Did you know that in one year, you’ll flush a toilet an average of 1,825 times? That’s a lot of wear and tear on your toilet and its parts!
If you searched for “My Toilet Won’t Flush!” you’ve come to the right place. A broken toilet is a very inconvenient issue that you’ll want to address quickly. In this article, we listed some of the most common issues that may cause your toilet to not flush and solutions to help you fix the problem quickly.
Double Check Your Tank
The first step that you should take is to double-check your tank to make sure there’s enough water. If there isn’t enough water in your tank, it can create a weak flush that won’t empty the toilet bowl.
When you flush your toilet, you move water from inside the tank into the toilet bowl by lifting the flush valve. As water is released from the tank into the bowl of the toilet, suction is used for flushing the toilet entirely.
However, if there isn’t enough water inside the tank, there isn’t as much suction to flush the toilet entirely. Take a peek inside your toilet tank to make sure that your tank’s current water level is where the manufacturer recommended it to be. You can identify the manufacturer’s suggested water level by locating a mark inside the tank. If you notice that the water levels inside the tank aren’t rising enough, you’ll have to adjust this. This can be done by manually bending the float arm upwards.
Flapper Malfunction
Another reason for the water to not collect in the toilet tank is a flapper (flush valve) malfunction, which can also create a weak flush.
You can identify the flapper in your toilet bowl by finding a cup-shaped item at the bottom of the Tank on your toilet. The flapper is responsible for keeping the drain that leads to the toilet bowl covered up. When you pull on your toilet handle, a chain will lift, causing the flapper to move upwards.
If the flapper on your toilet has become damaged, the water in the toilet tank may leak into the bowl. This can make it difficult for you to flush your toilet because there likely isn’t enough water in the tank to flush your toilet properly. Sometimes the chain attached to the flapper can become disconnected. In this case trying to flush the toilet won’t move the flapper and won’t release any water into the bowl. If you notice an issue with the flapper you can get replacement parts at a hardware store to replace it.
Clogged Toilet
Another common reason why your toilet won’t flush is because of a clogged toilet. Double-check to make sure the water valve is completely turned on going into your toilet. If your water valve is wide open and your toilet still won’t flush, it likely means that you’re dealing with a clogged toilet.
You’ll want to use a plunger by placing the plunger directly for the top of the toilet’s drain opening. Pump hard on the plunger for a few seconds to force the clog to clear from the pipes.
My Toilet Won’t Flush: Finding Solutions to Your Problem
If you notice an issue with your toilet, make sure to address it quickly as water leaks from a toilet can use up a lot of water and damage your home. If you’ve tried these solutions and are still wondering, “why my toilet won’t flush?” You need the help of a professional plumber. Click here to contact us today to learn how we can help fix your plumbing problem.
