Slow-Flushing Toilet Repair Guide

Diagnose & Repair Toilet that Does Not Flush Properly

Slow flushing toilet repairs:

Here we explain how to diagnose and repair toilets that flush too slowly or have a weak flush, sometimes backing up.

We explain how to diagnose and repair problems with toilets, leaks, flushes, odors, noises, running and wasted water.

Our page top photo shows ugly staining in a toilet bowl - strong evidence that this toilet has been running, wasting water, possibly flooding the septic system, and sometimes giving bad flush performance as well. Details are below.

Toilet Flushes Poorly - Too Slowly, or Leaves Waste in the Bowl

There are several other reasons why a toilet fails to flush properly besides a clogged drain.

Here we list each cause of toilet flushing difficulties and suggest how to diagnose and repair the condition.

Poor-flushing low-water-consumption toilets: Keep in mind that modern low water consumption toilets (ASME/ANSI A112.19.M) are designed to use 1.6 gallons (6 liters) per flush or less - a desirable step in reducing water consumption in buildings.

But with the lower total flush volume designed into the toilet, if the toilet fill and flush valves are not properly adjusted, these toilets may cause complaints of poor performance. Don't rush to change out a toilet that is not working satisfactorily. toilet flush control tune-up may be all that's needed.

Our photo (above) shows the water level in a modern low-flush toilet tank, sitting just a fraction above the fill line. This toilet has adequate water to flush properly, if it is properly vented and if its drain is not blocked.

If the toilet is totally blocked and not flushing, see Toilet Drain Clogged.

At PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS we explain the basics of proper plumbing vent piping and how errors cause trap siphonage, odors, and noises.

More details about plumbing drain line venting can be found at PLUMBING VENT CODES, DEFINITIONS, TYPES,

also PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES and

at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.

This sketch helps identify the toilet operating and repair parts we discuss in this article.

The Basics of How Toilets Work

While there have been improvements in toilet tank fill valves, flush valves, floats, and water savings, the design has remained about the same.

A flush lever moves an arm to lift a flapper valve or tank ball to permit water to rush into the toilet bowl below, washing away waste into the sewer pipe.

At the end of the flush cycle, a float arm, or a float moving on a vertical stalk (newer valves) drops to open a valve permitting the toilet tank to refill with water.

When the toilet tank water level reaches the proper level, the float closes the toilet tank fill valve.

Check for a Blocked Drain or Improper Venting

If the toilet always flushes, but it empties too slowly, or empties incompletely

• Blocked drain: the building drain/waste piping may be blocked
  
   or partly blocked. Try using a toilet plunger - don't give up too soon.
  
  First see TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK - a partial drain blockage will result in a slow toilet flush while a total drain blockage means the toilet will overflow when flushed.
  
  To diagnose and fix a blocked drain also
  see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
  
  and BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS
• Vent defects: the plumbing vent may be partly blocked.
  
  If a gurgling sound is heard at a sink or shower drain only when a nearby toilet is flushed, or at a sink or shower when a nearby tub is draining, we'd suspect that the building drain-vent system is inadequate.
• The toilet may not be properly vented.
  
  If the trap at the nearby bathroom sink is an "S" trap, there is a good chance that no plumbing vent was ever provided and it's an older building.
  
  See PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES
• Low-Pressure CIstern by Design: a low-profile toilet may be installed (photo above).
  
  Some low profile toilets use a very low toilet tank for aesthetic reasons. We have found that some of these models do not flush well unless the cistern volume is perfectly adjusted, the drain is working perfectly, the vent system is perfect, and no challenging waste deposits are in the toilet bowl.
  
  A poor flush factor may be the lower water pressure afforded by low profile tanks that are not as high above the toilet bowl. The author's mother swapped out all of the low-profile toilets in her home because of dissatisfaction with the toilet's flush performance.

Check & Adjust the Toilet Cistern or Tank Fill Volume

<If the toilet flushes poorly, leaving waste in the bowl and if you are sure that the drain is not blocked and that the vent works, check the toilet cistern volume and toilet bowl volume.

• The volume of water in the flush tank may be too small. When the toilet tank refills, notice where the water level is when the fill-up stops.
  
  The level of water in the toilet tank should be within 1/4" of the toilet tank fill line marked inside the toilet tank [Illustrated above on this page].
  
  At the highest possible toilet tank fill-up, the level of water will be just below the top of the toilet tank overflow tube in the center of the tank.


• The rate of water running into the toilet tank may be too slow
  
   (some of this water slightly aids the flush), or
• The starting volume of water in the toilet bowl may have been too small.
  
  For this case check the following
  
  
  • Check the diverter tube:
    
    Too little water in the toilet bowl to start with may be due to a lost or mis-connected fill tube that directs some water into the toilet tank standpipe (and thus into the bowl below), while the toilet tank is being re-filled.
    
    Check for that little tube.
    

Our photos below show the incorrect (first below where the diverter tube has become disconnected from the overflow tube) and correct connection of the toilet tank tube (second photo) that sends some water into the toilet bowl while the toilet tank is filling. (These are two different toilets.)

• Check the toilet cistern fill valve or float assembly adjustment:
  
  if the toilet cistern is not filling up to the indicated volume line in the toilet tank or cistern and if the diverter tube (above) is indeed properly filling the toilet bowl itself, you may need simply to adjust the position of the ball-cock float or the vertical rise distance of the toilet fill valve to put more water into the cistern.
  
  For a toilet ball-cock float operated cistern fill valve, 
  
  adjusting the float arm to raise the float will cause more water to fill the toilet tank or cistern.
  
  For a vertical rising concentric float type fill valve
  
   (just visible at the left of our photo below) a sliding or screw-operated adjustment changes the position of the vertical float to increase (higher) or decrease (lower the float) the cistern fill volume.

See TOILET TYPES, CONTROLS, PARTS for a guide to identifying toilets by type, brand, parts & features.

• Check also for clogged toilet bowl rim holes:
  
  hard water or debris passing into the bowl rim from the cistern or toilet tank can partly clog the rim holes designed to wash down the toilet bowl sides in most toilets.
  
  Clogged rim holes will slow the delivery of some of the toilet flush-water volume and can contribute to poor toilet flushing. Using a vinegar soak, lime or scale removers or even dishwasher detergent can help clean up a toilet bowl and clogged rim (along with a toothpick - Ed.)

at CONTINUE READING is a complete list of toilet trouble diagnosis and repair articles. Some toilet problems are fixed easily and right at the toilet by a simple adjustment, while others may not be the toilet's fault at all, and may need more thoughtful diagnosis and repair.

This article series TOILET REPAIR GUIDE discusses the cause, diagnosis, and repair of toilet problems (water closet problems) such as a toilet that does not flush well, clogged toilets, slow-filling toilets, running toilets, loose wobbly toilets, and odors at leaky toilets.

Thank you to our readers for their generous comments

Thank you for your clear concise and very helpful toilet flush repair guide. (Mar 1, 2014) Anonymous

Nice blog. you clearly describe the guide to repair a toilet. We are a professional plumbing services firm - if you want to know more about us - Everlast Plumbing, Australia (Mar 15, 2016)

...

...

Continue reading  at TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK to diagnose and fix a blocked or clogged toilet or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see TOILET SLOW FLUSH FAQs - questions & answers about fixing slow-flushing toilet problems

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR
• CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS
• PLUMBING LEAK DETECTION METHODS
• PLUMBING LEAK DETECTION & SHUTOFF DEVICES
• SEWER GAS ODORS
• TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR - home
• TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST - home
• TOILET DRAIN CLOGGED
• TOILET FLUSH OPERATION
• TOILET FLUSH HANDLE LEVER REPLACEMENT
• TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
• TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST
• TOILET FLUSHES POORLY
• TOILET LEAK CATASTROPHES
• TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY
• TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP
• TOILET WON'T FLUSH
• TOILET TYPES, CONTROLS, PARTS - home

Suggested citation for this web page

TOILET FLUSHES POORLY at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to TOILET INFORMATION

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

	HOME	ABOUT	ASK a QUESTION	CONTACT	CONTENT USE POLICY	DESCRIPTION	POLICIES	PRINT	PRIVACY
	© 2026 - 1985 Publisher InspectApedia.com - Daniel Friedman