Does it matter that sometimes the water level in the toilet is low?

Question

Im not sure why it happens. It's happened on both the main and second floor but mostly in the upstairs. I haven't been able to connect this issue with anything else that's happening in the house at the same time. Just sometimes I notice that the water in the bowl is really low, like less than half of the 'normal'. I heard something about it on tv once, but I didn't hear enough of the segment.
Is it an indication of a problem somewhere? It doesn't stop me from flushing or anything, I'm just wondering why.

Answer 1

what you see in the bowl is actually water ABOVE the trap. If it fills normally to the correct level then your problem is not with the fill tube.

You may have a "vent" problem. That means when water is draining from your other fixtures, there is not enough air flow so it is "sucking" water out of the traps.

Simple check.... go on the roof and pour water down the vent stack pipe and see it it flows smoothly or fills up and over flows. Chances are, something is stuck in there.

Answer 2

It's most likely not a setic tank issue, as you say its in an apartment building. If there IS a septic tank, it is nost likely full, and because they are not cheap to dump, the landlord may not have the money. Bug him if there is a septic tank. If its on sewer, it could be clooged drains and P traps, which once the water slowly flushes down past the partial blockage, is releasing stench up through the toilet drain. If they have roto-rooter where ever you are, that is the answer, if not, you may have to remove the bowl, get a glove , spoon, stick, whatever it takes and manually clean all that disgusting gunk out. You will puke because if you think the thought of it is gross, having your fingers in it and the stench will overcome your senses. Anyway, using a toilet brush or any brush (Don't let it drop in the hole) Scrub the hell out of it with straight javex. Getting down as far as you possible can, and until the brush comes up clean every time. Then you can replace the toilet bowl, by first scraping off the wax ring that was there (its a seal) and buying and placing a new one in its place. ( They are cheap about bucks at any plumbing store) This itself might be the problem, as a wax seal that isn't sealing will also release stink into the room. Re faste your toilet, turn back on the water, and you should be good to go. A littler trick you can use is once a month drop a half a cup of 0-0-0- fertilizer down the toilet. (it's cheap too, like 7 bucks for a 25 lb bag) (it (the nitrogen)creates a chemical reaction which eats up the crap with an enzyme action) Its used for maintainng septic tanks (non-concrete ones) . It's not that environmentally friendly I guess, but it helps your pipes stay cleaner lots longer so you don't have to do that disgusting job again too soon. Hope it helps.

Answer 3

norm is right. could be a birds nest on the vent stack. That's a pipe that sticks straight up on your roof about a foot.