Toilet Repair FAQs:

Questions & answers about how to diagnose and fix a toilet: how to fix a clogged toilet, slow flushing toilet, or a noisy or leaky toilet? How do toilet valves & controls work? How do I fix a toilet that is loose or wobbly. These replies to reader questions help diagnose and fix most toilet troubles.

This article series 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. Here we explain how to diagnose and repair problems with toilets, leaks, flushes, odors, noises, running and wasted water.

Toilet Fill, Flush, Drain, Odor, Noise, Problem FAQs

Questions & answers about how to repair toilet problems, posted originally at TOILET REPAIR GUIDE - you'll want to see the diagnosis and repair advice there.

On 2021-04-30 - by (mod) - toilet that keeps running after a flush

@Margaret,

A misbehaving toilet that keeps running after a flush is a common annoyance but the good news is it's almost always easy and quick to fix by taking a look into the toilet tank or cistern.

Often the problem is a mis-adjusted float control or on occasion a too-long flush chain that gets stuck under the flapper valve, preventing it from closing fully.

Please see the diagnosis and repair steps at TOILET RUNS CONTINUOUSLY

and let me know how that works for you or let me know if you have more questions.

On 2021-04-30 by Margaret

After flushing and the tank is full the toliet keeps on running

On 2020-11-10 by Frank

what could be wrong?

On 2020-06-02 - by (mod) -

Ahs

See the WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE article found by searching our site for that phrase

On 2020-05-31 5 by ahsap@optonline.net

With each toilet flush, there follows a very noisy and metallic sound which seems to come - not from the toilet but from below the floor of the toilet.

Noise sounds like something is in the pipes but every time water flushes, it bangs the item around which makes that noise. What could it be and what is the prognosis?

On 2019-12-27 45 - by (mod) - when toilet flushes, it refills to rim

Olivia usually when I see that toilet flush pattern there is a drain clog.

On 2019-12-26 by olivia

when toilet flushes, it refills to rim, them suddenly empties to a level below usual refill line. at this point, tank is full to usual level. had recent replacement of innards after flapper problem.

On 2019-11-26 7 - by (mod) - Whenever they use their shower I get big bubbles coming up in my toilet.

That sounds to me like a partly blocked drain or possibly inadequate venting.

On 2019-11-26 by gina

my toilet flushes fine. There are other tenants in a subdivided house including one in the attic, and one in the basement. Whenever they use their shower I get big bubbles coming up in my toilet. Why? The house is old and has an overflow with the cesspool (40 year old house) and I don't think the elderly landlady gets it pumped unless it backs up. Do you think the cesspool is failing or it's a vent problem or clogged line?

Question: Toilet bowl doesn't fill up

(Sept 1, 2014) Bryan said:
When i flush the toilet, the tank fills up but the bowl doesnt fill up all the way... Everything flushes fine...no back up..

(Nov 16, 2014) keybordqt said:
when we flush tank fills up but bowl just barely has water in it so that it dosent flush completely

Reply:

Bryan and Keybord

Check for and replace a sticking fill valve. You can try disassembing and cleaning the valve but since the trouble to do so is mostly in its removal and replacement, I'd just install a new one.

See TOILET FLUSHES POORLY for details of what to check and fix so that the toilet bowl will fill normally.

Question: can't get water to turn back on at toilet

(Sept 27, 2014) Blue House said:
turned off water at wall, emptied, repaired and replace refill valve... Now water doesn't turn back on?? (now i miss that republican boyfriend)

Reply:

I suspect your toilet supply valve is stuck and broken internally.

Question: slow toilet re-fill

(Oct 11, 2014) Berni said:
When you flush the toilet in one of our bathrooms, it's loud and take's a long time to fill the tank. It didn't do this before!

Also (this is a hit or miss) But we turned water up because the toilet wouldn't always flush on the first time. The toilet is about 10 yrs old. Very frustrating!

(Oct 22, 2014) Linda said:
When I flush my toilet the tank fills up slow and the sinks in the other parts of the house if you try to use water it just trickle until the tank on the toilet finally fills up.Flush the toilet and wait in line.

Reply:

Berni: See TOILET FLUSHES POORLY

Linda: in addition to the article above, check for clogged water supply piping- it sounds like poor water pressure or limited flow rate is the problem.

Question: water splashes up at remote toilets

(Oct 15, 2014) Shelley A said:
Toilet upstairs flushes and make a really loud sound, causing the toilet downstairs to splash water up. It seems like we can keep this under control by using rid x every month in both toilets but wonder if there is a real solution to this problem?

Reply:

Look for a blocked main drain

Question: surges in toilet fill, noises during toilet fill

(Oct 26, 2014) toilet cistern refilling said:
after flushing the toilet the cistern refills in the normal way then release a final surge of water into the toilet pan

(Nov 16, 2014) Kathy said:
After toilet is flushed it makes a terrible noise that then lessens and finally goes away

(Nov 30, 2014) Anonymous said:
My toilet works as it should however, usually within an hour after flushing, there a clunk in the bathroom pipes and then I can hear the water running down them. SHould I be worried?

I've been in the house 10 years but have just been noticing this over the last month or so, so I'm guessing it hasn't always been like this. Elle said:
Oops. I missed filling in my name. I'm the one with the clunking toilet. :)

Reply:

Toilet cistern, if the bowl is not overfilling what you describe should not be a problem. I suspect it's an artifact of how the toilet bowl fill flapper valve closes.

Kathy, try slightly closing the toilet stop valve to slow the water fill rate

Elle, worried, I can't say, but it sounds as if there is a failing flush valve or a problem with the fill valve. You might be able to figure out what's going on by removing the lid from the toilet cistern (tank) and watching what's happening as the tank re-fills and then the fill stops.e clunking toilet. :),

About that clunking sound in the water pipes, see WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

Question: snake didn't fix clogged toilet

(Nov 1, 2014) Nee said:
Our toilet just "stopped up", have used a small snake and plunged. Nothing??? But after plunging it looks like "dirt" is coming back up into the bowl. Can't unstop the toilet. HELP!

Reply:

Please see BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS where I give alternatives to snakes in the drains - check out the Kinetic Water Ram discussed there

Question: how to fix the control stop on a commercial toilet

(Nov 3, 2014) Bill said:
the control stop on a commercial closet toilet is leaking. how do I replace it or repair it?

Reply:

(Nov 4, 2014) (mod) said:
Bill I'm not quite sure which part you refer-to. Typically the water is shut off and the valve is replaced. Sometimes it's possible to just replace a washer, o-ring, or other internal part. If you've got the brand and part ID it's easier - by finding a parts explosion for the device.

See FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS

Question: slow toilet bowl leak

(Dec 7, 2014) Anonymous said:
why does my bowl leak out slowly?

Reply:

Anon

It would be odd for water to leak out of a toilet bowl as the bowl shape forms a natural trap holding water - perhaps there is a crack in the toilet bowl or base.

Question: power flush toilet plumbing warning

(Feb 3, 2015) jrykowski said:
two power flush toilet are piped back to back can toilet suck the trap dry on the other

Reply:

Interesting observation, J.R. Do you think it's possible that the building vent system is inadequate?

Question: Glacier Bay Toilet Clog Troubles

Robin said:
Hello and thank you for this awesome website. Here's my problem: I installed and new toilet (Glacier Bay with button on top of tank to flush) after removing the old toilet and snaking the drain.

The first flush was perfect so I used it to #1 and when I flushed it backed up just like the old toilet except this one seemed to have air come up when the water stopped filling(about 2" below rim)then when I washed my hands in the sink (which was also snaked after toilet drain the same day) that water seemed to be filling the toilet.

A plumber came over and snaked the vent on the roof and everything was good...until the next day (about 3 flushes later) it bubbled or gurgled and the sink drained into the toilet again. I live in a single story home with an external sewer system that goes to the city sewer.

My other bathroom toilet and drain and shower are still working fine. Do you have any suggestions? thank you so much for your time.

Reply:

Robin what you are describing sounds as if there may well be a blockage in a drain more distant from the toilet than was reached by drain cleaning efforts. Air coming up into the bowl when the toilet is flushed could suggest a vent problem (which is why your plumber snaked the roof vent) but it can also be a symptom of drain blockage downstream.

When we can flush a toilet successfully, particularly after a period of dis-use, but when we find a backup after several flushes, that suggests that there is a blockage downstream far enough that the first 1 or few flushes are filling up a blocked or partly-blocked drain line.

When it's full the next flush backs up. The more flushes we can make before backup the more distant is the blockage.

Your comment that your other toilets and drains work would as you suggest often (but not always) mean that the blockage or partial blockage (or blocked vent) is in the system between the problem toilet and the point at which that toilet and other building drains join a common waste line.

But a distant blockage or partial blockage condition can also fool us into thinking another toilet drain is not blocked - depending in when various fixtures are flushed and depending on how much time has elapsed to allow a slow-drain to slowly empty.

Question: multiple toilet blockages means what?

(Feb 21, 2015) Liz said:
my Uncle's house was built in like the 1950's and we used one of the toilets and it didn't flush properly and started to fill back up.

Then the other toilet in the house stopped working at the same time. They both did the same thing, we plunged both of them and it just filled the bowls back up. Help.

Reply:

Sounds as if the main drain or septic is blocked. Start by asking your plumber to check for a blocked drain; inspect the septic tank for blockage or for a failed or blocked drainfield by noting if the sewage levels in the septic tank are above the bottom of the tank outlet pipe.

Question: Jacuzzi toilet trap doesn't fill

(Mar 2, 2015) Dave T. said:
Jacuzzi toilet. Trap doesn't seem to fill completly after flush. Bad odor. Manually filling tank to top of overflow tube stops the smell.

Reply:

Sounds as if you need to adjust the fill valve to bring more water into the bowl and tank or check that the toilet cistern (tank) overflow tube is receiving water during the cistern re-fill cycle.

Question: toilet fills only at a trickle

(Mar 4, 2015) Donna said:
When I flush my toilet will only try to fill with a trickle. If I turn water off and back on the toilet will then fill correctly. What should I be looking for to fix this?

Reply:

Your toilet fill valve is sticking.

Question: force to lift the tank flapper to release the tank water into the bowl

(Mar 15, 2015) WL said:
My toilet works, but it takes a lot of force to lift the tank flapper to release the tank water. It almost seems as though the plastic arm which lifts the flapper assembly will break.

The amount of force necessary to push the flush handle down in order to lift the flapper is gradually increasing. At some point the plastic arm which lifts the flapper is going to break.

Reply:

Hi WL

I've seen this problem and indeed ultimately the flush lever's plastic arm broke and we had to flush the toilet by removing the cistern top and manually pulling the flush valve chain up until we could replace the parts.

Look for

- something bent or out of place in the whole flush lever, arm, chain, flapper, linkage assembly. You might find this more pleasant by shutting off water to the toilet, then draining water from the tank (cistern), then examining the moving parts to see what's binding

- look in particular for a bind in the lever itself at its point of rotation

Question: we keep having sewage backup issues on the first floor

(Mar 30, 2015) LE said:
We have been having sewage back issues on the ground floor of a 3 story house. When upstairs showers are taking place the effluent will temporarily back up and fill the ground floor bath tub, we also notice that the toilet in the ground floor bathroom will occaisionaly gurgle.

I have pumped the septic tank and snaked the drains thru the clean outs..when I snaked the main drain thru the clean out the water in the backed up tub drains nicely, however that does not seem to have resolved the issue, because the problem comes back again when showers are running upstairs!Any thoughts would be helpful, thank you very much

Reply:

Unfortunately while regularly pumping a septic system extends drainfield life, pumping will never fix a clogged drain nor a failed field.

Gurgling suggests a blockage in the drain system, at the septic tank, or at failing drainfields.

Question: the toilet isn't flushing down

(May 28, 2015) Amanda said:
In our second story bathroom the show is fine and the sink is fine but the toilet isn't flushing down. I've replaced the flapper, I've snaked and plungered it like crazy, now its sit with the water turned off but now its slowly refilling - backwards?
What does it mean when the water is turned off BUT the water is filling up in reverse??

Reply:

It sounds as if your sewer line or septic system is blocked. Backing up wastewater will fill a toilet bowl.

Question:

(June 29, 2015) Bob said:
To add to the question below it can take up to 5 mins for the tank to fill due to the water leaking to the bowl. i'm surprised that it no longer leaks when the tank is full.

(June 29, 2015) Bob said:
After I flush the water slowly keeps seeping into the bowl until the box manages to fill to the appropriate level then the seepage stops. What will cause this to happen?

Reply:

Bob

It is normal for some water to continue to flow into the bowl as the tank or cistern re-fills after flushing a toilet.

If you lift the tank lid you'll see a small tube that connects the fill valve to the top of the tank overflow tube at the tank center. Water will discharge through that tube into the toilet bowl during tank re-fill cycle in order to assure proper bowl water level for the next usage.

Separately, the slow toilet tank fill may be due to clogging of the fill valve itself, toilet supply piping, toilet water supply valve position, or low building water pressure and flow rates.

Question:

(July 3, 2015) Pat said:
When I flush the toilet and the tank is filling up near the end it makes a dragging noise ! What causes this to happen?

Reply:

Pat

Check the fill valve - it may be sticking; try moving the moveable parts around a bit. Or if it continues replace the valve.

Pat said:
American standard 1.2 tank-----tank appears to fill properly but very little flushing capability without pouring water into bowl

Reply:

Pat:

Check that the tube between the tank fill valve and the overflow tube in the tank is in place.

This tube sends additional water into the bowl during tank refill. If that water is not in place in the bowl the tank flush volume may be inadequate.

Question:

17 July 2015 Anonymous said:
my water bill spiked and I found apt a tenant had a toilet fixex with my permission and the toilet moves. could that have coused more water usage

Reply:

Anon

If your toilet was running constantly that can show up as an increase in your water bill.

Question:

(Sept 12, 2015) Anonymous said:
AFTER THE TANK FILLS THIER IS NOISE HIGH PITCH

(Nov 18, 2015) Melissa Sarmiento said:
Melissa Sarmiento i would like a trial for my septic to flush. melodysarm31@yahoo.com thank u

Reply:

(Nov 19, 2015) (mod) said:
Sorry Melissa, we do not sell nor distribute any products whatsoever. To protect our reader trust InspectApedia.com has no relationship with any building products or services.

Question: hold the handle down to flush the toilet completely

(Nov 27, 2015) Walter Beale said:
I have to hold the handle down for the toilet to flush completely.

Reply:

Walter

If holding the handle down successfully flushes the toilet then the proper repair should be simple: slightly shorten the pull chain connecting the toilet handle flush lever to the flush valve flapper.

You might also need to check that the level of water in the flush tank is high enough - check that it's at the FILL LINE marked in the tank.

You may also need to check the water level in the toilet bowl: if the small tube carrying water into the overflow tube in the flush tank and thence into the toilet bowl is disconnected then the bowl won't have enough water for a proper flush.

Question: toilet flush lever hard to press down - or sticks in the "down" position

(Dec 28, 2015) Anonymous said:
The flush lever has gotten very hard to push down. Almost like suction is holding it down. Nothing seems broken in the tank.

Reply:

The flush lever is probably damaged in a plastic or rubber component at its mount on the tank; this is an inexpensive and easy part to replace. I'd buy a new assembly; remove the old one so that you can select a close match at your hardware store.

Question: toilet fills too slowly after a flush

(Jan 4, 2016) Carolyn B said:
I called a plumber to repair a toilet that trickled to fill up after a flush. He replaced the fill valve and supply line. Now I notice that sometimes after a flush, the toilet will cycle on/off. All the waste is emptied from the bowl, but the way to stop the cycling is to flush again. What causes this and why doesn't it happen every time I flush?

I want the plumber to fix it but don't want to have to pay again if this new problem was due to a faulty install. I also feel bad that it's an hour drive for him if it's a simple thing he can't charge for as a warranty issue. If I can easily fix it and save everyone the time - I will.

Reply:

Carolyn,

If the plumber's repair was incomplete or not functioning properly she should return to fix the trouble; I'm unclear about just what's happening with your toilet so can't diagnose it. I'd check first for something simple and obvious such as a flush valve chain length that is too short or too long, or a fill valve float that is sticking or jamming in the toilet tank during fill-up.

Question: toilet flushes itself every 10 minutes

(Jan 22, 2016) DEBORAH KIMBALL said:
My toilet flushes properly, but it then makes like a flushing noise every 10min or so constantly! Please tell me what causes this and can I fix it myself?

Reply:

Check for a stuck flush valve or a toilet that is overfilling. If a toilet fill valve is stuck open and constantly filling the toilet the bowl level rises enough to cause it to self-empty or self-flush.

Question: water comes out of floor when I flush the toilet

(Jan 27, 2016) susie said:
When I flushed my toilet, water seemed to come up out of the floor..gallons!! The water in the bowl flushed and the tank was empty...

I'm not sure if that's because I shut the valve off or not... cleaned up the mess and turned the water back on, ive flushed the toilet 7 or 8 times to try and figure out where the water came from and NOTHING happened other than a normal flush.. I have no clue what my issue is since it hasn't happened again.. HELP!

(June 28, 2016) Rick said:
Water is coming from base on of the floor when you flush

Reply:

Your plumber will need to replace the toilet wax ring that seals it to the wastepipe in the floor, and she may need to also cleare a blocked drain.

Rick,

Chances are the toilet mounting bolts are loose AND the toilet wax ring seal is shot; the toilet needs to be removed, the old wax ring scraped away, a new wax ring pushed into place, and the toilet re-set and then bolted securely to the floor.

Question: grinding noise at toilet

(Feb 3, 2016) Joan said:
Our 4 litre low flush toilet is making a grinding noise -- 6 times last night when it is not being used. The water is not coming up to the usual level in the tank.

Reply:

Sounds as if the toilet is running - a control or valve is sticking open.

Question: toilet overfills

(Feb 3, 2016) Rebecca said:
Toilet does flush but then overfills -- has 't overflowed yet but comes all the way to the top. Then it begins to drain ever so slowly until there's only a small amount of water left in the very bottom of the bowl.

Reply:

Most likely the drain is blocked

Question:

Feb 8, 2016) (mod) said:
RE-posting without links (not permitted)

Everlast Plumbing said:
We Everlast Plumbing is a plumbing service provider at Sydney. Your blog is more useful to us..if need any assistance related to plumbing freely contact us

Reply:

Thanks Everlast. We welcome questions, corrections, content-suggestions and are happy to cite and link to content contributors to InspectApedia.com. However our comments system does not permit posting of links or ads.

Question: incomplet toilet flush repair

(Apr 12, 2016) Kasi said:
My toilet flushes incompletely when it is flushed after another toilet on our system, but will flush weakly but completely on the second try. What could the problem be? (all parts in the tank have been replaced and there doesn't seem to be a clog)

Reply:

Kasi, typically a partly clogged drain or vent can cause the trouble you describe.

Question: Rotary Damper for the Toilet Seat Cover

(Apr 17, 2016) Daniel said:
Need a replacement for a Rotary Damper for the Toilet Seat Cover. Can you advise where I could inquire about getting one please?

Many Thanks, Dan Snyder

Reply:

Daniel, I've not seen this part sold separately from a replacement toilet seat cover assembly. If you give me the toilet seat brand and model (and a photo would help) I'll research further. You can send photos using our page bottom CONTACT link.

Question: bubbles in downstairs toilet when upper floor toilet is flushed

(Apr 21, 2016) Dick said:
When I flush the 2nd floor toilet the toilet on the 1st floor bubbles, sometimes splashing water on floor. Any ideas of cause.

Reply:

Dick:

I suspect a partly blocked main building drain.

Question: why upper floor toilets don't drain out of lower floor toilet bowls

(May 27, 2016) Anonymous said:
what prevents effluent from upper floor toilets from rushing out of lower floor toilets due to gravity?

Reply:

Good question.

The upper floor toilets drain into a large diameter drain line as do the lower floor toilets. Water and waste flowing down the drain line from above want to stay in the drain - the water seal in the lower floor toilets helps, but consider that even those lower floor toilets are **above** their own drain line.

So the only time that waste wants to come up a lower floor toilet is when the drain line past those lower toilets is itself blocked. Then, watch out.

Question:

(June 1, 2016) Smithc882 said:
Dead written subject material, Really enjoyed studying.

Reply:

Thanks, I think, Smithc - "dead written" ? Meaning shoot the author? I suspect that your spell checker, like mine, has a mind of its own. Actually when we began writing this section at InspectApedia I was at first surprised to see that problems with toilets and also septic systems were among the most-troubling and most-asked-about topics. I welcome critique, content suggestions, corrections as working together benefits us all.

Daniel

Question: is my toilet problem fixed?

July 2, 2016) Marion said:
Toilet was clogged and noticed some back up into the shower. Got the toilet unplugged. Appears to be flushing OK, shower draining. Is the problem fixed? Would I have a back up into the shower if only the toilet was plugged? Anything else I should do?

Reply:

I can only guess when playing Carno by e-text, but it sounds as if you're ok, and sure a blockage that is downstream from both toilet and shower would be likely to send toilet backup into the shower.

(July 2, 2016) Anonymous said:
Thanks for the comment. Bathroom is in the lower floor with the cap to the main drain leading out to the septic system in the corner. since toilet is flushing ok, I can assume the clog is gone? Anyway to test that?

(July 3, 2016) Marion said:
One more question.... Washing machine and dishwasher are draining fine. Does that mean any clog in the main line to the septic tank is clear? Also when the toilet was plugged, water leaked around the base. Do I now have to replace the wax ring? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Mod said:

The answer to Marion's first question is the answer to Anon's follow-up question.

Marion: if your drains don't back up or gurgle then most likely they're running; we cannot know if the clog is fully removed or partly removed, nor how quickly the problem will return - not by magical e-text.

For example a de-clog routine that unblocks a sticky blob of toilet paper may be a lasting repair while a de-clog that removes roots inside a drain line is only temporary, as the roots will grow back.

A plumber or septic company can inspect the septic tank inlet end to see the flow rate into the tank when toilets are flushed, though that's only partial data.

You could hire a plumber to use a camera to scope the entire line, but frankly unless you're having recurrent trouble and difficulty getting a proper repair the cost to scan the whole line is probablyl not justified.

(July 4, 2016) Marion said:

Thanks for the info! Everything still running OK. We are in the process of selling our home. Will have to eventually have the septic system inspected. Thinking about having the tank checked out and pumped to make sure the tank inlet is not partially clogged. (had a house full of company last week)

(mod) said:
Don't pump a septic tank before a septic inspection as that prevents an honest septic loading and dye test - risking a fraud charge.

Let me know what questions arise. We'll help as best we can.

Question: new product fixes wobbly loose toilets

(July 22, 2016) grant peacock said:
I would like to show a new product to fix a wobbly toilet , takes less than 5 minutes to install, it is called a toilet clamp, no need to remove toilet from the floor , no need to use toilet closet bolts, email me and I will show you the product and how to get it. egrantp@yahoo.com

Reply: really?

Thanks Grant, I'll be glad to take a look at your product - as you've sent information by e-mail.
But

Watch out: in almost every case in which a toilet is loose or wobbly, simply tightening the toilet to the floor creates a very high risk of hidden damage,rot, leaks, mold, and sewage contamination of the floor structure and the ceiling below. That's because when a toilet wobbles it also squashes and further-deforms the wax ring that seals the toilet to the top of the waste pipe below.

A proper repair for a loose and wobbly toilet, if we want to also stop leaks into the floor, requires that we completely remove the toilet, clean off the old wax ring, install a new wax ring seal to the waste pipe, then secure the toilet to the floor.

Question: toilet bowl overfills then drains down

July 24, 2016) Nancy said:
The toilet bowl fills about half full after flushing and then drains down to the correct level. No strange noises.

Reply:

Sounds as if your main drain is partly clogged and the bowl is not fully flushing.

Question: toilet tank refills "for no reason"

Aug 18, 2016) AJ in NC said:
Hello,
My toilet will 'cut on' and begin filling the back tank even when no one has flushed the toilet. It only remains on a second or two as if it is topping off the water level. This only happens every couple of hours. Do I have a slow leak somewhere? What should I check first?

Reply:

That's because your flush valve has a slow leak, AJ. Try cleaning the flapper valve and the valve seat; or just buy a replacement unit.

Search InspectApedia.com for RUNNING TOILET to see how to diagnose and repair this problem.

Question: sewage backup into toilet after flush

(Sept 11, 2016) Casey said:
toilet flushes but a bit of the fecal matter comes back into the bowl as though it's coming back up with the tiniest of bubbles...

Is a flap or valve or something not closing completely, is that why it comes back in?

Reply:

Casey,

Common causes of the problem you described include the following:

A partially blocked drain, inadequate venting of the drain system, or a mis adjustment of the toilet tank fill and flush control valve such that the volume of water being used to affect the flush is inadequate.

...

Continue reading  at TOILET REPAIR GUIDE - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see TOILETS REPAIR FAQs-2 - more-recent questions and answers on fixing problems with toilets

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR
• CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS
• SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR onsite waste disposal systems - septic tanks, drainfields
• SEWER GAS ODORS
• TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR - home
• FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS
• LEAKY TOILET SEALS, ODORS
• LOOSE TOILET REPAIRS
• LOW WATER USAGE / POWER FLUSH TOILETS
• TOILET DESIGN CHOICES
• TOILET CLEARANCE DISTANCES
• TOILET CLOG REPAIR, UN-BLOCK
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST - home
• TOILET FLUSH OPERATION
• TOILET FLUSH HANDLE LEVER REPLACEMENT
• TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
• TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST
• TOILET FLUSHES POORLY
• TOILET LEAK CATASTROPHES
• TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY
• TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP
• TOILET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE
• TOILET RUNS CONTINUOUSLY
• TOILET SEAT / SEAT-LID REPLACEMENT & BOLT SPREADS
• TOILET TANK / CISTERN LID REPLACEMENTS
• TOILET TANK SWEATS
• TOILET WON'T FLUSH
• TOILET TYPES, CONTROLS, PARTS - home

Suggested citation for this web page

TOILETS REPAIR FAQs 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

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