A toilet that doesn’t flush properly can be both annoying and worrisome. There can be several causes as to why your toilet doesn’t flush properly, from a clog in the plumbing to poor water pressure.
Before you break out the snake and plumbing tools, check the water level in your toilet’s tank. Remove the lid from the tank behind your toilet. With the lid removed, flush the toilet to see where the tank float refills too. If the float stops before the refill line, the toilet is not getting enough water, which leads to a weak flush. You can adjust your toilet’s float level to be higher, leading to more water in the tank and a more powerful flush.
Learn these tips if you’re looking to improve your toilet flush.
Check for Any Clogs
If your toilet is still flushing but not as powerfully as it should, you may have a semi-clogged toilet pipe. Checking for clogs is a good first step in diagnosing the issue with your toilet. You can use a plunger or a drain snake to remove the clog.
If you think the issue is more serious than any of the listed methods, consider contacting a plumber to inspect your toilet. A plumber will be able to diagnose the problem and make recommendations about the next steps.
Clean the Jets Along the Rim
Small jets along the inside rim of your toilet release water when you flush the toilet. Over time, these jets can become clogged with mineral buildup from hard water. Giving them a good scrub could help improve your toilet’s flush. Grab a bristled toilet brush and cleaner, then give the inner rim of the toilet bowl a thorough scrubbing.
Clean the Tank
Since your toilet’s tank contains standing water (or water that doesn’t move), it is susceptible to mineral buildup from hard water. Hard water is water with high mineral content, such as calcium. Hard water buildup often looks white and chalky. If left uncleaned, hard water and mineral buildup can hinder the tank’s components from functioning properly.
Open up your toilet tank and take a look inside. You may want to clean the tank and its components if you see evidence of mineral buildup. Some sources recommend using bleach to clean out the tank, but this can damage the sealing components, leading to more problems. Instead, clean the tank with vinegar.
You can fill the tank with a few cups of vinegar and let it sit for a few hours. Since vinegar is an acid, it will break down mineral deposits in the tank. Flush the toilet once the vinegar has had a chance to work. Scrub the tank with a vinegar and water mixture using a bristled brush, which will remove any loosened mineral buildup.
Check the Water Valve
It may seem like a no-brainer, but your toilet won’t flush properly without enough water! Ensuring the water valve is open fully guarantees that your toilet gets enough water. The water valve is usually located behind the toilet. A pipe will connect the tank to the wall, and there should be a valve where the pipe connects to the wall. Make sure this valve is fully in its “open” position. Once you’ve ensured the valve is in the correct position, give the toilet a test flush to see if this fixes the issue.
Inspect the Flapper
The flapper is a rubber apparatus that creates a seal between the tank and the toilet bowl. When you flush the toilet, the flapper is lifted, and water can enter the toilet bowl. Over time, the flapper can become hard, cracked, or otherwise worn out when the flapper doesn’t create a watertight seal or water leaks into the toilet bowl, reducing your toilet’s flushing power.
Open your toilet tank and take a look at the flapper. It may be time to replace it if it looks old or cracked. Replacement flappers can be found at most hardware stores and are easy to replace. If your flapper looks fine but is out of its proper place, you can simply adjust it to the correct position.
Switch to a High-Pressure Toilet
Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the components of your toilet but with the type of toilet you have. If none of the above methods have helped you increase the pressure of your toilet, you may want to consider switching to a high-pressure or pressure-assisted toilet. These toilets can save money in the long run since they use fewer gallons per flush.
