Toilet wont flush on the first try, but does on the second try... any ideas?

Question

My toilet wont flush on the first try but on the 2nd try it works out just fine. First try it starts to go, but then just fills up a little more with water. Then on the 2nd attempt it goes right down without issue. This is regardless of if there is or isnt any deposits in the toilet bowl hehe. ;) Any ideas?

Answer 1

The reason why it flushes on the second try is because it has more water in the bowl so it has more weight in it to help it flush.
I have two possible solutions for you. One, is your toilet old and do you have hard water. If your answer is yes to both your syphon jet could be plugged. The syphon jet is the little hole opposite to the big hole in the bottom of the bowl. If you can tell if it is get some muratic acid and put it in the bowl with no water in and let it sit for 15 minutes and then flush it away. If it is still plugged do it again. It should solve the problem.

Two, if your answer is no to those questions than open the tank up and check the level of the water in the tank. If it isn't close to the top of the overflow tube in the middle of the tank than adjust the float up until it is approximately 3/8 from the top. That will give it more water to flush down into the bowl which should give you a better flush.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Your tank isn't getting enough water in it to make a decent flush. Try bending the float arm upwards a little to let more water fill into the tank. That is if you have the type of arm that is a metal rod attached to a balloon looking float. If not, then go buy a Fluid Master 400A or similar Fill Valve unit and replace the whole flush unit.

Answer 3

First thing I would check is the water level in your tank it may not be adequate to do the job there is a line etched inside the tank that usually says water or level or both. Second I would check the chain length, an extra long chain on the flapper limits the opening of the flapper which in turn cuts the amount of water flow, resulting in the need to flush twice.

Answer 4

First idea: Just flush it twice. If that works, why do anything?

Second idea: Open up the tank and look to see what is going on? You may just need to shorten the chain or something simple like that.

Third idea: Replace the entire float, chain, etc. This is fairly inexpensive to do. I am pretty sure you can get this at Wal-Mart. If not you can certainly get it at any home improvement center.

Answer 5

open the tank while its filling up you should see a little hose that is going away from your float valve it should be running a stream of water into like a one inch pipe thats attached to your plug the water should be going in there to fill the bowl with water if after you flush you dont see water flowing back into the bowl this may be the case

Answer 6

You may have "low flush" water saving toilet and they never work. Make sure the float lets the tank fill to the max (to the top of the overflow pipe)

Answer 7

I would say that the chain/strap that lifts the flapper is adjusted too long. When you push the handle, the chain lifts the flapper a bit but the second time it lifts completely and allows the water to go to the bowl. Adjust the chain/strap so that it "just" allows the flapper to seal.

Answer 8

Remove the lid from the tank and watch the flapper while you depress the lever. It sounds to me as though the chain from the lever to the flapper is too long -- it isn't pulling the flapper up far enough. If so, adjust the chain to make it slightly shorter.

Answer 9

Replace the float, etc inside the tank. It all comes in a kit and is like a $8 fix.

Answer 10

the flush handle has a chain attached to it shorten it a little,it will work fine,also the handle might be lose tighten the nut inside the handle counterclockwise.