Do you know the top three reasons your toilet won’t flush? There’s nothing more frustrating than heading to the bathroom when nature calls, only to find out there’s something wrong with the toilet. While non-flushing toilets are a huge annoyance, you can usually fix them with some basic tools and a bit of elbow grease. If you can’t get your toilet to flush, see if one of these reasons is to blame.
1. There’s a Clog in the Line
Clogged toilets happen to everyone. Unfortunately, a clog is also the most common reason why your toilet won’t flush. Waste, paper, and foreign objects are often to blame. Thankfully, clogs are usually a simple fix and something you can try to repair at home.
The first thing you should do is plunge the bowl for a good 15-20 seconds. This action creates a strong suction which will hopefully dislodge the clog. If that doesn’t work, try adding hot water to the bowl and flush it after several minutes. Running a plumber’s snake down the line may also be necessary if the clog is deep within the pipes. Finally, of course, you may need to call a plumber if you can’t get the clog to budge on your own.
2. You Have a Broken Chain
If you push the flush handle and nothing happens, you may have a broken chain on your hands. For example, inside your toilet tank are a flapper and a chain. When you flush, the movement of the handle pulls the chain, which in turn lifts the flapper. As the flapper moves up, it signals the toilet to drain. Once the flapper closes, the bowl fills back up with water. But, if the chain breaks, it can no longer lift the flapper.
So, peer inside the tank and check the connection between the chain and flapper. If the chain is floating loose in the tank, then you know it’s your culprit. Try to reconnect it to the clip. In some instances, you may need to replace the part.
3. There’s Not Enough Water
Your toilet requires plenty of water to create a powerful flush. Pushing the handle releases water from the tank, which creates the suction needed to force everything down the pipes. However, if the water level in the tank decreases too much, the flush will get weaker over time.
Look inside the tank. Many toilets have a mark or line that indicates how much water should fill the tank. If you don’t see this fill line, a good rule of thumb is to make sure the water rises to at least an inch below the overflow tube. The water should fill the tank to this point after every flush. In short, if it doesn’t fill up enough, you may need to hire a plumber to adjust the float arm.
Let a Plumber Flush Away Your Worries
Don’t worry if you can’t figure out how to get your toilet to flush. Plumbers fix toilets daily, and they will diagnose and remedy the situation in no time. So, be sure to call Armor Plumbing as soon as you experience a problem with your plumbing, and we’ll send out one of our expert plumbers to clear your pipes.
There’s no plumbing issue too big or small for Armor Plumbing to handle. We take pride in offering quick and reliable service, and we’ll have your toilet flushing in a jiffy! Schedule service with the plumber Jasper GA residents can trust and learn more about possible reasons your toilet won’t flush and how to fix them.