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-   -   New toilet not flushing (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=265623)

  • Oct 1, 2008, 09:00 PM
    smford
    New toilet not flushing
    Recently I had a new toilet installed on the second floor. The first couple of days the toilet flushed fine. About the 4th day the toilet will flush but the water will not go down all the way. I tried pouring a bucket of water into the commode to make the toilet flush automatically but the water went down very slowly.
    Does this mean that I have a clog in the pipes or that the toilet itself is damaged.:mad:
  • Oct 1, 2008, 09:19 PM
    Flying Blue Eagle
    Smford - It really sounds to me like you may have " VENT " problems, Check out to make sure the toilet is vented. If it is I would then think that you have a small stopage. Is this a first floor or second floor?
    GO to a clean out under the house ( iF not on slab ) Check to see if the large sewer line goes into a vent line, Another way is to go up on the roof to the vent comeing out threw the roof , have siomeone to flush the toilet and have your ear down on top of the vent pipe and listen to the sound , if it's a good strong sound then it should mean that it is connected to a vent pipe, Good luck and GOD BLESS ::F.B.E.
  • Oct 1, 2008, 09:32 PM
    smford
    Thank You! I'm going to try it. I apreciate your quick response. I'll let you know how I make out.

    Good night God bless;)
  • Oct 2, 2008, 04:40 AM
    massplumber2008
    SMFORD...

    Most likely, the wax gasket that was used to install the new toilet may have gotten in the way of toilet discharge and begun to cause issues with flushing.

    I would have the plumber that installed the toilet come back and lift the toilet. I'm betting the wax gasket has squeezed into the waste pipe and has begun to intefere with flushing.

    When plumber lifts the toilet you be there so you can see what happened. Look at flange on floor and at the bottom of the toilet. Have him reset the john and hopefully you will be all set this time... ;)

    Let us know what you think...

    MARK
  • Oct 2, 2008, 05:03 AM
    speedball1
    Mark might just have nailed it!
    In my capacity as shop trouble shooter I began to run into a slew of complaints on our new construction that were just like yours. I knew they all couldn't be " bad toilets" so I went looking for the cause. I found that when installing the new bowl that the wax ring had been forced out into the discharge pipe and blocking the free flow of water. When the water hit it a backpressure was set up preventing the siphon that makes a good flush and the solids just swirled around while the water went slowly down. I had to set up meeting with our plumbers and show them the problem and how to fix it. When you set the bowl, put the wax seal down on the flat side to the closet flange. Then take your hands and bevel the wax seal outward so that when you set a bowl on it the wax is forced out instead of in blocking the flush. The customer complaints stopped and I had less work to do. Try molding the wax seal so it doesn't choke down on the flush. Good luck, Tom
  • Oct 2, 2008, 05:31 AM
    Milo Dolezal

    I would not worry about vent. Mark identified the most probable cause of your problem...
  • Oct 2, 2008, 08:47 AM
    ballengerb1

    The toilet is probably 100% fine since it worked after installation. Have you done the simplest things like plunging and with what results? When I hear hooves I think horses not zebras so lets start with the KISS therory.
  • Oct 15, 2008, 04:49 PM
    smford

    Thank you everyone!
    It was just as simple as a clog. Everything is fine.

    Thank you for the quick and thorough information.
    Srmf
  • Oct 15, 2008, 04:53 PM
    ballengerb1

    So did the plunging do it for you?
  • Oct 16, 2008, 04:51 AM
    Milo Dolezal

    PLUNGER: The best tool there is ! Every HomeOwner should own one !
  • Oct 16, 2008, 05:30 AM
    speedball1
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal View Post
    PLUNGER: The best tool there is ! Every HomeOwner should own one !

    Nilo,
    You neglected to add a closet auger,(see image) to the tools every homeowner should have. Regards, Tom
  • Oct 16, 2008, 06:19 AM
    Milo Dolezal

    Tom: when we used to attend drain service calls years back, I must admit that plunger and 5' auger were 50% of our income... Yes, everybody should own one !
  • Oct 16, 2008, 07:18 AM
    afaroo

    Wow you guys did great saved another life, Thanks.

    Best Regards to all,
    John

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