Issue with downstairs bathroom

[andy1111]

Hi,
We have just moved into a new house about 3 weeks ago and from day 1 we have had an issue with the downstairs WC. The toilet has been slow to drain and recently it has gotten much worse, taking hours to drain the water but leaving any solid waste.
I’m just wondering what the problem might be?
It could well just be blocked, and I have a plunger arriving tomorrow but I also noticed this pipe beside the toilet under a wooden cover with a vent in it. Just wondering what this is for and if it might be a problem?
Hopefully the plunger sorts it, but any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Madrab]

let the toilet settle back down and then pull that white pipe and vent out and have a looksee - it's just pushed into the rubber adapter. See if there is excess water down inside. I would then be trying the toilet and seeing if it drains properly without that vent installed but be careful, if you can see water down there, as flushing the toilet could make it overflow. Do you have a washhand basin in there too?

 

[andy1111]

Yes, washhand basin in there too.
If it flushes properly with the white pipe out what would be the issue?
I’ve been flushing the toilet, letting it drain and flushing again in the hope it sorts itself out. Hopefully not making things worse. Should I stop that?
Thanks.

 

[Madrab]

You won't be making it any worse by repeated flushing not but it does waste water

If it does drain properly then that section of the drain isn't venting properly, the vent you have is only one way and will release any vacuum in the soil pipe but it won't relieve any positive pressure.

That vent should be at the spillover level of tallest item that it serves, that may be the basin and not the toilet.