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paulgferris · Feb 8, 2007, 04:57 PM

My toilet won't flush properly even after changing the siphon. The flow of water into the bowl is slow and it won't
Take away any solids. Also there is no swirl action. Thanks Tom.

speedball1 · Feb 8, 2007, 05:03 PM

What,exactly, does your toilet do? Doesn't fill ? Backs up? Doesn't take solids down? Please don't make me guess. Regards, Tom

paulgferris · Feb 8, 2007, 05:24 PM

Tom, my toilet is not flushing right even after changing the siphon. The water is slow to go into the bowl and there is no swirling action during the flush . Also the solids are left behind.
Many thanks paul

speedball1 · Feb 9, 2007, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by paulgferris

My toilet wont flush properly even after changing the siphon. the flow of water into the bowl is slow and it wont
take away any solids. also their is no swirl action. Thanks Tom.

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 . Tom

paulgferris · Feb 9, 2007, 02:17 PM

Tom I tried everything you told me, I even filled the cistern full of hot water and when I flushed the toilet a load of green slime came out from under the rim. The wife had put some stuff in the cistern to colour the water and make it smell nice. The toilet is flushing a little faster but now the bowl keeps getting blocked. Any suggestions Tom as I am at my wits end

dclynch · Feb 9, 2007, 02:36 PM

You should keep your responses in the same thread so it is easier to see what has been asked and answered.

If you pour a bucket of water directly into the bowl does it flush correctly?

If not, the problem is in the drain. If it does, the problem is getting the water from the tank to the bowl.

paulgferris · Feb 9, 2007, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by dclynch

You should keep your responses in the same thread so it is easier to see what has been asked and answered.

If you pour a bucket of water directly into the bowl does it flush correctly?

If not, the problem is in the drain. If it does, the problem is getting the water from the tank to the bowl.

Many thanks ,the problem is that the water is slow getting from the cistren to the bowl even after changing the siphon

dclynch · Feb 9, 2007, 02:54 PM

So, does your toilet have a hole at the bottom of the bowl where water is supposed to come out, or does the water only come out under the rim?

If it has a hole in the bowl, did you clean it out as Tom suggested?

If only under the rim, these small holes might be partially blocked. You said the hot water brought down green slime; that suggested they might be partially obstructed by scum from the bowl freshener that your wife used. You can try to clean them out individually with the end of a wire coat hanger, or else just keep using hot water in the cistern until they flow cleanly.

paulgferris · Feb 9, 2007, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by dclynch

So, does your toilet have a hole at the bottom of the bowl where water is supposed to come out, or does the water only come out under the rim?

If it has a hole in the bowl, did you clean it out as Tom suggested?

If only under the rim, these small holes might be partially blocked. You said the hot water brought down green slime; that suggested they might be partially obstructed by scum from the bowl freshener that your wife used. You can try to clean them out individually with the end of a wire coat hanger, or else just keep using hot water in the cistern until they flow cleanly.

The water only comes out from under the rim. I have used a coat hanger to clean under the rim and I have used hot water till the water ran clear but it is still very slow leaving the cistren.

dclynch · Feb 9, 2007, 03:04 PM

Then it sounds like the block is in the cistern outlet. Is it possible that a piece of the flapper broke off and is lodged there?

Other than sticking something down the outlet, like the hanger, I'm stumped.

Let's hope Tom has a better idea.

paulgferris · Feb 9, 2007, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by dclynch

Then it sounds like the block is in the cistern outlet. Is it possible that a piece of the flapper broke off and is lodged there?

Other than sticking something down the outlet, like the hanger, I'm stumped.

Let's hope Tom has a better idea.

Many thanks , I will have another go at it tomorrow and will let you know how I get on.

dclynch · Feb 9, 2007, 03:13 PM

Good luck, Paul.

speedball1 · Feb 9, 2007, 04:34 PM

OK Paul, Lets have some details. Is the jet clear? Turn the water off and flush to empty the tank. Now lift the flapper and look down the open hole. Any green stuff down there? You may have to dismantle the toilet and flush out the bowl. As a rule I don't recommend using harsh chemicals in your drainage system but it sounds like the green stuff is still blocking the passage in the bowl. Perhaps Liquid Plumber or Draino will burn that goop out of your toilet. Pour some down the flapper opening. Let us know. Tom

urbanbumpkin · Jun 25, 2012, 03:31 PM

Hi Paul

I've recently had exactly the same problem (all be it 5 years later) when I replaced the syphon on an old Twyfords close coupled with a Dudley Turbo 88, and came across this post.

The issue being that the pan in question was a syphonic air extractor. My one appears to be have been made pre 1990's. There's basically a fitting that sits between the cistern and the pan called an air extractor (or an air bomb) that allows water to sucked down the pan and also creates the water to swirl.

You have to ensure that the fitting in question has a good seal when it's fitted to the pan otherwise it just doesn't work and looks like there's a blockage on the soil pipe.

Not many plumber or suppliers were aware of this type of system and it was only diagnosed when I called through to the Twyfords support line who identified it almost immediately. They were able to confirm this when I sent them a photo of the pan (it has 2 holes at the back of it).

Hope this is useful