Toilet Flushing problems, plumber anyone?

Question

Is it normal for a toilet to flush very slow, to almost not at all on hot humid days? I've just recently took notice to this. I thought using flushable wipes may be the culprit, but never seem to have problems in the winter months. The roof vent isn't blocked, I've already checked that. Hmm...

Answer 1

Oh puhleeze! Tree roots?!

Seriously, sweetie, the reason the toilet moves slowly is that the water pressure on hot humid days anywhere and everywhere is usually low due to lots of people using water to cool themselves off, etc.

You don't say though that you have a septic tank, so I'm presuming you don't. Because by then you probably would have had to call a roto rooter person to come in and empty it.

All things considered, nothing to concern or worry yourself about, once the water pressure throughout your town or city equalizes itself back again to normal.

Hope this helps!

Good luck, eh?

Answer 2

process of elimination:

1) Never put anything other than toilet paper down your toilet - you may get away with it for a while, that practice will catch up with you.

2) With a mirror & flat head screw driver check the water jets inside the bowl under the rim - if the toilet is old & you have hard water, they tend to plug up.

3) lift the lid from the tank & make sure the the water level around the douglas valve (the tube in the middle that the water will overflow into) is 1/4 of an inch from the top when the tank is full. Too low & will not flush well.

4) make sure that the flapper does not have a small leak - place a square of toilet paper in the bowl when the tank is full & the water is at rest. The square should not touch the side, but should be placed close to the side of the bowl.

If the paper moves around the bowl - the flapper is leaking & the water level may drop so when you flush, there is not enough water in the tank for push down the bowl.

Then you would just need to change the flapper out.

5) If there is a shelf over the toilet a common problem is that something small may have fallen into the toilet & gotten flushed. It may have appeared to go down, but could be stuck in the throat of the toilet causing intermittent flow problems.
Something like a Q tip or razor may make it out of the bowl on the initial flush, but fail to navigate the curves in the throat. This slowness will increase with use because toilet paper may get lodged around it - not to mention the wipes.

More than likely the problem you are having is one of these & by process of elimination, you can find out which. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

First, pour a bucket of water into the bowl rapidly (stop if it rises up). If the water goes out as fast as you put it in, the drain is not the problem. If it backs up, it is either a clog in the toilet or drain pipe. Remove the tank lid. Check to see if the water level is about 1/2" down on the overflow tube. If not, adjust the fill-valve until it is. Flush the toilet and see if the flapper that releases the water into the bowl stays up until almost all the water in the tank is gone. If not, adjust the chain/strap until the flapper "just" seals. Lastly, use a mirror to check the holes under the toilet bowl rim. They can get clogged with mineral deposits. They can be cleaned out with a bent metal coat hanger. Humidity has nothing to do with the way a toilet flushes. Neither does your water pressure. The tank holds enough water to facilitate one flush. Then the fill valve replenishes the water into the tank. Good luck.

Answer 4

Do you have anything in your tank to take up space (People do this to save water, by putting a brick ar a full bottle of water or somethingin the tank) if you do take it out then try flushing it. or you can check the chain that pulls the flapper up when you flush it, it might be too long and needs to be shortened because it might not be pulling the flapper open enough for water to go it the toilet fast enough. You can do this by unhooking it and hooking it again to a shorter link on the chain as far as it happening on hot and humid days??? don't know about that one.

Answer 5

I beleive your hooked up to a town-county or state water company and not your own well. In winter people aren't watering there lawns filling or adding to their pools, or washing their cars so much. Sometimes even when your local F.D. flushes their hydrants it may cause the same. Call your wayer company and ask what your incoming pressure should be. One more thing-you didn't say if it happens at your faucets, bath or tub outlets also. If you do have a well - it's your well point gone or you need a new accumulator or supply tank- it's lost its pressure.

Answer 6

Humidity has nothing to do with the flush. be sure your toilet is filling all the way to the fill line which you can see inside of the tank.

Answer 7

I never heard of humidity causing plumbing problems but trees grow during the warm months. Tree roots are the cause of most sewer troubles. I would suggest checking there first.

Answer 8

maybe you need a new flush valve.