A slow flushing toilet can be a major hassle. Homeowners might be worried that it points to plumbing problems.
The good news is that oftentimes, you can DIY a solution before needing to call a plumber. But if you’ve tried to remove a clog and improve the water flow with no success, you might need a professional’s help.
There are three common reasons for the toilet to flush slowly. Finding out the reason is the key if you want to fix a slow flushing toilet.
The most common reasons that you’ll have this issue with flushing are:
- The water level in the toilet tank is too low.
- You have a clogged toilet or clogged drains on the way to the sewer line.
- There is a mineral build-up due to hard water mineral deposits over time.
1. Check Your Water Level
Problems with the water level tend to be a frequent cause of issues with flushing the toilet. You need enough water in the tank to get the appropriate flushing power.
A low water level won’t generate enough power to clear the toilet bowl, which can then lead to clogs.
Open up the tank lid and look inside. Is there enough water coming in from the water supply?
Fill your tank until it’s 1/2 inch lower than your overflow tube. The flapper valve shouldn’t open until it’s closer to overflowing.
If the flapper is opening, you probably need to adjust the fill valve. If your valve uses a float ball, lengthen the chain so that the ball can float to the top of the tank.
If it uses a float cup, adjust the positioning of the metal arm attached.
2. Check for Clogs
Sometimes a blockage in the drainpipe can be the cause of the issue. The clog might not be bad enough to entirely plug the toilet drain, but it may get worse with time.
If you don’t remove the clog, you could end up with solid waste remaining at the bottom of the toilet.
But how do you know if there is a clog? There’s actually a pretty simple trick.
Just pour a gallon of water inside the bowl. Does the water level quickly rise?
That indicates that there’s a blockage somewhere in the drain.
Once you know you have a clog, you can usually fix it with a plunger. But if your plunger doesn’t work, you might need to use a toilet snake.
These tools can move further down the pipes to dislodge stubborn clogs deep in the pipes.
Another option is to pour some hot water down the pipes. This can sometimes dislodge mild clogs made from soap scum.
But it often doesn’t work as well as a plunger.
3. Check for Mineral Buildup
This issue is less common, but it still happens! If you find that you don’t have a clog or a tank issue, then you might be dealing with a calcium buildup.
Where is this calcium, you ask? It’s built up in the jet holes around your toilet seat.
As water flows into the toilet bowl, minerals flow with it. They can build up around the jet holes until the water pressure is severely impacted.
This keeps your toilet from being as powerful.
If you discover that you have this problem, your best bet is to use a screwdriver and a mineral removing solution. You can loosen the deposits and scrape them out with the screwdriver.
Final Thoughts
A slow flushing toilet isn’t always a sign of something serious. In fact, it’s usually an issue with a simple solution.
But if you’ve tried these three troubleshooting methods without success, it’s a good idea to contact a plumber. They’ll be able to identify the source of the issue and fix it.
