Hello,

I scanned the previous questions but didn't find this one - if it's already been answered and I just missed it, please feel free to redirect me!

I recently moved into an apartment that has a toilet fixture dating from about the early '80s, judging by the colour. Sometimes when I turn the flush handle, water comes from only the back half of the bowl or the back & sides, but other times it flushes fairly evenly from all around the bowl. I can't detect any difference in the handle action from one time to the next, but it does sound "clunky" each time. Sometimes it requires several flushes before the water comes from all around the bowl instead of just the back & sides.

The rest of the flushing action seems to work OK each time.

I know that theoretically it's the landlord's job to sort this out, but I'd like to get some idea of what might be happening first, if possible - and maybe try my hand at fixing it if there's a simple fix. Is there anything I should look at first?

Any advice would be much appreciated... thanks.
Shannon

It could be that the rim jets are plugged in the front of the bowl. The rim jets are small holes in the bowl that let the water into the bowl that you are seeing and can become blocked and not let any water through. You can try a pipe cleaner, a piece of a wire coat hanger, or like us plumbers use - a piece of solder to push through the rim jets and try to open them back up.

Hi Shannon,

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. Regards, Tom