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The Three Most Common Causes of the Slow Flushing Toilet

When homeowners are faced with slow flushing toilets, they find themselves wondering what could have caused their systems to suddenly be plunged into disrepair. There are several issues that could be causing your toilets to experience inadequate flushing. While a slow flushing toilet may seem like a problem that occurs out of the blue, it’s usually caused by issues that take time to become a problem. Mineral buildup, clogs, and normal wear and tear can all lead to flushing issues. By knowing the signs and causes of incomplete, inadequate, or weak flushing, you will know how to avoid these issues and treat them if and when they happen.

Depending on the severity of the problem, you may be able to treat your toilet without professional help. If the problem results from long-term buildup or wear and tear, you may need to contact a plumbing professional. The potential causes of slowing flushing can result in more severe issues if not handled properly. We’ve compiled a list of the most common causes of slow flushing and suggestions for getting your toilet flushing normally again free of obstruction or issue.

  • Low Water Level : When your toilet doesn’t have enough water in the tank, it cannot flush adequately. Low water level is the most common cause of sluggish or poor flushing. The tank should be filled to the recommended level, so when it’s not adequately filled, your toilet will not have a forceful or powerful flush. More water in the tank gives your toilet the additional power needed to ensure that the toilet bowl is emptied after each flush. The water level in your tank needs to be half an inch under the overflow pipe. To increase the water level in your toilet tank, start by checking for simple issues that could cause low water issues. The refill tube could be unclipped from the overflow tube, and this simple fix could be all that’s needed to improve your poor flushing. If that isn’t the problem, you can adjust the water levels in your tank by maneuvering the toilet float. You may also need to replace the fill valve also. If your water level doesn’t increase after trying the tips above, you could have a crack in your toilet bowl, which would require hiring a plumbing professional to fix the issue.
  • Clogs and Buildups : Slow flushing could be the result of a clog or buildup of debris in your drain. To determine whether you have a clog or buildup, you should start by determining where the problem is located. Pour a gallon of water into your toilet bowl, and if the water level increases, then the problem is likely in the pipeline. The issue could be with the drain, the trap, or your pipes, so isolating the problem is imperative. Depending on the severity of the clog, you may need to contact a plumbing professional to have your pipeline cleared.
  • Mineral Buildup : If you’ve made it to the end of this list and your toilet is still suffering from a slow flush, you could have a buildup of minerals blocking the water refill holes around your toilet. These jet holes refill the water in your bowl after every flush. Incidentally, it’s after every flush that these minerals can pool around these refill holes, and a mineral remover and tool can be used to clear out the buildup from your toilet components.

It’s possible that none of these issues are what’s causing your slow flushing power, and you could be looking at something more complicated. If these most common issues and fixes didn’t solve your problem, then it’s time to call in a licensed and trained plumbing professional. At Lange Plumbing & Fire Protection,  you can count on our team to provide professional advice and high-quality products and services. Call us today at (702) 500-0936 to schedule an appointment.

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CONTACT LANGE PLUMBING & FIRE PROTECTION TODAY!

CONTACT LANGE PLUMBING & FIRE PROTECTION TODAY!

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