Toilet problem - Flush - it fills the bowl but doesn't swoosh out - it will

[2Design]

eventually go down over time - what could be the problem

[jschurchin]

1. It is one of two things.

Either there is a problem with your vent pipe or the small holes on the underside of rim of the toilet are clogged and not allowing sufficient water through to create a whirlpool.

Question, How old is the commode?

[2Design]

2. fairly new - I rent

the water eventually drains out of the bowl - it just doesn't swirl out - lots of water comes into the bowl right away - then it sits

[Robb]

3. Clog

Plunger, or if that doesn't work, snake. No boiling water!! Can crack porcelain.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. Blockage ,

You need a good plunger.home depot carries a good one for about eight dollars. Far superior to the old rubber cup type. Suprised Rob didn't mention the toilet snake ! That's the other way about getting to the clog.

About $25.00 for one of those. Chances are a good plunger will do it. The newer type are more powerful.

[Robb]

5. I've got a funny story

...about a plunger and a not-at-all-code big-ass Fernco fitting hidden under the floor. I'd tell it, but you can guess, and I'm typing with one hand thanks to the baby girl. :D

[Jersey Devil]

6. Check the grade of the pipes beneath the toilet - shit does not run uphill

Believe it or not, when I first bought my house I had a similar problem in the lowest toilet, one on a powder room on the first floor, which flushed but not very well, often requiring a second flush.

So I called in a plumber and his response was, "Shit does not run uphill". It seems the pipes in the basement draining the toilet were not tilted enough towards the main drain line and thus the water ran slowly through them. It wasn't a problem for the upstairs toilets due to the strength of the flow from upstairs aided by gravity but from downstairs the water did not gain enough momentum.

Probably not your problem but something to consider.

[NBachers]

7. Plunger, toilet snake, check pipe slope; then consider removing

Remember that plunger action includes the suction stroke, as well as the push stroke

Toilet snakes do a great job. Buy one with a half-inch cable; the 3/8" ones can spring around themselves and double-wind if they are pushed too hard. Spray the cable with a spray lubricant before you put it away, to keep it from rusting.

There's a small round opening at the base of your toilet, where everything flows into the waste pipe. I've seen cases where objects get lodged against that opening, and can't be removed except by taking the toilet off and physically pulling it out. Cotton swabs, tampon cardboards, little straws- the toilet snake goes past them and clears the clog. Then it clogs up again. Clear it out, and it clogs again.

I work at an old-fashioned San Francisco building materials store. I try to steer people away from Home Depot and towards their local businesses.

[Richard D]

8. I had same problem . . .

Toilet wasn't clogged. Was a problem with the vent.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

9. You got a couple of majors here

One being the configuration of the main drain line and two, venting.
Your question to that end is, before the problem came to your attention ,did the toilet flush as it should ? And if it did than it is most likely a clog.

Another possible is root growth out in the drain line under ground.There is a product called root killer that is poured down a clean out or the toilet if a clean out is not accessible. And or the main line may need to be snaked out.

However since there is no mention of back ups and assuming all other drainage seems fine ,the problem is either blockage at the flange or in the toilet ,or it is out in the yard in the main line.

So, plunger ,than toilet snake ,if that don't work, pull the toilet ,than stick a house down the drain line and put the water on. If the water rises to the top, than you know you need a 50 or 100 foot snake to open that drain line.

If that don't work ,you can have that main drain line power flushed. That involves special equipment and your garden house. A plumbing outfit does that. It is a method using high pressure water to flush everything down into the city sewer line. cost, between three and five hundred dollars.


But I suspect plunger may get it !
If not snake !

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

10. Forgot to mention vent

Before I would use the power flush method on the main line ,I would be inclined to climb the roof with a 50 or 100 ft. snake and snake out the vent-,vents !

On the plumbing configuration being flawed, well a sawsall is the tool to cut it back than replumb it.

But and again it is most likely a clog .

Or there could be ground water getting into a break in the main line out in the yard. Been getting a lot of rain lately ?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

11. Since you rent !

A cool thing about power flushing the main drain line is it clears out all waste material and any thing else that may get in those pipes as a result of creaks or breaks. This will clear the way for a camera. With the pipes flushed out the camera ,that costs about $150.00 . The camera can run through the drain line all the way to the city sewer main. If than there is a break or breaks in the drain line under ground, that area or those areas can be pin pointed. The camera of course is hooked up to a video recorder.
With that exact information given there are breaks or a broken section of pipe ,there are three ways to correct the problem. One being to dig up the entire drain line and replace it. 1 The other being to insert a sleeve which is like a band aid. And the third is to dig up the damaged area of pipe ,cut it back on both sides of the break and repair it. A sleeve /band aid can be inserted along the inside of the pipe, you use the camera to verify the fix is good.

Apartment owners or rental property owners like the dig up the damaged section method because they can hire a laborer to do the digging ,than either do the repair themselves or hire someone that knows how to do it. That's about the cheapest method !And they get around big plumbing outfit fees ! Or THE BILL BILL !

Actually there are any number of variables in so far as what it could be! But as a general rule in very many cases it's a clog. Requires a plunger or a snake. Remove the toilet, you have instant access to the main drain line. Unless of course you get it with a plunger or a toilet snake ! It's like a one two three thing. !

[NNN0LHI]

12. If there are kids in the house my guess would be a small toy or other item stuck in it

In my experience in these cases the toilet needs to be removed and turned upside down to get the item out.

Good luck.

Don