Doesn't flush the toilet - causes of the problem and what to do in such a situation

A clogged toilet is a nuisance that many talk about with reluctance, and often with embarrassment. Nevertheless, if there are problems, they will have to be dealt with, no matter how inconvenient it is to discuss it with other people.

In many cases, an experienced plumber will be able to determine the causes of problems and their solutions. However, before asking for help (often expensive), you should try to figure out what is happening on your own.

Modern toilet: device and principle of operation

In general, the concept of a toilet bowl consists of two parts: a fecal bowl and a drain (storage) tank. The greatest efficiency of flushing (draining) is achieved with a separate arrangement, when the tank is located high above the bowl. However, in modern apartments, such a solution is practically not found due to the high noise. Basically, the differences relate to the shut-off automatics and the way of draining.

There are two most popular options for starting water:

1. Distributed (capillary). The outflow occurs around the entire perimeter of the bowl. However, the back wall may not be sufficiently washed due to the fact that the bulk of the water is supplied under the rim. In some cases, this may be the reason why the toilet does not flush feces well.
2. Direct-flow (central). Flushing is carried out from the neck located at the rear wall, closer to the tank. Due to the design features, the coverage of the sides and, especially, the front part will be significantly weaker.

Additional Information! Sometimes poor drainage can occur due to errors in the design of the outlet or poor design of the bowl.

What to do if the toilet does not flush: causes of problems and their solutions

Poor functioning of the plumbing in the toilet can be caused by a variety of reasons. And some of them cannot be determined otherwise than by trial and error. Nevertheless, most of the problems are fairly easy to recognize and do not require much effort to fix them.

Among the most common cases are the following:

• Blockages. Most often, poor flushing occurs for this reason.
• Small amount of water supplied. Here the root of the problem can be hidden both in the poor operation of the automation, and in the design features of the tank itself.
• Foreign objects in the drain neck or clogging.
• Damage to the coating of the inner surface of the bowl.
• Errors in the design of the sewerage system. Often this is the reason why the toilet bowl in a private house does not flush well.

Thus, some special difficulties can arise only in rare cases that require either repair work, or (the worst option) rebuilding the entire sewer system.

Exit routes, depending on the situation

The elimination of interruptions in the work of toilet plumbing is determined by the nature of the problems found. It can be a simple click-and-fix solution, or a whole range of different activities.

Incomplete tank

Most often, this type of malfunction is caused by breakdowns in the operation of the shut-off valves or simply by its poor adjustment. First of all, you should check the operation of the float and the drain button. If they are in order, you need to investigate the condition of the sealing bulb, which retains the water. It happens that the reasons why the toilet does not flush well are the wear of the seal material and the water slowly leaves the tank, without the inlet valve being triggered. Naturally, this also decreases its volume.

Blockages

There are two types of blockages: a plug in the channel of the toilet itself (and a siphon) or obstruction of the sewer pipes. In the first case, you can clear the stagnation by simply pouring boiling water (you need to be careful not to allow the bowl body to split) or with a pipe cleaner. Otherwise, you will have to resort to mechanical procedures: use a plunger or a special cable. Sometimes you need to clean the neck too - for this there are special tablets that are added to the water.

Poor or no water flow in the tank

Even a slow filling of the storage tank leads to the impossibility of normal operation of the toilet. If the water completely stops flowing, the source of the problems should be looked for in the operation of the shut-off valve. Also, the reason why the toilet bowl in the apartment does not flush well may be a leaky float, or the supplied water contains sand and clay suspensions, which quickly clog the outlet. In this case, everything is done with elementary cleaning.

Damage to the coating

This reason is not obvious for many, however, it can also lead to slow water drainage. Salt deposits, rust deposits and cracks in the enamel significantly affect the flow rate and ultimately lead to poor rinsing. This problem can be solved either by completely replacing the toilet bowl, or by restoring the coating.

Important! Even successful restoration of enamel at home is not able to provide a long period of normal operation (maximum, a year or two). Such a procedure makes sense only if it is impossible to quickly replace the plumbing.

Preventing malfunctions

The best way to solve problems is to prevent them from arising. Therefore, so that you do not have to often criticize why the toilet flushes poorly, you should accustom yourself to periodically carry out its prevention:

• Clean drain channels every week using special products.
• Periodically inspect the inside of the tank and fittings. Add cleaning tablets to the water.
• Do not throw third-party objects and toilet paper into the toilet (even if it says that you can do this).
• Clean the surface of the bowl regularly with detergents and disinfectants.

It can be argued that in most cases, the lion's share of plumbing problems do not present any super-complex problems.With a clear understanding of what to do if the toilet does not flush: the causes of problems and their solutions can become only a slight delay in this "delicate" issue, until everything falls into place again.

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