|
|
 Slow-Flushing Toilet Repair Guide - Diagnose & Repair Toilets
- How to diagnose & fix a slow-flushing toilet - poor flush toilet repair guide
- How to diagnose and fix a clogged toilet drain
- How to fix a toilet that is overflowing when flushed - in an emergency
- How to diagnose and correct drain noises occurring when the toilet flushes
- Slow toilet tank fill problems
- Toilets that keep running - fill valve does not shut off the toilet tank fill valve?
- Toilet flush valve or flapper valve problems
- Toilet tank fill valves and water sanitation
- Sewer gas odors in buildings traced to loose or leaky toilet drains
- How to repair problems causing plumbing drain sounds
- Questions & Answers about fixing slow-flushing toilets and johns or loos
- References
|
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Slow flushing toilet repairs: Here we explain how to diagnose and repair toilets that flush too slowly or have a weak flush, sometimes backing up. This article series TOILET REPAIR GUIDE discusses the cause, diagnosis, and repair of toilet problems (water closet problems) such as a toilet that does not flush well, clogged toilets, slow-filling toilets, running toilets, loose wobbly toilets, and odors at leaky toilets. Here we explain how to diagnose and repair problems with toilets, leaks, flushes, odors, noises, running and wasted water. Our page top photo shows ugly staining in a toilet bowl - strong evidence that this toilet has been running, wasting water, possibly flooding the septic system, and sometimes giving bad flush performance as well. Details are below.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Toilet Flushes Poorly - Too Slowly, or Leaves Waste in the Bowl
 There are several other reasons why a toilet fails to flush properly besides a clogged drain.
Here we list each cause of toilet flushing difficulties and suggest how to diagnose and repair the condition.
Poor-flushing low-water-consumption toilets: Keep in mind that modern low water consumption toilets (ASME/ANSI A112.19.M) are designed to use 1.6 gallons (6 liters) per flush or less - a desirable step in reducing water consumption in buildings.
But with the lower total flush volume designed into the toilet, if the toilet fill and flush valves are not properly adjusted, these toilets may cause complaints of poor performance. Don't rush to change out a toilet that is not working satisfactorily. toilet flush control tune-up may be all that's needed.
Our photo (above) shows the water level in a modern low-flush toilet tank, sitting just a fraction above the fill line. This toilet has adequate water to flush properly, if it is properly vented and if its drain is not blocked.
If the toilet is totally blocked and not flushing, see Toilet Drain Clogged. At PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS we explain the basics of proper plumbing vent piping and how errors cause trap siphonage, odors, and noises. More details about plumbing drain line venting can be found at PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & CODES, als PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES and at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR. Also see WHAT CAN GO INTO TOILETS & DRAINS?.
The sketch (left) helps identify the toilet operating and repair parts we discuss in this article.
The Basics of How Toilets Work
While there have been improvements in toilet tank fill valves, flush valves, floats, and water savings, the design has remained about the same.
A flush lever moves an arm to lift a flapper valve or tank ball to permit water to rush into the toilet bowl below, washing away waste into the sewer pipe.
At the end of the flush cycle, a float arm, or a float moving on a vertical stalk (newer valves) drops to open a valve permitting the toilet tank to refill with water.
When the toilet tank water level reaches the proper level, the float closes the toilet tank fill valve.
|
If the toilet always flushes, but it empties too slowly, or empties incompletely
- The building drain/waste piping may be blocked or partly blocked. Try using a toilet plunger - don't give up too soon. Firts see Toilet Drain Clogged, then see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR and BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS
- The plumbing vent may be partly blocked. If a gurgling sound
is heard at a sink or shower drain only when a nearby toilet is flushed,
or at a sink or shower when a nearby tub is draining, we'd suspect that the building drain-vent
system is inadequate. See PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES.
- The toilet may not be properly vented. If the trap at the nearby bathroom sink is an "S" trap (shown at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS), there is a good chance that no plumbing vent was ever provided and it's an older building. See PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
- A low-profile toilet may be installed (photo at above-left). Some low profile toilets use a very low toilet tank for aesthetic reasons. We have found that some of these models do not flush well, possibly because of the lower water pressure afforded by low profile tanks that are not as high above the toilet bowl. The author's mother swapped out all of the low-profile toilets in her home because of dissatisfaction with the toilet's flush performance.
If the toilet flushes poorly, leaving waste in the bowl and if you are sure that the drain is not blocked
- The volume of water in the flush tank may be too small. When the toilet tank refills, notice where the water level is when the fill-up stops.
The level of water in the toilet tank should be within 1/4" of the "toilet tank fill line" marked inside the toilet tank.
At the highest possible toilet tank fill-up, the level of water will be just below the top of the toilet tank overflow tube in the center of the tank.
- The rate of water running into the toilet tank may be too slow (some of this water slightly aids the flush), or
- The starting volume of water in the toilet bowl may have been too small.
Too little water in the toilet bowl to start with may be due to a lost or mis-connected fill tube that directs some water into the toilet tank standpipe (and thus into the bowl below), while the toilet tank is being re-filled. Check for that little tube.
Our photos below show the incorrect (below left) and correct (below right) connection of the toilet tank tube that sends some water into the toilet bowl while the toilet tank is filling. (These are two different toilets.)
|
Here is our list of toilet trouble diagnosis and repair articles. You will see that some toilet problems are fixed easily and right at the toilet by a simple adjustment, while others may not be the toilet's fault at all, and may need more thoughtful diagnosis and repair.
Taking off the toilet tank top: Some of these simple toilet diagnosis steps require that you look into the toilet flush tank on the back of the toilet.
Just lift the top off of the toilet tank and set it carefully aside on the floor where you won't break it or trip over it.
If you leave the tank top on the toilet seat (as we did for this photo) you're asking for trouble, and also, it's a bit in the way.
TOILET REPAIR GUIDE - see more detailedlinks listed at Related Topics
Our sketch below shows the parts you'll see inside the toilet tank. You may want to refer back to this drawing while reading the details of each class if individual toilet problems listed above and how they are detected, diagnosed, and repaired. |
...
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
...
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Use the search box below to ask a question or to search the InspectApedia.com website.
Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.
Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
- John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
 Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
- Thanks to reader J.D. for discussing troubles getting a toilet to flush properly. The supposition that the toilet flushing problem was due to a defective toilet bowl, versus due to improper fill and flush control setup, was tested ad nauseam by this homeowner, her son, plumbers, and plumbing suppliers. 05/29/2010
- Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
- Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
- Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and
Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by
Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)
- ...
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
|
|
