How to Replace a Toilet That Won’t Flush While flushable toilets have been around for ages, the first known version comes from the end of the 16th century.
Since then, toilet design has seen a significant transformation. The good news is that by figuring out why the toilet won’t flush and using the right fix, the issue can frequently be swiftly and simply fixed.
Toilet blockages are the issue.
The most frequent cause of a toilet that won’t flush correctly in a home is a clogged toilet. Too much toilet paper or other objects flushed down the toilet or attempts to flush them down the toilet, frequently cause clogs.
Examples include towels, balls of hair, diaper liners, feminine hygiene products, dryer sheets, cotton swabs, and supposedly flushable wipes. Some toilet paper brands that are marketed as being stronger may also lead to clogs.
A clogged toilet is simple to spot because when you push, water comes into the bowl and the levels are rising. If this happens, keep a close eye out to see if the water level eventually falls.
Try these techniques to clear the obstruction, depending on your tools and how soon you need to unclog the toilet.
- Plunge the toilet: Plungers are produced in two different styles. The rubber cups on sink plungers are designed like little toilet bowls, and while their colors might vary, they are often red. Toilet plungers have cups that resemble bells and are frequently black in color. To use, place the plunger in the cup and tilt it slightly so that suction is created by the water within. When plunging, use short, swift strokes to avoid letting air into the cup and disrupting the suction.
- Use a toilet auger: While comparable to a plumbing snake, a toilet auger is made to avoid unintentional toilet damage. Move the auger’s tip around in the toilet’s drain hole after inserting it there.
- Use warm water: Try conducting a manual flush if you don’t have a toilet plunger or auger. About a gallon of warm water should be added to a trash can or other container. Quickly fill the toilet bowl with water. Permit ten minutes to pass. Whether that doesn’t work, try adding a little amount of liquid dish detergent. After another 20 or 30 minutes, check to see if the lubrication from the detergent helped the clog pass through the pipe.
The concern is the flapper assembly.
If you discover that your toilet is not draining properly, check your flush handle and flapper mechanism. You may see a chain connecting to the flushing lever when you take off the toilet’s tank cover.
The chain’s opposite end is fastened to a flapper valve, a piece of rubber. When you pull back on the lever, the chain raises the flapper on the toilet, letting water from the tank pour into the bowl.
Sometimes a flapper chain can unhook from its hook, and if the chain is detached the toilet won’t flush. One of the simpler bathroom fixes is this one! Put the chain back in place by simply hooking it.
If they are excessively lengthy, the flapper can close before the tank has released enough water to guarantee a proper flush. Simple changes can be made to remedy this. Unhook the chain and select a link that is closer to the flapper to lessen the slack.
A broken, deformed, or deteriorating flapper cannot maintain a suitable seal because flappers can degenerate with time. Visit your neighborhood hardware store to get a replacement.
Your fill valve may potentially run as a result of a leaking flapper. Check your fill valve and flapper valve if your toilet is running.
The Tank’s Water Level Is the Issue
Most toilets require at least 80% of the tank’s total capacity to be drained in order to flush properly. A partial flush could happen if the tank is not full all the way. The toilet won’t flush at all if the tank is totally empty.
Checking the obvious should be done first. Verify that the water valve behind the toilet has not unintentionally been turned off.
If that’s the issue, open the valve and check to see if the tank fills. Another reason why a toilet might not flush is if the valve is turned on but the tank’s water level is not high enough.
The overflow tube’s top should be an inch or less below the water level. Make sure the overflow tube is not cracked; if it is, you can buy a replacement and try to replace it yourself, but you should definitely get a plumber to handle the job.
You might be able to change the water level by turning the water valve if the overflow tube is still in place. Just be sure to keep an eye on everything during the initial fill, then perform two or three test flushes before concluding that the problem has been fixed.
The Rim Slots Are Congested, Which Is the Issue
Even though you might never experience this problem, it can happen in places where the water has a lot of calcium, lime, or other similar minerals in it.
The perforations at the top of the bowl’s rim may become clogged with mineral deposits over time. The toilet might not flush entirely if these holes become blocked because they are the ones that let water from the tank in.
A piece of wire can be placed into each hole to check for blockages and to see whether that clears them, solving the issue. If necessary, you can use a toilet cleaner developed exclusively to remove mineral deposits to clean the holes or add some vinegar to the toilet bowl.
 Make an Expert Call
After looking into each of these possibilities, if your toilet still won’t flush, it’s time to contact a reliable plumbing service. There are numerous more reasons why toilets malfunction, and fixing them will call for specialized equipment and instruction. A certified plumber can assist and has the knowledge to resolve the problem.
For assistance with any plumbing problem, give us a call. We offer prompt, courteous service to clients throughout Atlanta and the surrounding area, provide plumbing services of the highest caliber and do so at competitive prices.
