Discover Why Your Toilet Flushes Slow
A clogged toilet in your home or furnished apartment is annoying, and so is a slow-flushing one.
There are actually several reasons why your toilet may be flushing slowly, including something as simple as the water level is too low in the tank.
It may be something that you can fix with a little elbow grease or some patience, or it may be something that requires the expertise of a professional plumber.
1. The water level is low
You will know if you have a low water level in your bowl by how it flushes. Your toilet is supposed to flush with a specific amount of water.
If the level is too low, your toilet won’t be able to flush properly and things will start backing up. This can lead to bigger problems down the road if not fixed right away.
The first thing you need to do is check the float. In most cases, the float can be found on the side of your toilet tank and is sometimes shaped like a ball or football.
The purpose of this float is to help control how much water gets into your toilet bowl as well as when it shuts off after flushing.
If this float gets stuck or doesn’t work properly, you won’t have enough water in your tank, which means things will back up when flushed.
2. The drain is partially clogged
One of the most common reasons toilets flush slowly is a partially clogged drain. This occurs when there’s a clog in the toilet trap, the curved pipe that connects your toilet to your sewer line.
Since only part of this pipe and drain is clogged, water still flows out, but it’s severely limited and much slower than usual.
If you suspect that you have a partially clogged drain, you should take action right away because it can worsen over time. Eventually, if left unaddressed, it can even become fully clogged.
When dealing with a partially clogged drain on your own, start by pouring boiling hot water down the toilet several times in succession.
The heat from the water may be enough to dissolve whatever’s causing the blockage. If not, try using an auger or snake to dislodge whatever is causing the issue.
You should also remove any debris from around your toilet bowl before attempting these fixes so that you don’t accidentally push it further into the pipes and make things worse.
3. There is a mineral build-up
If your toilet bowl seems to be doing ok, the issue might be with the tank itself. Mineral deposits from hard water can build up in the tank and cause partial or full blockages.
If this is the case, you’ll need some way to remove that buildup. A good place to start is with a toilet brush or pumice stone, which you can buy at local stores on your payday.
If that alone doesn’t do it, you may need a stronger cleaning solution. Bleach will help you get rid of mineral deposits and grime.
But if all else fails and your toilet continues to run like molasses, you may need to call a professional plumber or cleaning services.
4. The flapper or flush valve is defective
The problem could also be with the flapper or flush valve. The flapper is an important part of the toilet that maintains a seal in the tank until you are ready to flush.
When you press down on the handle, this releases the flapper and allows water to flow from the tank into the bowl.
If your flapper has become misaligned or warped over time, it may not be sealing properly. You can try readjusting it into place by disconnecting it from its chain and putting it back on again.
You can also try replacing your flapper entirely if this doesn’t work; don’t forget to turn off both water valves first.
If these simple fixes do not work for you, then there may be a larger problem with your toilet—it might even be time for a new toilet.
In this case, we highly recommend calling in a plumber or handyman, as they will have all of the tools needed to diagnose and fix more complex problems such as a broken fill valve or flush valve.
5. The drain vent is blocked
If you notice that your toilet flushing seems slower than usual, check for a blocked drain vent pipe. A building’s plumbing system needs to have vents installed to help regulate water pressure and keep the pipes clean.
The vent pipe sticks out of a building’s roof, letting air into the plumbing system so that wastewater can flow freely through the pipes.
In older buildings with poor ventilation, the vent pipe can become blocked by leaves, snow, or other debris that prevents air from flowing freely through it.
If this happens, water won’t be able to completely fill in the bowl when you flush it and you’ll notice a slow-flushing toilet as well as gurgling or bubbling sounds every time someone uses one of your fixtures.
You can unclog a blocked drain vent by treating it with baking soda and vinegar or using an auger or plumbing snake to clear away any debris blocking it from inside your home’s walls.
When you notice your toilet flushing slow, there’s typically a plumbing issue at hand. You can always attempt to fix this yourself but if technical issues persist, leave it to the hands of a professional.
They have the necessary expertise and background to fix your toilet to normal. For more home maintenance tips, feel free to visit this page.
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