Have you noticed that your toilet isn’t flushing quite as well as it used to, even though it’s not such an old piece of equipment? You’re not alone. Luckily, there are several things you can do to restore the flushing power that you’re looking for.
The best way to increase the flushing power of your toilet is by cleaning the grime out of the toilet tank. If this doesn’t work, you should check that the water level in the tank is high enough, and make sure that your toilet isn’t clogged. You should also check that the flush holes are clear.
Ready for your toilet to work like new again? Let’s look at some of the ways you can check for problems when your toilet isn’t flushing with enough power.
How to Strengthen the Flushing Power of Your Toilet
The best way to strengthen the flushing power of your toilet is by performing some basic maintenance. You don’t need a plumber to do this, and it can typically be accomplished in a few minutes or less.
Start by removing the lid from your toilet tank and checking for buildup. This buildup comes from hard water and typically looks like salt or sand in your toilet tank.
This grime can build up on the flushing mechanism on your toilet, making it difficult for the toilet to flush. Once you remove this grime, your toilet should flush without issue.
Check for Problems
If your toilet still isn’t flushing properly after a good cleaning, it’s important to rule out there are no problems that are preventing your toilet from flushing as it should. Sometimes your toilet may have enough power to flush — it may just not be able to do so because of another issue.
Check if Your Toilet Is Clogged
The most obvious problem is that your toilet could be clogged. You can check this by pouring water into your toilet and then trying to flush it. If the water doesn’t flush out, your toilet is likely clogged.
Try using a plunger (on Amazon) to clean out what may be clogging your toilet, then try flushing another bucket of water. If the plunger doesn’t work, you may want to try a drain snake (on Amazon).
Check the Water Levels
Your toilet may not be flushing well because you have the water level set too low. Open the back of your toilet and see where the float is at in the tank.
Move the flushing assembly to set the float at a higher level. Flush again and allow the tank to fill before flushing a second time to see if this was your issue.
Clear the Flush Holes
Around the edge of some toilets are flush holes, and just like the toilet tank, hard water can clog these holes with minerals. You’ll want to check and see if yours are clogged.
If you see a blockage, grab a coat hanger or bobby pin and use it to gently remove the clog. For the best results, scoop it into the toilet bowl (don’t push it into the holes) or remove it to a trash can. Then you can try flushing again and see if that solved your flushing problem.
How to Do a Vinegar Soak
Occasionally, just wiping down your toilet tank won’t clean it enough to increase the flushing power. In this case, you’ll need to use something like vinegar to remove the grime. Here are the steps to doing a vinegar soak:
- Open toilet tank lid.
- Remove the fill hose and place it on the tube.
- Pour 1 quart of white vinegar into the tube using a funnel.
- Wait 2 hours.
- Replace all parts of the toilet and flush.
Following all of these steps will help to remove junk deposits and germs from your toilet, helping improve the flushing power.
How to Clean Your Toilet With Bleach
For very dirty toilets, even a vinegar soak might not be enough, and then it’s time to bring out the bleach. Be very careful, however, and follow the instructions carefully, as leaving bleach in your toilet for too long can cause damage. Here’s how you do it:
- Turn off the water supply to the toilet.
- Add bleach to the bowl and the tank, allowing it to dilute in the water there.
- Wait 15 minutes.
- Flush the toilet.
- Turn on the water supply.
- Flush the toilet 2-3 times.
You may want to flush your toilet a few more times if there’s still a smell of bleach. Never leave bleach in your toilet longer than 20 minutes, as this is when it may start to cause damage to toilet parts.
When to Call a Plumber
If you’ve tried everything on this list, and your toilet still continues to have weak flushing power, or a strange smell is coming from your toilet, then it’s definitely time to call a plumber.
Additionally, if you feel uncomfortable doing anything on this list, you should call a plumber rather than risk damage to your toilet, as this will be much more costly in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Overall, a toilet with low flushing power is pretty annoying, but many of these at-home tips and tricks can help you return it to its former glory. If you run into any problems along the way though, a visit by your plumber can also help you to discover the reasons why your toilet is not flushing properly.