The slow flushing of toilets is the indication that there is a problem, usually a partial clogging inside the toilet. If the pathway inside your toilet is clear throughout, there shouldn’t be slow flushing or clogging. But sometimes, it is also possible that there is no clog inside, but your toilets flush slow and there could be a number of reasons behind that.
Most likely reasons for a toilet to flush slow are a clog inside the toilet (maybe in the drainpipe), a toilet tank with a low water level, or some sort of sediment buildup along the rim. Well, for these problems, there are solutions as well.
You might want to know “How do I make my toilet flush stronger?” Well, here’s the short answer. You can make your toilet flush better by making sure that the water level is half an inch below the overflow tube, cleaning the rim holes and siphon jet, making sure that the toilet is not clogged even partially, and fixing the flapper chain length. You should also clear the vent stack.
In this article, we’re going to discuss what causes your toilet to flush slow and how to fix the issue.
Table of Contents
How to Unclog a Slow Toilet?
Whenever you have a slow flushing toilet, the very first thing you should try is to see if there is some sort of clogging inside the toilet. Remember that clogging isn’t always right in the bowl. It could be somewhere in the pipes as well.
To get rid of a clog, the easiest and the most common way is the use of a plunger. A plunger has a plastic seal attached on its one end that deals with the clogging. Wondering how to use a plunger? Well, here’s the answer to that. Insert the plunger into the bowl, a little deep and try to cover the maximum area of the bowl while placing the plunger at a suitable angle.
It is important to make sure that the seal of the plunger is perfectly seated around the drain of the bowl, making it a closed seal. This is what would maximize the water pressure inside. Then you push and pull the plunger for a few minutes and the plunger creates up pressure inside of the toilet that works against the blockage by breaking down the clog.
So, rapidly depress the plunger about 12 times at least forcing water against the blockage. This would eventually break down what has caused the blockage inside the toilet unless the blockage is extremely severe.
For the plunging technique to work properly, make sure your toilet bowl has enough water inside of it. If it seems to be less, add a bucket of water by yourself.
Why Does Toilet Flushes Slow but Is Not Clogged?
If you’re sure that your toilet isn’t clogged and the reason for slow flushing is any other, then you should probably inspect your toilet to look for the problem. Most of the time, the problem is inside the tank because of which your toilet flushes slow.
Check Water Level Inside the Tank
Look up into your toilet tank. Takedown the lid of the tank and first of all, see if the water level is okay. Lesser water inside the tank is one of the reasons for slow flushing. Use a screwdriver to adjust the float height by turning the screw that is attached to the fill valve in small increments. You’ll have to move it clockwise in order to raise the water level.
When you’re done, flush the toilet and see if the problem has been solved.
Toilet Flapper Might Need an Adjustment
Take off the lid of the tank and look inside. The flapper assembly should be connected to the handle on the toilet flushing system properly. Make sure there isn’t a lot of length on the metal or plastic chain that would get it stuck or hung.
In case there is too much play in the chain, it would lead to the flapper not sealing, resulting in the toilet running continuously. So, move the chain to another hole on the flush bar handle, if needed. Be sure the flapper is working properly by flushing the toilet. Ensure the water leaves the tank without any issues.
See Also: HOROW HWMT-8733 Toilet Review
Causes of a Slow Draining Toilet – Reasons Why Your Toilet Flushes Slow
There could be different reasons behind the slow flushing of a toilet, low water level inside the tank being one of them. Let’s discuss the causes that lead to slow flushing.
- The low water level inside the toilet tank
- Build-up inside the drain
- The build-up of minerals or sediments along the rim
- Defective Toilet Bowl
- Defective Toilet Flapper
1. Low Water Level Inside Toilet Tank
It is likely your toilet tank is to blame if the tank water is lower than usual. It is not easy for your toilet to flush strong enough when it has little water power because the pressure isn’t enough to clean up the entire bowl. So, the toilet doesn’t flush as quickly as it should. Low water levels in your tank can be caused by a number of factors. Typically, it’s due to causes you have no control over.
So, to fix the issue, adjust the float height to raise the water level inside your tank.
2. Buildup Inside the Drain
Some clogging or any other sort of buildup in the drain could be another cause of slow flushing. The non-dissolving material such as the baby wipes, wet towels, sanitary napkins, and other stuff thrown into the flush causes clogging in the drain over time.
There can be a partial obstruction or a blockage more deeply seated within the system. A clogged toilet is much easier to handle than a system blockage. Using a gallon of water is one good way to test. Fill the toilet bowl with water. It is likely to be a clogged drain if water immediately rises.
In the event that the obstruction is not treated, it can only go further down the waste line, making matters worse. So, it’s important to look for the treatment as soon as possible.
To fix the issue, you may try a plunger which is always the first option for a clogged toilet. But if it doesn’t work, you’ll probably have to contact a plumber.
3. Build-Up of Minerals or Sediments Along the Rim
If any kind of sediments or minerals has built up inside, they would make the flushing very slow. So, yes, this is another cause of the slow draining toilet. The problem may be with your jet holes at the rim of your toilet if you have enough water in the tank and your drain is clear. These jet holes can collect minerals with every flush, reducing the power of the jets.
Hence, as the sediments and minerals accumulate along the sides of these holes, the pressure released by the water can gradually decrease. In such a case, your toilet rim would need a thorough clean-up.
4. Defective Toilet Bowl
Toilet bowls operate through pressure. For a colon to drain water, it has to be extremely airtight. Consequently, if the inner walls of the colon are damaged or cracked, then the pressure will be insufficient, resulting in weak flushing. This could also be the cause of the slow draining toilet.
To have this issue fixed, you’ll have to hire a professional plumber as the inside damage of the toilet could not be treated at home.
5. Defective Toilet Flapper
Your toilet tank flushing system includes the flapper valve. To drain the water completely from the tank, the flapper needs to open when you flush the toilet and close once the water is emptied. However, a partially opened flapper valve results in a slow flush. You might suspect it has to do with the chain or rubber string attached to the plunger.
The flapper can be loose due to wear and tear, or it could be too long so that it does not pull the flapper sufficiently to allow the water to fully drain. So, to resolve the issue, ensure that there isn’t a lot of length on the metal or plastic chain that would get it stuck or hung.
Why is my toilet flushing so weak?
Generally, in most toilets, flushing power is inadequate due to partially blocked waste pipes, jets, and rim jets, or because the water level in the toilet tank or bowl is too low. Any of these could be the reason why your toilet is flushing weak. The blockage should be removed and water levels should be adjusted to overcome this issue.
Will a slow draining toilet unclog itself?
This might work or not, depending on the severity of the clog. Lightly clogged toilets usually unclog themselves over time. If the clogging is because of some water-soluble substances, they would definitely disintegrate over time in the toilet water.
Hence, if the clog is given enough time for its breakdown, it would then eventually dissolve and a flush would be sufficient enough to clear the bowl entirely after that.
How to Fix Slow Draining Toilets
Here are some ways to fix the toilet that’s not clogged but flushes slow.
- Maintain water level in the tank
- Replace the damaged fill tube
- Adjust the Float height
- Drainpipe should be clear
- Clean up the Jet holes
1. Maintain Water Level in the Tank
It is very important to maintain the water level inside your tank for the proper working and functioning of your toilet. Lesser water in the tank causes less pressure for the cleaning up of the bowl. So, a maintained water level in the tank can help you get rid of the toilet that flushes slowly.
2. Replace the Damaged Fill Tube
It is possible for a damaged fill tube to cause slow flushing. To get that fixed, here’s what you’d need to do:
- First of all, remove the tank lid and drain out all of the water from the toilet. If any liquid remains, mop it up with a towel.
- Then, remove the nut connecting the water hose to the fill valve’s bottom.
- Now replace the damaged valve with the new one after removing the old one from the base.
- Under the tank, secure the valve with a wrench and nut. Then, reattach the water supply hose and refill the tube.
- Once you have completed this step, turn on your water supply again and test the toilet’s flushing ability.
3. Adjust the Float Height
The flapper should entirely open up for the water to let out for the flush. A lack of space or a malfunctioning flapper will lead to insufficient water drainage from the toilet. To fix the issue, make sure that the flapper is properly connected to the flushing handle. The flapper needs to have the right length to allow enough opening space for water to drain when it is lifted.
4. Drain Pipe Should Be Clear
To fix the slow flushing system of your toilet, you need to make sure that the drain pipe contains no clogging at all. No wrappers, wet towels, baby wipes, or sanitary napkins should be flushed as they result in a clogged toilet over time. Hence, ensure that the trap way is clear of any kind of obstruction or blockage.
5. Clean Up the Jet Holes
As described above, the sediments or minerals may get trapped into the jet holes of the toilet rim. This results in less water drawn into the bowl, and that too, with less pressure. So, to fix this, you’ll have to clean up the jet holes in the rim.
Apply the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes on the exterior of the jet holes. Then, take a small screwdriver and chemically scrape away the mineral deposit from around the holes. This would probably fix the issue. In case it doesn’t, contact a plumber.
To know if your toilets need a repair or for the other tips for fixing slow flushing, you may visit.
Our Verdict
Toilets that don’t flush, despite not being clogged, are a common occurrence in households. Where there are more than two or three people using the same bathroom, this problem might be faced. If the toilet is not properly cared for and maintained, frequent use will result in dysfunction. Being proactive rather than reactive is, however, the best approach when it comes to the home toilets.
Things We Recommend:
Ensure that the lever on the toilet is connected properly, that the siphon jet on the bottom of the toilet is clean to the fullest extent possible, and that there are no interruptions to the flushing process.
Then, perform the final water level test, ensuring the water is rising and releasing as it should. Even after all this if the problem isn’t solved, you may contact a plumber.
