soft Lancashire water, limescale has never been an issue so these posts don't help, but I would appreciate some guideline on how this is happening, and how to remove the problem.

 

[rpm]

Usual culprit is a rim flush just past the pan outlet or in the U bend holding items back until they have disolved

 

[rpm]

Throw a few buckets of hot water down the pan then see if it happens.
Worst case scenario is the pan has to come out

 

[peter lanky]

I've tried the buckets of water already. Is there not any recognised tool to do this job?