When you have a toilet that is not flushing, it is time to walk through and begin troubleshooting what went wrong. When a toilet doesn’t flush there are a couple of steps you will need to begin taking to determine the source of the failure. Most of the time the fix is fairly simple. M & C Orsack Plumbing will help walk you through the different reasons why a toilet may fail to flush and what you must do to fix this problem.
Broken Toilet Flush Handle
When you go to flush the toilet and you press on the handle and nothing happens, the handle may be the reason. Handles are made of metal or plastic and both are problematic. A metal handle can rust and decay due to the exposure of constant water. A plastic handle can wear down and break. The break or decay usually happens inside the tank. You can reach inside the tank and simply pull up on the plug to flush the toilet. At this point you will need to replace the toilet’s handle. It is easy enough to tell when the handle breaks as there will be no pressure or resistance on the handle when pushed.
Low Water Level in Toilet Bowl
Sometimes a toilet will not properly flush or not flush at all when the tank doesn’t have enough water. The water level in the tank should be about one inch below the top of the overflow tube. If the water level is too low, twist the flush valve. If the toilet’s water intake valve has been adjusted or bumped, then not enough water will fill that tank. Another reason why a tank will not fill with enough water is the float ball is out of place and needs to be adjusted. In some rare cases, there may not be enough water pressure getting to the toilet, such as a pipe leak.
Bad Toilet Flapper or Fill Valve
When a toilet flushes fine but the next time you flush it fails, the next question to ask is the water to the toilet running? If the water is constantly running to the toilet and the flush fails, there wasn’t enough water in the tank. The sound of constant running water is because the flapper or plug inside the tank did not close properly. The flapper may need to be replaced or perhaps the chain to the handle is broken and is caught between the flapper. Inspect the inside of the toilet and see if the flapper needs to be replaced or if there is an obstruction.
Toilet is Clogged
A toilet will often fail to flush when there is a clog. A clog is a nasty problem to deal with. You will need to unclog the toilet. You can start by using a plunger. Minor clogs should become dislodged fairly quickly. Bigger problems may require the use of a plumbing snake which is a long metal coil that is fed through the toilet. Worst case scenario is that a tree root or a break in the sewer system may have occurred. If you cannot seem to unclog the toilet and you notice other odd plumbing problems occurring, you will need to seek the assistance of a professional plumbing service.
Emergency Plumbing Repairs, Fixture Installations & More in Spring, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Montgomery & Conroe Texas
When you require quality plumbing services, contact M&C Orsack Plumbing and schedule a site visit today.
