Common Causes of a Toilet Not Flushing Properly
For many people, there is no household problem more aggravating than a toilet that will not flush properly. Not only an inconvenience, it can also be a disgusting mess if not repaired quickly.
While there are many reasons why a toilet in your home may not be flushing properly, some causes are more common than others. However, no matter how simple the repair may appear to be, it’s often best to contact a plumber and leave the repairs, like drain cleaning, to the professionals.
Broken Water Valve
In some instances, the toilet in your home may not be flushing properly due to a broken fill valve or supply valve.
Because these two valves are what determines how much water is in the toilet’s tank, if these are broken the water levels in both the tank and bowl will be too low.
Thus, multiple flushes will be necessary to empty the bowl, which will waste many gallons of water in the process. If the valves are broken, a plumber should be called to replace them as soon as possible.
Lift Chain Installation
Many times, the improper installation of a lift chain can result in a toilet not flushing properly. To see if this may be the problem, the lid to the tank must be removed and the chain’s installation examined.
If the chain has too much slack, it will not let the flapper stay up long enough to let the proper amount of water into the toilet bowl to create a full flush.
But if the chain is too tight, the flapper will not be able to completely close, which will let water leak from the toilet on a continuous basis and waste many gallons of water.
Pipe Obstruction
When a toilet will not flush, many times it is due to an obstruction within the pipes. Whether too much toilet paper was used or something was accidentally flushed down the toilet that results in a clog, it is a problem that requires a plumber to fix correctly.
Using an auger, the plumber can often undo the clog and get the toilet once again flushing properly.
Whenever a toilet does not flush properly, it is most often something that should be left to plumbing professionals. While many people think they can fix it themselves, in many cases they only make a bad situation worse.
By letting a plumber handle the repairs, the toilet will be up and working again very soon.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Old Toilet
While toilets seem to last forever, sometimes they need to be replaced. Unless the signs are obvious, many people have a hard time telling when it’s time to replace their toilet. Here are some of the most obvious signs that it’s time to call the professionals in to swap out your toilet.
Constant clogging – It’s not uncommon to have a few random or occasional clogs. When clogs become a regular thing, however, it’s often a sign of something bigger and you should consider having it replaced.
It wobbles – If your toilet wobbles because the screws at the base of the bowl have gotten lose, that’s a simple problem you can solve just by tightening them. However, if the wobbling is a result of water damage to the floor that’s preventing the screws from being able to hold tightly, you could be dealing with bigger problems.
It’s cracked – Cracks in the base of your toilet can lead to frequent leaking and puddling. This constant flow of water can damage flooring and increase your utility bills over time.
Constant running – If your toilet is constantly running, there are several potential causes. Sometimes it means the fill valve in the tank has been broken. It can also mean the rubber flapper at the tank’s bottom is damaged. While it’s possible to fix these issues, they’re a good sign that it’s time for a new toilet.
Your home toilet issues can be a nuisance to the whole family. Call Nixco Plumbing Inc. at (513) 445-5142 today, and let’s get your toilet back to its flushing state!