Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    hawk22's Avatar
    hawk22 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 30, 2008, 07:44 PM
    Toilet doesn't flush properly
    When flushing toilet water spins around long time then goes down slow any idea ?
    afaroo's Avatar
    afaroo Posts: 4,006, Reputation: 251
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #2

    Oct 30, 2008, 10:08 PM

    Hello hawk22,

    Toilet traps can very easily get clogged with everything from too much paper, to anything that's not supposed to go into a toilet (toothbrushes, plastic toys, feminine products, etc.).
    Try a plunger and see if it will clear, if not use an auger, if auger will not help open the nearest clean-out plug and snake the main drain line, if that doesn't do it, you may have to pull the toilet and snake the closet bend and auger the toilet trap from underneath.
    Good Luck.

    John
    Attached Images
     
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Oct 31, 2008, 03:15 AM
    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. And speaking of the overflow tube, Make sure the small 1/8" tube from the ballcock to the white overflow tube is connected so it discharges in it and that it's flowing when the ballcock fills. This is what raises the water level in the bowl. For a good solid flush they all have to work together. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. Tom
    hobokenmama's Avatar
    hobokenmama Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #4

    Jan 24, 2009, 11:28 AM
    Comment on speedball1's post
    Just tried it!! WORKS!!
    hobokenmama's Avatar
    hobokenmama Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Jan 24, 2009, 11:30 AM

    Dear Speedball,

    I could kiss you!! Thank you so much. Everyone has been trying to fix my toielt for months... my husband.. all his contrator friends. I saw your post and fixed the toiet in 15 minutes with a butter knife. Awesome!! Thank you so mcuh :)
    ronwilliams's Avatar
    ronwilliams Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Mar 29, 2011, 09:08 AM
    I've had problems with my toilet for the past couple of years. The house has the original toilet(33 years old). I originally read that the inlet holes could get blocked - which was indeed the case at my home, so I cured that problem. But it did not fix the problem entirely.
    I suggest the following: This is what I did:
    If you are able to dump a whole bucket of water in the toilet in one shot without any backup, your drain is not blocked. Next check the vent.
    You'll want to go up on the roof and bring a bottle of drain opener. Pour the whole bottle in the vent pipe and wait 15 minutes for the product to do it's work. Flush the pipe with plenty of water. Check if the toilet flushes better. If not, your toilet itself may be the problem.
    After doing the above, I concluded that my toilet was the cause of the problem due to it's age. After 33 years of hard water, it has accumulated a lot of calcium internally within the water channels and does not push enough water through at a time.
    I changed my toilet for a new one (just an inexpensive model to be sure) and now have a perfect flush. So, the one cause which nobody mentions is the following:
    If your water is hard and your toilet is old - more than 20 years, THAT may be the problem. Chanbge the toilet and consider getting a water softener the remedy the situation.
    afaroo's Avatar
    afaroo Posts: 4,006, Reputation: 251
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #7

    Mar 29, 2011, 04:57 PM

    Hello Ronwiiams,

    Welcome to the plumbing website, You responded to a two years old post I believe it be closed by now, Thanks.

    John
    Trouble33's Avatar
    Trouble33 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #8

    Aug 2, 2012, 04:46 PM
    Yes finally! For 2 plus years our toilet has not flushed correctly. My husband checked the bottom hole and it was clogged up. He used a small putty knife and a coat hanger-angled at 90 degrees. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #9

    Aug 2, 2012, 05:08 PM
    Hi Trouble and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com.
    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
    You're welcome so much! It's always nice to hear back when a solution works. Thanks for the update, Tom
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Toilet Flushing: tank drains, toilet doesn't flush, brand new toilet. [ 4 Answers ]

I read the other postings, and most of the problems came in with old toilets. Mine is brand new (within a year old) and I just moved in to my new place. The condo has 2 identical toilets and the other flushes just fine. I have mimicked the settings of the working toilet and still can't get my...

Toilet flush not woking properly [ 6 Answers ]

I have just had a new toilet fitted it has a dual button even though I push in button and hold for several seconds after the water has finished stuff starts to filter back into the pan the plumbers have fitted another toilet and flush but its still happening quite disgusting really has anyone any...

Toilet don't flush properly [ 1 Answers ]

The "whirlpool" action seems to work fine but all the water don't go out of the bowl. Could it be the little hole at the bottom of the bowl? What is that for? Plenty of water in the tank and it all empties out OK, just won't go all the way down. Can't afford a plumber so any help would be great....

Toilet won't flush properly [ 3 Answers ]

I am moving into a new apartment and the toilet isn't working properly- it won't flush unless you take the top off the tank, reach in, and push down on the cylinder that is in there, which causes the tank to refill (I think the problem is that the tank is not refilling after it is flushed?). Then...

Toilet Won't flush properly [ 1 Answers ]

We recently purchased a 1998 Double Wide Manufactured Home. There are two toilets in the house on opposite ends. The one off the Master Bedroom works fine, but the other toilet will not flush properly. It will work for a couple of days without any problems and then it starts clogging and when...

View more questions Search