Why does my toilet not flush as well as normal but all my other drains seem to drain just fine?

Question

The water does flush but its a very slow process w/very little "pull thru" or suction action.

I'm on a septic system that has been pumped 1 year ago. The area I live it does have "wetlands" and it has rained a lot and there is standing water (1 ft) about 200 ft from the septic field and about 5 feet below the level of the pipes. I'm wondering if the saturation of the ground w/water has a major effect on how well the toilets could flush?

I have one of the toilets actually removed from the house while doing a bathroom remodel, I was originally thinking maybe something had gotten stuck in the toilet ie. toy etc. from my 1yr old. But since the 2nd toilet is doing the exact same thing I'm now concerned about the whole system.

Please advise!

Since I have the 2nd toilet off and a open pipe shouldn't that be enough "vent" for the other toilet? The toilet that is still kinda working has gurgled in the past. But is not currently. I guess I'll just have to call the plumber!...

yeah now thinking back on septic systems I've helped install, it would take a lot of rain to slow one down.

Where would a vent for the septic system be located? I'd like to check that out prior to calling a plumber

Thanks,

Answer 1

The first thing to check is to see that the water supply cuttoff valve behind the toilet is open all the way. This will be small chrome valve on the small diameter water supply line to your toilet. It is not unusual for these to be left barely open which could cause your problem. You can check them in less than a minute. Hopefully, this is your problem.

It is highly unlikely that your system is backed up all the way from the septic tank to the toilets. If that were the case, all of your drains would run slow. Others have mentioned partially blocked or undersized vent stacks, and it usually takes the experience of a licensed plumber to diagnose and fix the problem.

You are not clear about the remodel. When you remodeled, did you get new toilet fixtures? If so, you surely got "low flow" toilet fixtures. These devices have been mandated nationwide in an effort to conserve water. They use far less water per flush than the old toilets everyone is used to. Many people have had either real or imagined problems with them. People imagine a problem exists when the new toilet behaves differently than the old one, but still gets rid of the waste. People have a real problem when they actually do not get rid of the waste. Which is your case?

In the end, if you have new "low flow" toilets, you may have to give it an extra flush now and then to get rid of all the solid wastes. If your old toilets were reinstalled, you might want to consult a plumber to check that the venting system is not blocked and is up to code.

Good luck with your plumbing problem.

Answer 2

Without getting into a lot of detail, the way a septic system works is this. When you flush, the "debris" travels through the pipes and into the septic tank where hopefully you have been adding septic tank treatment as directed. All liquid that comes from the house, sinks, washers, etc. also flows into the septic tank and when enough liquid fills the tank it "spills" out into a drain field, usually made up of sand on the bottom and gravel on top of the sand and more sand on top of the gravel and dirt on top of the sand. If you have had a very large amount of precipitation recently that may affect your drain field but they are normally designed to absorb several inches of rain before it adversely affects any draining from the septic tank. In any case it would most likely not have any affect on the way your toilets flush. Really the only things that affect that are, the septic tank being filled or pipes being clogged. Also quite often toilets are piped together somewhere along the route to the septic tank so your problem could very well be a clogged pipe and could be affecting both toilets. Hope this helps, good luck.

Answer 3

Did this just start happening all of a sudden or has it gotten progressively worse ove time. Part of it sounds like a venting problem especially if both toilets are using the same vent. All you septic is going to the same place so you would notice if all of the sinks wee doing the same thing as the toilets. if it is only yhe toilets have a plummer check the venting system for a block. a bird could have starting building a nest there and is not allowing enough air to help the toilets flow properly to the septic tank.

Answer 4

Whether or not you need to have it pump out again depends on how many people live in your house. How much you wash etc.. The rain will have a lot to do with it the water have no place to go the ground is soaked.

Answer 5

it could be co-incidence that both are doing it, does it ever contiue to put water down into the toilet bowl for ages after? check the syphon and floppy plastic bit inside they can get weak and continue to pull water up the syphon. if the water in the bowl is at the same level as normal then it shouldnt be the drains. email me.

Answer 6

SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY NEED YOUR POOP PUMPED OUT. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR AREA IS MORE OF A 'CLAY' DIRT THAN SAND. OR HAS THIS BEEN DOING IT SINCE THE REMODEL IF SO IS THE TOILET IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WHERE IT WAS- JUST BECAUSE IF SO IT MAY NOT BE GETTING ENOUGH DOWNWARD SLOPE AND IS PUTTING AIR IN LINE. DO THE DRAINS 'GURGLE' WHEN FLUSHING OR DRAIN OUT BATH WATER?? IT MAY NOT BE VENTED WELL ENOUGH.