I have a toilet that flushes not once, but three, sometimes four flushes per pull of the lever.
Neither strong enough to push any volume down.
Every flush is the same. The water eventually goes down with no problem. There is nothing plugging the system.
I cleaned out all the water ports on the toilet (which were plugged), but still the same problem, even though water running has greatly increased.
I have noticed bubbles in the tank, just below the pop-up flush valve - every time I flush there is a great amount of bubbling going on in the 3" hole.
I am wondering if there is a water leak between the toilet and tank, but not enough to show a water leak, it is just letting air come in.?
Thanks for any help. I am mystified.

Hello alaskagypsy

If the bubbles in the tank just below the pop-up flush valve are not resulting from the air in the inflowing water, they indicate the problem to be located somewhere there. The water valve is clearly too late activated, and just before overflowing your tank it is fortunately emptying the tank into the toilet. Be glad, as if it did not you had a lot to wipe !

Find out where these bubbles are coming from precisely, and check what is causing them.
Can't you adjust the level arm that operates the water valve by bending the floater slightly down?
Clearly the problem is not a new one, as you refer to "plugged holes".

If the cause is in the construction or the materials used, just consider to replace the entire system. For the low cost of a new system you prevent a lot of wiping activities and other possible problems in the future.

Success !

Tel me more about cleaning these "plugged holes". Did you scrap and clean the jet ? How about the holes in the rim? Are they clear also? The reason I asked is the bubbles you describe as coming from the flush valve can only come from back pressure. And the back pressure can only coime from a partial blockage in the bowl. Someplace, in the rim or on the way down to the trap there's a clog that's sending a bubble of air back when the flush from the tank hits it. I Would pull the tank and check the bowl. Good luck, Tom

It flushed good up till last week. I scraped all the holes under the rim - they were all plugged and I now have a good flow from the rim, but still the same problem - 3 flushes for 1 pull of the lever. I even lowered the water level - same thing, 3 flushes. Bubbles gushing out of the 3" hole in the tank. I am going to take the tank apart today and snake the line. Also will replace the gasket between bowl and tank as the three bolts holding it together were loose and the gasket could be warped.
Thanks.


Tel me more about cleaning these "plugged holes". Did you scrap and clean the jet ? How about the holes in the rim? Are they clear also? The reason I asked is the bubbles you describe as coming from the flush valve can only come from back pressure. And the back pressure can only coime from a partial blockage in the bowl. Someplace, in the rim or on the way down to the trap there's a clog that's sending a bubble of air back when the flush from the tank hits it. I Would pull the tank and check the bowl. Good luck, Tom

I don't think you'll find the problem in the tank. Something's giuving you back pressure that's blowing bubbles back up the flush valve preventing the flapper from seating. This can only happen if there's still a blockage in the rim causing the back pressure. You might try running a small snake down into the rim and other paths the flush takes as it leaves the tank, (see image). In the worst case, if you can't locate the blockage, you may have to replace the bowl. Good luck, Tom

Found it. Piece of glass (glass toilet scrubber top broke by cleaning crew) over 2" long by maybe 1 3/4" wide. But pushing a snake through from the toilet side, it just flipped out of the way and let the snake by. I took the toilet out, flipped it so the front was on the floor and ran the snake from the bottom. Bam, ran into something, pulled back and after a few pushed the snake went through.
What a relief to get this taken care of. The snake would go by but once water started going through it would partially block the water flow.
Thanks for suggestions.

Congratulations on solving the problem and saving yourself a hefty repair bill. Tom