You push down the handle and nothing. Perhaps you didn’t press down hard enough, so you try again. Still nothing. Why on earth isn’t your toilet flushing? It’s a common problem everyone is bound to experience at least once, but that provides little comfort as you scramble to figure out what to do next.
Fortunately, such toilet trouble can often be solved without having to call a plumber. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to get your toilet flushing once again.
Check the water shut-off valve.
Sometimes, friction from a nearby object or an intense bathroom cleaning sessions can nudge the valve it to the off position, preventing water from flowing into the tank. Look behind the base of the toilet and check to see if the valve is turned all the way to the left. If it’s not, turn it fully to the left, give it a minute or two to to refill, and try to flush.
Check your water supply.
If there’s no water in the toilet tank, the problem may not be with the toilet but rather with your home’s water supply. Turn on the bathroom sink faucet or tub spout to see if the house still has water. If not, see if someone in your home turned off the main water supply valve. If not, contact your water provider to determine if there is a water main break in your neighborhood or a water outage due to maintenance.
Clear pipe clogs.
If you suspect a clog is the problem, heat a tea kettle of water on the stove until just boiling, then let it sit for a minute. Remove some of the water from the toilet bowl so that it does not spill over. Add a squirt of dish soap to the toilet bowl and and follow with the hot water. Wait 10 to 15 minutes, giving the soap and hot water a chance to soften the clog, then flush.
Try the plunger.
If the water didn’t get things moving, get a plunger and place its flange directly into the drain opening. Hold it in place to seal the drain while pumping up and down for 20 seconds. If the clog has cleared, you should be able to remove the plunger and flush the toilet.
Inspect the flapper.
Over time, the flapper (located in the toilet tank and shaped like an inflated balloon) can get damaged and warped. Carefully remove the top of the tank and set it aside, then inspect the flapper for signs of damage. If yours needs to be replaced, you can purchase a new flapper at a local home improvement store and swap it out yourself fairly easily.
Check the lift chain.
The lift chain connects the toilet handle to the flapper. If it’s been disconnected or has too much slack, it won’t react when you try to flush. Re-attach it or adjust the length by slipping a different link over the hook at the end of the lever, leaving just enough length so that the flapper can close completely.
Simply put, you want your plumbing to work. And when it doesn’t, you want it fixed – fast. Whether you’ve tried the above tips to no avail or just aren’t the DIY type, we’re here to help. For high-quality plumbing services that will exceed your expectations, contact Norhio Plumbing today.
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