Causes of a Slow Toilet Flush

A slow flushing toilet is a problem few people ever think about until it happens to them. It often seems harmless or merely mildly annoying, but it can be a sign of further troubles to come in your Berkeley, CA home…

An incomplete flush could mean increased water use because of multiple flushes. It may even mean the inability to flush toilet waste altogether, as particles too large to flush without sufficient pressure will stay in the bowl.

Slow toilets are also at much higher risk of developing a full clog or overflowing into the room. To prevent additional complications from arising, the origin of the issue should first be identified.

There are a few potential causes of an incomplete or weak toilet flush.

A low water level in the tank will mean that not enough water is being supplied to the flush, creating a slow flush with low pressure.

The flapper closing too soon will also mean that too little water is being applied to each flush. Instead of the tank not filling up with enough water to supply the flush, the flapper is simply closing too soon and stopping the flow of the tank water.

Clogs may occur in several places in the toilet.

A clog in the trap, sewer pipe or vent pipe all will slow the flow of water in some part of the toilet, leading to a weak flush.

A build up of calcium or other minerals in the rim feed holes is often the cause of a partial clog and weak flush. This can happen in older toilets or in old houses. Most commonly, this occurs in neighborhoods with hard water or with a large amount of sediment in the water source.

To prevent a situation in which dirty, unhealthy toilet water pours over the bowl and all over the house, a toilet with a partial flush should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

A weak flush is something like a headache or cough from the flu.

On its own it isn’t terribly hard to deal with, but it is a sign of an underlying problem that shouldn’t be ignored. Often, this issue will continue for some time without any further issues. However, many people find themselves standing ankle-deep in toilet water after only a few days of a seemingly harmless weak flush!

Your Berkeley, CA toilet issues can be a nuisance. Call Albert Nahman Plumbing at (510) 876-9725 today, and let’s get your toilet back to its flushing state!