What do I need to do, if I have to hold the handle down on my toilet 10-20 sec.s before it finishes flushing?

Question

I have looked in the tank in the back, but don't know what to do. It takes 10-20 seconds before it finishes "swallowing" and then the flapper goes down and it starts to fill up.

If guests do not hold the handle down long enough, it goes through the motions, but actually leaves a few remains (like some leftover toilet paper) in the toilet bowl itself.

What could I try to do??? Or is this normal???

Answer 1

Bonno is on the right track. If the toilet is indeed a 1.6 gal flush then you can check the flushing mechanism and see if there is an adjustment screw that changes the level of the fill. Older toilet have an adjustment that you can use to change how much water can flow into the tank during the refill allowing more water to be used during the flush process. However some of the new toilet do not possess such a mechanism. If the toilet has a float ball on an arm then you can bend the arm raising the float ball this allows more water into the toilet before it shuts off..

Answer 2

I don't know, but whatever it is, I did it too! I'm putting your question on my watch list, so maybe both of us can find out! Edit - I also tried shortening the chain, as many people suggested, and that doesn't do it at all. It's not like it's a huge thing - I maybe have to stand there 10-12 seconds to allow the toilet to flush - but my other toilet flushes by simply pushing the handle down until the flapper lifts and the water starts to flow out, and then I can walk away and it finishes on its own.

Answer 3

welcome to the world of the 1.6 gallon flush!! when you get the new flapper, FOLLOW the instructions to the letter!!! this is what happens when people just throw them in. these toilets are sooo temperamental when it come to the timing of the water flow! and save the instructions so that you can adjust it later if you need to. i could try to tell half a dozen things to try, but for a few dollars for the flapper and the instructions, it would be easier for you to get the part. it's an easy repair and IF the instructions are followed it should fix the problem. good luck, happy new year!

Answer 4

You may have too much chain left on flapper, cut any excess off. Or flapper may weigh more than it once did and is closing before it should. This is what you are holding up when you hold handle down so would look at a flapper problem...

Answer 5

You probably need a new flapper ball (the rubber thingee in the middle of the tank bottom), as yours probably no longer holds air (which, of course, makes it float). Or the chain that connects it to the flush handle is adjusted out too long.

Or both.

Answer 6

Sounds like the chain that lifts the flapper in the tank might be too long, so the flapper doesn't pull up enough.

Answer 7

its not normal, but everbody sounds right the easiest thing to do is buy a new flapper. it could be slack in the chain but if not most hard. stores sell a adjustable flapper which is neat. it comes with a plastic chain and an adjustable float above the flapper they sell $5.00 at the most.

Answer 8

I think your chain is not lifting the ball up far enough so that it floats well... or.. it may be that your flapper is getting old and waterlogged and needs to be replaced.. it is not expensive to replace and it is easy.

Answer 9

YOU HAVE A 1.6 GAL FLUSH TOILET THAT WILL FLUSH 3 TIMES RAPIDLY IN SUCCESSION ( IT'S STILL A 3+ GAL TANK)
.... AS YOU HOLD IT DOWN YOU ARE EMPTYING THE TANK, AS THE BALL WOULD HAVE FALLEN & STARTED TO REFILL AFTER THE FIRST FLUSH & CLEARING OF THE BOWEL!

Answer 10

Go to the hardware store and get a repair kit,it ain't expensive,and it's easy to install.