When your toilet has a weak, incomplete, or slow flush, it can be difficult to remove waste from the bowl and may require you to flush the toilet several times. This can be time-consuming and may be a symptom of plumbing problems that can grow more serious if they are not fixed. To increase toilet flush pressure, it is important for you to examine the components in the tank and other locations of your toilet to find out why the water level is low or what is blocking the free flow of water.
Setting the Water Level
A toilet tank needs to hold an adequate amount of water for a toilet to achieve a complete flush. You can adjust the water level in your toilet tank by removing the lid that covers the tank and checking to see how much water it holds. The water level in the tank should sit approximately 1 inch below the overflow tube, located in the center of the tank. If the water level is lower than this mark, you can raise it by adjusting the tank’s float. A toilet tank that features a ball float requires you to raise the water level by adjusting the screw on top of the fill valve in a clockwise rotation. When repairing a tank that instead has a fill valve connected to a cylinder float valve, you will need to squeeze the clip located on the side of the float and lift the float upward to achieve the optimum water level.
Removing Toilet Sediment
A toilet with a slow flush may be affected by a buildup of sediment in the inlet valve. The sediment can create a clog in the valve that prevents water reaching the bowl to flow quickly. You should clean the holes in the inlet valve so that you can remove the sediment by breaking it up. An awl or screwdriver can reach the small holes on the inlet valve, so you can try scraping away the sediment layer by layer until the component is clean.
Clearing Away Toilet Obstructions
Another reason that your toilet can have diminished flush pressure may be due to one or more objects getting caught in the toilet’s trap. To remove a clog in the trap, a toilet auger or plunger can often clear the obstruction. Once you remove the clog, water should flow much more freely each time you flush the toilet, and this should quickly increase toilet flush pressure.
The trap is also negatively affected by an excessive volume of waste trying to pass through it. When you try to flush too much waste at one time, the action can cause a temporary clog. It is advisable to flush more than once in this situation, because the second flush can push the waste through, allowing the toilet water to pass through the pipes without obstructing the trap.
Adjusting the Flapper
A toilet tank’s flapper may close too quickly, which can cause a toilet to only partially flush. This often happens when there is a problem with the chain inside the tank. You will need to adjust the length of the flapper’s chain if the slack exceeds 1/2-inch in length.
Opening the Water Valve
Make sure that your toilet’s water valve is in the ON position when flushing your toilet. When the valve is closed or even partially closed, the flush may be weak or slow. Closing the water valve prevents water from filling up the toilet bowl, and an inadequate amount of water in the bowl prevents the flush from having enough pressure to divert waste to the pipes.
If your toilet has a weak or incomplete flush, it is a good idea to determine if an adequate amount of water is getting to the toilet’s tank and that the water valve is fully open. Obstructions and clogs from excessive waste can also be slowing down the flush, and it is important to avoid flushing items that don’t break down in water. Gaining a working knowledge of your toilet and its components can help you make quick and easy fixes yourself, and it can also assist you in determining when the expertise of a professional plumber is needed to achieve an increase in toilet flush pressure.
Stubborn clogs in your plumbing pipes may require the attention of a licensed plumber who can make sure that your toilet’s flush pressure is strong enough to move waste easily through your home’s pipes. First Class HVAC has been providing plumbing maintenance and fair, competitive pricing to residents in Delaware and Maryland for over 40 years. Contact us today to experience our great customer service and for 24/7 emergency plumbing maintenance in Delaware’s Sussex County and the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.