Toilet wont flush

[pisces]

Toilet wont flush completely, doesn't "whoosh". Paper sometimes remains in bowl. I have tried all the things I found from the internet: flapper is in good condition, chain is adjusted properly, tank fills to correct level, holes under the rim are not clogged, ran garden hose down the vent pipe, flushes completely from a bucket of water into the bowl. Any suggestions on where to go from here? This is the second floor bathroom. The toilet on first floor is directly beneath this one and flushes correctly.

[leechlake]

the only thing that it seems you haven't troubleshot is if there is buildup of some sort from the bottom of the tank into the toilet? If there is build up there the water would go into the bowl too slow to effectively clear out everything in the bowl.

[Pinusbanksiana]

Try some hot water and dish soap. Let it soak a while.

[BobT]

Plugged vent pipe? With all the snow lately, you could check your plumbing vent to be sure it isn't plugged up with ice.

[pisces]

It was doing this before the winter started, so not snow/ice related. I did go on the roof and run water down the vent pipe.It seemed to go down strong and did not backup or anything. Thanks

I am willing and able to replace the toilet if i was assured that this would correct the problem. My wife wants to call a plumber, but I think that they would just do the things i have already tried (and charge me for it).

Any plumbers out there?

[Eric Wettschreck]

Do you have kids? Is there a small blue power ranger missing?

It really sounds like there is something plugged in the Ferguson itself. Having raised 3 kids I know the drill. More than once I've had to unbolt the toilet, take it outside, and dump it all out. You'd be amazed how many legos can end up in a toilet.

[CAMAN]

If you hold the handle down while it's flushing does it have power?

[Macgyver55]

I agree with Eric on this one. I recently had a similar problem like this and it ended up being a 2000 flushes tablet had worked its way through the flapper and into the trap. It doesnt take much to change or restrict the flow enough to stop the "swirl".

[BoxMN]

+1

Plastic fork or spoon, Pringles lid, my favorite pony?.... haha!

[cavalierowner]

I started having that trouble with a toilet in my house shortly after I moved in about 14 years ago. I tried most of the stuff you did and never did resolve it. Even pulled the toilet. I finally gave up and bought a new $120 Kohler toilet and never had a problem again.

Even when I broke up the old toilet with a sledge hammer, I couldn't see anything obvious, although I really didn't look real close. I often wondered if there was enough of a mineral buildup to affect it even though the house had a water softener.

[Weissguy]

pisces,

had the same problem with father in laws toilet at the lake where no toys, lids, etc could be the culprit. Flushed great dumping a 5 gal pail of water down, but otherwise weak flush leaving paper after flush. Confirmed that septic wasn't full, snaked and tried some plumber in a bottle with no improvement. Appeared that water was running freely from under rim. Finally called plumber, toilet was replaced and works great! Was told that the inner parts eventually become clogged with minerals decreasing flush power.

Good luck!

[upnorth]

Not all toilets flush the same. We put a cheaper one in the basement and a #2 requires holding the handle down while the thing flushes to get a full flush. Spent an extra $50 or so on the one upstairs and the thing would probably flush Mt Everest.

[cavalierowner]

Not all toilets flush the same. We put a cheaper one in the basement and a #2 requires holding the handle down while the thing flushes to get a full flush. Spent an extra $50 or so on the one upstairs and the thing would probably flush Mt Everest.

When I replaced the toilet that wasn't flushing good, I also replaced the one in the master bath because it was of the same vintage. I bought a Kohler for the main bathroom and an American Standard for the master bath as an experiment because I had rental properties and I wanted to see which worked better for future replacements in my rentals. Both toilets were in that $120 price range. I will tell you without hesitation that the Kohler toilet flushes SIGNIFICANTLY better than the American Standard.

BTW, I had a toilet once that had a small float attached to the chain that connects to the flapper. If yours has that, you can move that small float to adjust how much water the toilet uses to flush, which is what you're doing by holding the handle down.

[Tom7227]

I agree with BobT, clogged vent pipe. Just for the heck of it pour a 5 gallon pail of water into it and see what happens. The try and check the vent pipe somehow but be careful. It may just be covered with snow if you have a well insulated and vented attic.

[jentz]

under the rim of the bowl are water holes that create the vortex in the bowl.If they get clogged the vortex isn't created and no or slow flush,Just replace the toilet.Those holes cant be reached from the inside and cleaning is next to impossible from under the rim.

I'll add its fairly common and most don't know how to diagnose it.Flush and see if the water from those holes are strong enough to make a vortex.

I'll bet all posts above thet said we just replaced the toilet and it never happened again this was their problem.

[WallEYES]

+1 on the holes beneath and under the bowl rim as they are plugged up....take a wire coat hanger and insert in the holes to clean...I have to do this once a year

[SkunkedAgain]

You'd be amazed how many legos can end up in a toilet.

That should be on a t-shirt

[BobT]

+1 on the holes beneath and under the bowl rim as they are plugged up....take a wire coat hanger and insert in the holes to clean...I have to do this once a year

Having this problem sounds like a hard water issue and if hard water is a problem, this could easily be the source of the trouble.

[schmoe147]

Do you have kids? Is there a small blue power ranger missing?

It really sounds like there is something plugged in the Ferguson itself. Having raised 3 kids I know the drill. More than once I've had to unbolt the toilet, take it outside, and dump it all out. You'd be amazed how many legos can end up in a toilet.

+1

I was on a service call for a toilet not flushing. When I got there I checked all the basics before lifting the toilet. It would flush fine for 2-5 times and then next thing you know it would back up. Finally had to pull the toilet and found a credit card blocking the hole. floated around and every so often it would block the hole. Needless to say when I contacted the homeowner to tell him the issue he had never heard of the individual who's name was on the Credit Card.

[hawgchaser]

Quote:

I will tell you without hesitation that the Kohler toilet flushes SIGNIFICANTLY better than the American Standard.

Just to muddy the waters a bit...Six years ago I built a house and bought a toilet to use during the inside building phase. My wife hates the fluting or veins that protrude on the bases of most toilets as they become crud catchers. I bought the cheapest "made in Mexico" H-Depot toilet as it had a smooth shape...It was called Larezo or something like that & cost $40. I bought it thinking I'd take it out and replace it with a "good" one after the interior was finished. Best flushing toilet I've ever used!!! Ended up keeping it and put two more just like it in the other bathrooms. No issues yet.

[SkunkedAgain]

The people of Mexico know how to build a good-flushing toilet. It's a source of national pride

[Eric Wettschreck]

Viva-La-Poo!!!!!

[hawgchaser]

We HSO folks know our sh**!

[rundrave]

We HSO folks know our sh**!

Reminds me of the local septic company slogan:

"Were #1 in the #2 business!"

lol

[WallEYES]

A Royal Flush beats a Full House