Plumbing (Toilet) Problem...

[Keebler Elf]

So my toilet doesn't flush properly. Actually, it doesn't refill properly. When you flush, it flushes fine. But it takes forever for the water to refill. It's not constantly running but it does take at least 10-15 minutes to refill all the way. If you try to flush again before it has refilled, you get nothing (no drainage).

The toilet is seated on ceramic tile (dumb move), so it rocks slightly. I dunno if that's the problem though, so I don't want to re-seat the toilet if the problem is something else.

Any ideas what the problem is?

 

[Edifice]

What I really hate is these stupid lo-flo toilets.

Supposedly, they are to converse more water than a normal toilet but I notice I flush more with the lo-flo as opposed to the normal one so what water are you conserving?

How the heck did the lo-flo make it past the patent stage?

Plus, the lo-flo gets clogged easier.

 

[bartbarty]

toilet

Hi im a service plumber and can be a few things wrong,, if you want to contact me and i can take you through a few checks over the phone ,,, but if the WC (watercloset) toilet is old you might have to replace some part eg new ballcock etc Bart

 

[xdog]

Try the Toto lo-flo toilet. We have two in our house and they work well. A little pricey but worth it.

x

 

[LancsLad]

Venting could be plugged up with ice or something, creating back pressure.

 

[james t kirk]

I had the same problem with my Kohler toilet afte 10 years.

I replaced the ball-cock assembly (I believe that's what they call it, I would call it the float assembly.)

Problem solved.

I think the old one was calcified and therefore not working properly. I went to the same place where I bought the toilet and they gave me a new assembly for free.

 

[BlahBlah]

Someone has turned the water flow way down.... open the tap under the toilet fully.

As for the rocking toilet, get some plumbers putty and force it in.

I'm no expert, but I think Shiek nailed it. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one.

Keebler, have you tried just turning it up?

 

[repeat]

Before doing anything turn off the water supply under the toilet and turn it back on a few times , this will remove a build up of lime, calcium or iron that may have built up over time.

 

[greenii]

Call Holmes on Homes...very expensive but you might get on t.v. and maybe he will bring you a cup of Nescafe...lol

 

[Keebler Elf]

Guys.... he is talking about the tank refilling with water, not the draining part.

Hmmm, I was talking about the water in the bowl. But I haven't checked the tank itself.

Lemme try turning the valve and see if that helps.

 

[Moraff]

bowl refills at the same time as the tank. Going by your earlier post which said that if you flush again while the tank is filling you get nothing I would assume that most likely the valve in the tank is either malfunctioning or blocked.

I think it is unlikely to be the valve behind the tank being turned down as I don't know why anyone would touch it. It's possible that it is blocked with buildup.

Becareful turning it. If it hasn't been turned in a long time (the usual state of affairs) it may start leaking when you turn it.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Okay, so the valve is (and was) all the way open. I opened and closed it a couple times but the problem persists.

After flushing (which isn't as strong as strong as it should be), the water doesn't immediately begin to fill the tank (or the bowl). It takes a while for the water to slowly fill back up.

It's not one of those low-flo tanks.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Venting could be plugged up with ice or something, creating back pressure.

It's been like this for ages. So it's not the weather.

 

[HafDun]

I know a great realtor.
Perhaps its time for a new house

 

[Moraff]

slow flushing could be a blockage somewhere in the drain.

Have you taken the cover off to see what's going on in the tank?

I'm still betting on the valve being toast. Other possibility is that the float has a hole in it and it takes awhile for the water to drain out of it so that it opens the valve. Tank might not be filling all the way then either (which could account for the slower flush come to think of it).

 

[tboy]

GRRR it is NOT the drain, he's said that a couple of times. IT is the TANK that takes forever to fill. sheesh....no wonder people call pros lol

Here's something no one has touched on: What is the water pressure like in the house? Do you get good pressure at your sinks and shower/tub?

The ballcock assembly is pretty easy to replace. You'll need a good pair of channel lock pliers (or preferably a pipe wrench) and a good adjustable.

If I were you I'd remove the filler tube running from the feed valve to the tank. Grab a bucket or bowl and then turn the valve on and see if you get a large amount of water out of the valve. If it is the valve then you don't need to touch the ballcock assembly in the tank.

If it is old you could also have build up in the filler tube (the one that runs from the valve to the tank). I'd replace that too while you're at it (only costs a couple of bucks).

As for your rocking toilet. Doesn't matter if it is mounted to plywood, tiles or hardwood. It shouldn't rock if the mounting bolts are tight. The wax donut has nothing to do with it rocking or not, all it does it seal the toilet to the flange on the outlet waste side.

 

[Meister]

The women around here must get all horny if you guys start talking ballcocks.

 

[Moraff]

GRRR it is NOT the drain, he's said that a couple of times. IT is the TANK that takes forever to fill. sheesh....no wonder people call pros lol

Here's something no one has touched on: What is the water pressure like in the house? Do you get good pressure at your sinks and shower/tub?

The ballcock assembly is pretty easy to replace. You'll need a good pair of channel lock pliers (or preferably a pipe wrench) and a good adjustable.

If I were you I'd remove the filler tube running from the feed valve to the tank. Grab a bucket or bowl and then turn the valve on and see if you get a large amount of water out of the valve. If it is the valve then you don't need to touch the ballcock assembly in the tank.

If it is old you could also have build up in the filler tube (the one that runs from the valve to the tank). I'd replace that too while you're at it (only costs a couple of bucks).

As for your rocking toilet. Doesn't matter if it is mounted to plywood, tiles or hardwood. It shouldn't rock if the mounting bolts are tight. The wax donut has nothing to do with it rocking or not, all it does it seal the toilet to the flange on the outlet waste side.

I only commented on the drain because he said "After flushing (which isn't as strong as strong as it should be)"

 

[Keebler Elf]

Water pressure is fine everywhere else. It's just the toilet.

I'm going to replace the ballcock and see if that does the trick.

 

[Franky]

Do you by chance use those blue pucks in your toilet. They are known to clog up the toilet and create low water pressure.