Slow draining toilet + what’s this?

My toilet has start to drain a bit slowly, to the point that the water level rises too much when flushing... even if it still drains within a few seconds; maybe it just needs two flushes before you can see perfectly clean water

After trying various cleaning products and a toilet snake (that goes in freely) I decided to remove the toilet to have a look at the drain pipe

There doesn’t seem to be any blockage, I’ve tried pouring a bucket of water directly into the drain in the picture and it seems to drain ok ( but maybe I didn’t pour water fast enough)
Then I also tried taking the toilet to the garden and flushing it with a bucket of water (it drains very well and it also looks very clean with no blockage)

So I’m still dubious about the waste pipe, but I don’t know what else to try to find and free the blockage
The first section of pipe visible in the picture goes to the left into the main waste pipe.
I also don’t understand why I have that boxed section on the left, I know it hosts the waste pipe, but why does it need to be above floor level?

 

Probs either a blocked man hole or a air admittance valve on the soil stack which maybe in that boxing in

 

I have to admit I didn’t know what the air admittance valve was till now; also, when someone flushes the toilet in the downstairs bathroom, I can hear/see air bubbles coming out of this one

 

Blocked manhole, check and come back to us.

Andy

 

Houston... we have a problem here

 

I love wet wipes, they pay my mortgage.

Andy

 

Is this my responsibility to clean or the water company’s?

 

Yours , if next door neighbours is blocked Also you may be able to wangle the water company to come out free of charge

 

If it is only yours then you would have to pay to have it unblocked, don't call anyone tonight wait until the morning. Also get a fixed price to unblock it, DON'T PAY A HALF HOURLY CHARGE, find a small independent guy.

Andy

 

Responsibility depends. If the drain is shared by you and at least one other property, then it's the Water Company's issue. If it only serves your property, then it's your issue. Ring Water Co first, they may send someone out who will clear it for you regardless.

 

Your house has anti gravity installed judging by your photo.
Normal toilets don’t work in that environment so contact a NASA plumber for advice.
Other than that it’s a blocked drain outside.

 

If someone from the water company do turn up and they say that it only serves your property, hand them a £20 and ask them to clear it for you.

Andy

 

We have anti bribery courses at Utility Companies to teach us all not to accept gifts from strangers.

 

It's not a gift, it's a donation for a couple of guys to have a nice Cafe breakfast.

Don't forget the guys would only be checking to make sure if it's connected to the neighbours, they could check with a set of rods or the jetter.

Andy

 

I bet that might go with a couple of rods.

We dont get time to have breakfast, good grief! (Got to earn our crust!) OFWAT have made them sweat for the next programme of investment, seems they've got to put the money up they promised to spend, but need to find a large chunk from savings, not increased water rates. Guess who the first one's are to feel the pinch....