Downstairs toilet overflowing

[Beverley Marsh]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum as I'd like some advice if possible please. I'll try to give as much detail as I can but may not know all the technical terms for things...

Basically we've recently had a renovation where we've had a new bathroom suite put in upstairs (it was previously downstairs), and a new downstairs toilet, which is in a different location to where the old toilet was downstairs.

The problem started quite early on in that whenever the shower/bath or toilet is used upstairs, it was causing the downstairs toilet to gurgle and drain very slowly. This was going on for a little while but then it started getting worse - so that the downstairs toilet completely fills up with water and takes ages to drain.

Anyway, now it's been about 2 months since it was all finished and it's at the point where the water actually often overflows from the downstairs toilet now. It's a nightmare. This is usually if we have the shower on for longer or turn the pressure up a bit (showering with really pathetic pressure atm to eliminate problems). Also the entire downstairs toilet stinks of waste constantly. As does the area behind the washing machine which may be connected somehow??? I don't know.

Just starting to panic that this may be a really big issue. Does anyone have any ideas what could be the problem and how we fix it please? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Looks like a blockage in your external drains. Lift your manhole covers, and have a peep. Are any full of sewerage? Also have some one flush one of the toilets, whilst you check the flow through a manhole, should be a brisk flow. If a mere trickle - a blockage upstream.

 

[Beverley Marsh]

That sounds like something we can do, thanks for that. Wonder why there would be a blockage so soon. Is that normal do you think? We've not flushed anything weird down there so think that's a bit strange. Hopefully it could just be that though, we'll give it a go this weekend.

 

[masterdiy]

recently had a renovation where we've had a new bathroom suite put in upstairs (it was previously downstairs), and a new downstairs toilet, which is in a different location to where the old toilet was downstairs.

Did you have this done by a professional?

If so, time to call him back.

 

[dcox]

I’ve come across some toilets installed with an upwards gradient from the pan connector leading away from the toilet. Just check that yours is running downhill to rule that out - otherwise waste from upstairs could run into your toilet. Most likely a blockage further down though as suggested by others.