Handy Tips for Fixing a Slow Flushing Toilet
A slow flushing toilet is quite a nuisance. Moreover, it’s embarrassing if you’ve got guests over or share the toilet with someone else.
The only way you can address the issue is recognizing the problem early and taking corrective measures. For a permanent fix, you need to get in touch with a professional plumber. Only they will be able to tell you whether the issue calls for a minor repair or the complete replacement of the toilet.
Here are a few tips to help you solve the issue without paying too much:
Understand the problem
If your toilet is flushing very slowly, you need to diagnose the problem before taking action. There could be two probable reasons for the issue:
- Either the bowl isn’t filling up quick enough, or
- The toilet is draining slowly
If the second is true, your toilet is clogged and needs to be cleared. This issue mostly starts off as slow drainage and eventually leads to the toilet not flushing at all. In most cases, a plunger, toilet snake, or some other technique to unclog it will do the trick.
However, if the problem is with the bowl, there is an issue with the tank. This happens when there is a low water level in the tank. For this, you can turn the adjustment screw located near the top of the valve. By turning it clockwise and anticlockwise, you can lower and raise this level respectively.
Use a drain cleaner
You don’t always have to pay for expensive repairs if your toilet seat isn’t flushing fast enough. If there is extra residue that’s slowing down the flow of water, you can dislodge it using a drain cleaner. You need to pour about a gallon of steaming hot water into the toilet. Let the hot water sit in the bowl for some time so all the backup and the residue get washed away effectively. Make sure the water is evenly heated or else the porcelain may crack.
After that, pour a drain cleaner that’s suitable to be used on ceramics. Always speak to the manufacturer to make sure that the solution is safe to be used or whether you need to take extra protective measures. Once the combined action of hot water and drain cleaner works on the toilet, it’ll be able to flush out the entire backup more effectively.
However, if the issue still doesn’t get resolved, get a plumber to help you out.
Pro Serve Plumbing is a top of the line plumbing service based in Fort Worth, TX. We offer a wide range of services, including toilet repairs and replacements. Get in touch for an estimate.