What would cause a toilet not to drain fast enough to get everything out and down before it started filling?
the toilet is sitting right over the hole there is no blockage and no reason for it not to work properly . what could it be ? ive pulled it 3 times today and cant seem to figure it out . when you flush it just goes real slow down the drain . straight shot zero blockage .
Answers:
John L. and Tola (I think) are right. First check the level of your tank it should be 1" below the top of the overflow tube. Next check to see if there are any water saving devices in tank, if there is get them out they only cause problems. Next there is a little tube going from the ballcock to the overflow tube if it is not then it will stop your toilets flush. Next when you flush does the water come out of the little tube into the overflow tube slow or fast, if it is slow again the flush won't start properly. Next do you have any calcium build up in your toilet bowl. There are usually two holes in the bottom of the toilet bowl a small one and a big one. If the water can't come out of the small one then the toilet will not flush.
To fix the ballcock not letting the water in fast enough change the ballcock. If you have calcium build up then get some Muratic acid, empty the toilet bowl of water, then slowly pour the acid down the overflow tube to allow the acid to go through all the little holes in the top of the bowl and down to the bottom. It might take ten minutes of waiting and it might take a couple times doing it but I have done it to 25 year old toilets and made them work like brand new.
too small of pipes, try holding down the plunger longer or call a plumber
clogged pipes
The blockage is further down the pipe than you can see. You may need to call a plumber to snake it out for you.
Input exceeds output. There is a partial blockage, as indicated by the "goes real slow down the drain," line.
Do this..Take off the top and pull the flapper up and hold it until all the water is gone from the tank..Did it flush normally and all the bowl water empty? Replace the flapper AND adjust your tank water level up.should take care of the problem.
Didn't work? You have a deep blockage and will need a plumber with a 50' snake.sorry
Main reasons for toilet blockage (according to informative website below):
Water does not enter the bowl fast enough.
Clogged Rim or Jet Holes
The Brick Trick
Insufficient quanity of water entering the bowl
Obstruction inside the toilet bowl
Obstruction in the drain line
Tree roots in the main drain line
Obstruction in the main vent line
Buildup of scale in the bowl trap
Septic system is failing
A Tissue Issue
Blue bowl cleaning tablets
water level in tank is too low, adjust the float.
have you actually checked for a blockage? Does the bowl fill and drain slowly or is the flushing flow slow?
Funnily enough we have a relatively slow flushing toilet also. I've come to the conclussion it is the TOILET PAPER!! It is one of those 'strong but soft' brands and it takes AGES to disolve. Which leads to 2-3 flushes before it goes. I'm switching back to a cheaper and easier to disolve brand when these run out. Until then I and probably you will have to put up with those extra flushes to clear it out!!
if its a house you should have what we call a clean out somewhere on your property to be able to clean out the drain. most likely there are roots clogging the flow and since the toilet drains the fastest this is where the problem is seen the soonest. also make sure your kids, if relevant, havent flushed something down the toilet and its stuck in the p trap built into the toilet, look at the side below the bowl and you can see what i am talking about. if you live in an apartment, call maintenance :)
there may be a blockage further down the drain or in your down pipe if its not urgent then keep flushing an it might dislodge the blockage or you could go round the neigbours house an use theres
Has the "Fill level been adjusted to low by adjusting the float or shut off in tank? Is there something in the water storage tank like a brick to use up the space for water (this was told to be a water saving step). Does the flapper stay up until the tank is empty? Is it a newer water saver toilet? If it is a water saver this may be something you have to get used to (thanks to your Federal Government all newer toilets are water saving) and flush twice to get the same job accomplished. Hope this helps
By pulling the toilet I would take to mean that you loosen the bolts & lifted it up from the floor. If that is the case then there would seem to be someting stuck in the toilet its self. And if you are commited enough to take the toilet up then I think that you would spend the time & energy to get as good toilet auger to snake out the toilet. Or if you take it up again you should check the inside of the toilet for the stopage. It may help to have a small miror on a rod to sick in the toilet to see inside better. The 1st bend as it goes up in the bowl is where most things get caught. With the mirror you may be lucky to see it.
There has to be a blockage somewhere. Try bicarbonate soda to clear it.
your having a transfer problem from the tank to the bowl.. the only way to correct this is to replace the toilet with a new one toilet most likly is to old and dont have the power or punch it used to.. replace it and this prob will go away
you say its a new pipe etc the have you checked the connection to the main drain
has the pipe got a straight run if there's a kink or a lift in the pipe it would slow it from draining
is the pipe large enough for the purpose it should be a 3 to 4 inch pipe
these are all causes of what you describe
You did'nt say if you were in the Uk or USA. If in the usa toilets are "Syphonic", they work by vacuum created by the flow of water similar to the suction device as used by dentists (until recently) There are special rubber washers inside the mechanism, and if they go faulty they have to be replaced.
If in the UK sounds like a blockage in the garden, look for manhole cover and investigate, should be empty, if full try and unblock it from there.
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Answers:
John L. and Tola (I think) are right. First check the level of your tank it should be 1" below the top of the overflow tube. Next check to see if there are any water saving devices in tank, if there is get them out they only cause problems. Next there is a little tube going from the ballcock to the overflow tube if it is not then it will stop your toilets flush. Next when you flush does the water come out of the little tube into the overflow tube slow or fast, if it is slow again the flush won't start properly. Next do you have any calcium build up in your toilet bowl. There are usually two holes in the bottom of the toilet bowl a small one and a big one. If the water can't come out of the small one then the toilet will not flush.
To fix the ballcock not letting the water in fast enough change the ballcock. If you have calcium build up then get some Muratic acid, empty the toilet bowl of water, then slowly pour the acid down the overflow tube to allow the acid to go through all the little holes in the top of the bowl and down to the bottom. It might take ten minutes of waiting and it might take a couple times doing it but I have done it to 25 year old toilets and made them work like brand new.
too small of pipes, try holding down the plunger longer or call a plumber
clogged pipes
The blockage is further down the pipe than you can see. You may need to call a plumber to snake it out for you.
Input exceeds output. There is a partial blockage, as indicated by the "goes real slow down the drain," line.
Do this..Take off the top and pull the flapper up and hold it until all the water is gone from the tank..Did it flush normally and all the bowl water empty? Replace the flapper AND adjust your tank water level up.should take care of the problem.
Didn't work? You have a deep blockage and will need a plumber with a 50' snake.sorry
Main reasons for toilet blockage (according to informative website below):
Water does not enter the bowl fast enough.
Clogged Rim or Jet Holes
The Brick Trick
Insufficient quanity of water entering the bowl
Obstruction inside the toilet bowl
Obstruction in the drain line
Tree roots in the main drain line
Obstruction in the main vent line
Buildup of scale in the bowl trap
Septic system is failing
A Tissue Issue
Blue bowl cleaning tablets
water level in tank is too low, adjust the float.
have you actually checked for a blockage? Does the bowl fill and drain slowly or is the flushing flow slow?
Funnily enough we have a relatively slow flushing toilet also. I've come to the conclussion it is the TOILET PAPER!! It is one of those 'strong but soft' brands and it takes AGES to disolve. Which leads to 2-3 flushes before it goes. I'm switching back to a cheaper and easier to disolve brand when these run out. Until then I and probably you will have to put up with those extra flushes to clear it out!!
if its a house you should have what we call a clean out somewhere on your property to be able to clean out the drain. most likely there are roots clogging the flow and since the toilet drains the fastest this is where the problem is seen the soonest. also make sure your kids, if relevant, havent flushed something down the toilet and its stuck in the p trap built into the toilet, look at the side below the bowl and you can see what i am talking about. if you live in an apartment, call maintenance :)
there may be a blockage further down the drain or in your down pipe if its not urgent then keep flushing an it might dislodge the blockage or you could go round the neigbours house an use theres
Has the "Fill level been adjusted to low by adjusting the float or shut off in tank? Is there something in the water storage tank like a brick to use up the space for water (this was told to be a water saving step). Does the flapper stay up until the tank is empty? Is it a newer water saver toilet? If it is a water saver this may be something you have to get used to (thanks to your Federal Government all newer toilets are water saving) and flush twice to get the same job accomplished. Hope this helps
By pulling the toilet I would take to mean that you loosen the bolts & lifted it up from the floor. If that is the case then there would seem to be someting stuck in the toilet its self. And if you are commited enough to take the toilet up then I think that you would spend the time & energy to get as good toilet auger to snake out the toilet. Or if you take it up again you should check the inside of the toilet for the stopage. It may help to have a small miror on a rod to sick in the toilet to see inside better. The 1st bend as it goes up in the bowl is where most things get caught. With the mirror you may be lucky to see it.
There has to be a blockage somewhere. Try bicarbonate soda to clear it.
your having a transfer problem from the tank to the bowl.. the only way to correct this is to replace the toilet with a new one toilet most likly is to old and dont have the power or punch it used to.. replace it and this prob will go away
you say its a new pipe etc the have you checked the connection to the main drain
has the pipe got a straight run if there's a kink or a lift in the pipe it would slow it from draining
is the pipe large enough for the purpose it should be a 3 to 4 inch pipe
these are all causes of what you describe
You did'nt say if you were in the Uk or USA. If in the usa toilets are "Syphonic", they work by vacuum created by the flow of water similar to the suction device as used by dentists (until recently) There are special rubber washers inside the mechanism, and if they go faulty they have to be replaced.
If in the UK sounds like a blockage in the garden, look for manhole cover and investigate, should be empty, if full try and unblock it from there.
The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.