Ask Me Help Desk - Toilet will not flush completely

Hi Deanna and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. You're responding to a 7 year old dead thread so I gave you one of your own. Look in then upper left hand corner of the first post form the date before you post, Thanks, You have more then ione problem.

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My toilet in the basement started gurgling when the shower upstairs was run.

This indicates a blocked vent. The soloution would be to rent a sewer machine and snake from the lavatory roof vent.

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the water level in the bowl comes up to the top of the bowl now and the water slowly leaves,

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