Hello All,

I did a search for this topic on askmehelpdesk and tried some of the suggestions, but nothing has worked so far. Here is what is happening:

When I flush the toilet, the water swirls around and some of it does get suctioned into the bowl. I know this is happening because the waste does get carried away. However, typically the toilet paper does not. I suspect this has to do with the different weights. Occasionally... as in VERY rarely... the toilet will flush properly one time. Then it reverts back to its malfunction.

I tried using a toilet auger and that didn't seem to pick anything up. I checked all of the holes inside the toilet to make sure there was not any mineral build up or something like that. I have, of course, tried the plunger.

I can't think of what would be causing the problem. Any ideas?

Probably a clog further down the line that a plunger won't reach.

"I checked all of the holes inside the toilet " are you talking about the small holes under the bowl rim? Also check the larger hole in the base of the sump area. That jet of water strats the siphon action.

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

I've tried everything that is listed above (looks like speedball just pastes the same advice on each toilet related inquiry).

I'm not sure what do do next? How far back can the clog be? How can I reach it?

If its an actual drain clog they are right at the base of the toilet itself 90% of the time. This slow action could also be a clogged vent which terminates above your roof. Do you hear/see and bubbles of chugging sounds when you flush? Also, lift the tank lid and make sure the tank is fillinig to within 1" of the top of the over flow tube.

Try taking up the toilet and see if anything is stuck in it and while it is off the floor and the waste opening is exposed try running a regular snake through it, not a toilet auger.

I am not opposed to taking up the toilet either but first answer my questions and check that tank.

There is no gurgling sound when I flush , so it's probably not the vent. I'll try the regular snake tonight and let you know how it goes.

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Originally Posted by lenmccart

There is no gurgling sound when I flush , so it's probably not the vent. I'll try the regular snake tonight and let you know how it goes.

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If you have already tried all the other fixes more than likely the clog IS further down this is why the toilet works sometime and other times does not as the trapped water behind the clog hasn't had a chance to drain out. I lived in an old house once out in Arizona that the toilet would not flush properly after taking a tub bath. Seems the clog was WAY, WAY down the line due to a intrusive tree root. About $200 later no plumbing problems.

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(looks like speedball just pastes the same advice on each toilet related inquiry).

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That's right! I have a data base of answers. Yours was a classic complaint. A common complaint that in most cases can be repaired by clearing the jet. Not all toilets get the same response. Just the ones with symptoms like yours,
Now if you're though criticizing the way I work let's get back to your toilet. Here's how a toilet flushed.
Assuming the water level in the tank is about 1/2" beneath the white overflow tube, (you did check didn't you?) when you trigger the flush lever the flapper lifts allowing the water to enter the bowl. Some of the water's diverted to the rim holes, ( that's what starts the swirling) and some is diverted to the jet. I that starts the sysphon action action.
We can't tell you exactly what's wrong with toilet.
What we can do is attempt to point you in the right direction. What causes a toile to give a incomplete flush?
1. Tank level too low
2. A clogged jet or rim holes
3. A partial clog in the bow causing back pressure.
4. A clogged vent that won't releave relive the suction caused by the flush.
Seems to me you covered 5the bowl. You auger and plunged the bowl and you even said that once it flushed the way it should. That tells me that this isn't a clog. What's left? If you can come up with something new IN want to hear it. A clogged lavatory roof vent would be my guess. The reason you don't hear a gurgle from the lavatory or tub trap is because the flush was terminated before a bowl full of water stayed in the bowl and didn't go down the branch. You can pull the toilet and check for a clog but ,( even though a partial clog farther on down the branch could produce back pressure It would build up to a complete blockage and since you've been flushing waste and paper down) About the only thing left is the vent.
Now you have a answer that wasn't in my data base.
Good luck, Tom