Common Causes Of A Toilet Not Flushing Properly

When a toilet fails to work properly in your Austin home, everyone goes into panic mode. While it may be very inconvenient, the fact is there are many common causes as to why a toilet will not flush properly.

By doing some inspection and calling a professional plumber to assess the problem if needed, chances are good that the toilet will once again work properly.

Lift the Chain of the Toilet

Along with the flapper, the lift chain plays a key role in determining if a toilet will flush properly.

Located inside the tank near the top, it can often be the culprit behind why the toilet won’t flush properly.

In many cases, the lift chain will have too much slack in it, which can cause problems with the flapper.

If too much slack is present, the flapper won’t rise and stay up long enough to allow enough water to enter the tank for a full flush.

Warped Flapper

Along with the lift chain, the flapper is one of the most important components of a toilet tank. Located on the bottom of the tank, it’s made of rubber and acts as a seal to let water in and keep water from leaking out of the tank.

When the toilet has been flushed, it raises up and lets water empty from the tank to the toilet bowl, then lowers itself to hold enough water in the tank for the next flush.

However, if it is found to be warped or bent in any way, it won’t seal properly at the bottom, letting water leak out of the tank. When this occurs, the water level will be too low, leading to the toilet not flushing properly.

Water Levels Too Low

Most toilets have a manufacturer’s mark on the inside of the bowl indicating the proper fill level. If the water does not reach this mark after flushing, the water level will be too low for any subsequent flushes.

In some cases, the water valve may have accidentally been turned off. In other instances, the drain line may have a clog located somewhere in it and may require the services of a plumber to correct the problem.

No matter what causes a toilet to not flush properly, there’s little doubt it can be one of the most frustrating and inconvenient problems in any Austin home.

By contacting a plumber as soon as possible, a small problem can avoid becoming a bigger problem.

Your Austin, TX home toilet issues can be a nuisance to the whole family. Call S & D Plumbing today, and let’s get your toilet back to its flushing state!