If your toilet isn’t flushing or you have to flush twice to get everything down, there could be several reasons. Let’s take a look at some things you can check yourself, and which issues a plumber may need to address.
A Clogged Drain
With kids home from school and the toilet being used more frequently, your toilet drain may have become clogged with paper towels, feminine products or something else that shouldn’t be flushed. Even “flushable” wipes could clog the toilet since they don’t always dissolve. Try using a plunger and if that doesn’t help, you may need to hire a plumber to snake your drain.
An Obstruction in Your Plumbing Pipes
Farther down in the ground, something in the pipes could be preventing water from getting through. A tree root could have grown into the pipe or there could be a ball of debris that just won’t dissolve. A skilled plumber can use a special inspection camera to determine the location and reason for the clog and fix it.
A Low Flush Toilet
Although low flush toilets are supposed to save water, if yours doesn’t work well enough to create a good suction, you’ll end up having to flush twice. Consider splurging on a better model, but ask your plumber just to make sure this is the problem.
Hard Water Buildup
Frederick County homes often have hard water. This means minerals like calcium and magnesium can cling to the sides of plumbing pipes and clog pathways where water needs to get from the tank to the toilet bowl. And without enough water in the bowl, the waste won’t go down. Before you use a chemical cleaner to try to to get rid of hard water stains, ask a plumber to see which products are safe. The best solution may be a whole house water softener.
A Broken Flapper
Toilet flappers are small, but their job is important. If yours has a crack in it it will let tank water leak into the bowl and when it’s time to flush, there won’t be water in the tank to force the waste down. Check the condition of your flapper and replace it if needed. If you have to hold the handle down in order to flush, the chain may be too long so the flapper is closing too early. Try shortening the chain and see if it allows you to flush without holding the handle.
Call Putman Plumbing for Your Middletown Plumbing Problems
If you can’t figure out what’s wrong with your toilet, leave it to the experts! Putman Plumbing would be glad to figure out how you can have fewer flushes so you can lower your water bills!
