Expert: speedball1 - 7/20/2004

Question
Is there a commercial product that I can put in the toilet tank water or toilet bowl itself that can "clean" the discharge pipes of an upstairs bathroom over a downstairs bathroom.
These are the old style toilet tanks - larger capacity, and over the years, like eyesite, they seem to have become sluggish and the water backs up in the bowl on second flushes.

Answer
Good morning Gary,  I have several things I would like you to try before we start putting harsh chemicals in your drainage system.  Purchase a closet auger from your hardware store and run it down your toilets.  This will knock off any mineral scale that's built up in the throat of the trap in the bowl and flush it out into the main. Here's one most repair plumbers miss.   You may have a jet that's clogged or blocked.
Look down at the bottom of the bowl.  If there is a small hole, then that is a jet that starts the syphon action. If it's clogged the water will build up, just swirl around and slowly go down leaving solids behind. Take your finger,(UGH!!) and run it around the inside of the opening.  Over the years minerals build up and cut down on the syphon (flush) action. If it is rough or you feel build up, take a table knife and put a bend in it to get around the curve in the bowl and chip and scrap it clear.  Next take a coathanger and clear out the holes around the rim.  They start the swirling action.  And last, check the water level in the tank.  It should be 1/2" below the top of the over flow tube.   Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply.  Tom