JosefMar 30, 2004, 02:30 PM
I flushed the toilet, the water goes down from the tank, but it swirls around and around in the toilet bowl but does not flush. What is the problem. Help.

Hey Joe, I have one that most repair plumbers miss. 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 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. This should get you back in business. If not click on back and we'll explore other possibilities Tom

Hi All, I had similar problem and had tried the above cleaning the rim with CLR and clearing the holes... in addition, check the overflow tube is 1/2" by bending the float ball rod/tighten screw but flush still slow / swirling but leaving solid behind.

Do I need to replace the flab? Please help... thanks

If you have checked and cleared the jet then just about all that's left is a partial blockage in the drainage or a blocked vent. Since I hear nothing about "gurgles or bubbles" I'm going to go with partial blockage.
When you have a partial blockage the discharge goes down the drain line and hits the partial clog bouncing back just enough to stop the siphon acion so that the water just swirls around and goes slowly down leaving the solids behind.
I woud first try snaking from the lavatory roof vent. If that doesn't get it then the clog's upstream from the lavatory and the toilet must pulled and snaked from there. Good luck, Tom

If you have checked and cleared the jet then just about all that's left is a partial blockage in the drainage or a blocked vent. Since I hear nothing about "gurgles or bubbles" I'm gonna go with partial blockage.
When you have a partial blockage the discharge goes down the drain line and hits the partial clog bouncing back just enough to stop the siphon acion so that the water just swirls around and goes slowly down leaving the solids behind.
I woud first try snaking from the lavatory roof vent. If that doesn't get it then the clog's upstream from the lavatory and the toilet must pulled and snaked from there. good luck, Tom

Thanks Tom... I tried using a closet auger in the bowl prior to the above thinking that there might be a blockage but nothing came out. There were bubbles in the tank on the tube where water fills up.
Thanks and appreciate your helpful advise.