Plumber Tips: Why Won’t My Toilet Flush? | Houston Heights

11/6/2021

Photo By Marvin Samuel Tolentino Pineda at istock

We’ve all been there. You finish using the restroom, flush the toilet, and then realize there are still a few floaties and some toilet paper floating around in the bowl. When this happens usually all you need to do is flush the toilet and you are set to go again, but if this is happening every single time that you use the restroom at your Houston Heights, TX home, then it may be time to consider calling a plumber for help making sure the wastes flow out of your home the first time around.

While it is not a big deal to have to flush your toilet twice, it is a big deal if you have to do this nearly every time you flush. It increases the amount of water used daily in your home by quite a bit and will increase your water bill along with the environment. Therefore, while it may seem like a small thing, it is something worth calling a Houston Heights, TX plumber about to get to the bottom of the situation. The good news is in some cases it is easily fixed, but if you wait around you will pay more for the extra water than you would for the repair.

Curious as to why your toilet is not suddenly clearing out water and wastes the way it used to? There are some explanations of the issue and some indicators that it may be time to get a new toilet. If you are not sure which side of the equation you fall on, keep reading to learn a bit about what could be going on. Of course, these are just a few things that could be going wrong, there is always a large variety of options so always consult with a plumber if you are having issues with your toilet.

Not Enough Water in the Tank

The way a toilet works is not too complex, although when something goes wrong that results in a call to the plumber it may seem that way which is fair enough, no one appreciates dealing with overflowing water. However, if your toilet is not flushing properly then you may actually have the opposite problem: your toilet might not be flushing properly. It is possible that your toilet is not getting enough water from behind the tank, which is resulting in weak flushes. If you open the back of your toilet you can probably find the indicator line that indicates where the water should be. If you see that the water level is under the mark, then you probably need to adjust it or talk to a plumbing company that can help you with it.

Overflow Tube Is Damaged

Another reason your toilet may not be working properly is that the overflow tube is not working correctly. The overflow tube is designed to move excess water out of the tank so that it does not overflow. This tube leads directly back into the bowl, but if it is damaged or cracked then water might be leaking into it preventing the tank from filling to the level it should be at. Hiring a plumber to replace the overflow tube might be all it takes to get your full flush back.

Flush Chain Is Loose

Despite years of technological advances, the inner mechanisms of your basic home toilet have remained quite simple. If you open the tank and look inside there is a flush handle that is connected to a chain. The chain needs to stay taught otherwise the flapper will shut. If the chain is loose or waving then the toilet will not be properly able to flush because the flapper will not open long enough. On the other hand, if the chain is completely broken then the chain will not budge at all. This is another quick fix that any plumber in Houston Heights, TX should be able to help you quickly get to the bottom of.

The Flapper Is Showing Signs of Age

Sometimes the problem is not the chain, but the flapper itself. The flapper is a round piece of rubber or plastic that covers the hole in the bottom of the tank. If it starts to age it can become damaged or warped. This means that it is no longer able to form a tight seal when the toilet flushes which results in your toilet becoming unable to refill. While it may seem like little drips into the bowl over time won’t do anything, it will reduce your flush power and result in an empty tank.

Inlet Hole Buildup

At the same time that water is flushing down the toilet, it is refilling at a steady rate through small inlet holes that are usually positioned along the top rim of your toilet or near the back. These holes can become clogged over time from dirt and debris, especially if when you clean your toilet you don’t pay much attention to the area under the rim which most people don’t since it is not visible. Mineral buildup is usually the top reason these clogs occur, but without a plumber taking the time to clean the holes out the water flow coming into your toilet after a flush will be minimal. This compromises the flushing ability and explains why it takes several flushes to refill your bowl.

Your Toilet Is Clogged

Finally, the most obvious answer is sometimes the right one. It is possible that nothing is wrong with your toilet, but it is clogged preventing it from flushing properly. It doesn’t take much for a partial clog to form that requires you to flush a few times before the water will clear. A clog should always be promptly taken care of by a plumber because eventually, that partial clog will become a full clog. The, you will have a much bigger mess on your hands.

Is your toilet giving you problems in your Houston Heights, TX home? It’s time to talk to a plumber. bluefrong Plumbing + Drain of West Houston is a top-area plumbing company that can help you get to the bottom of your toilet situation quickly.