Toilet --- lazy flush

Rehabbing & House Flipping
16yFollow

Toilet --- lazy flush

Bienes Raices
Orlando, FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 282 votes

The tenants are concerned that the toilet does not have a powerful flush.

The water goes up to about a half inch below the fill line on the overflow tube. I poured some extra water into the tank (so that it went all the way up to fill line) and flushed and it didn't seem to make much difference. I don't the flapper is the problem either, since it isn't shutting prematurely.

I read to turn the water off, duct tape the jet holes under the rim, and then pour vinegar down the overflow tube and let sit over night to see if it will break up any deposits inside and improve the flush. Heading back there early tomorrow morning to see if that worked.

If that doesn't work, does anyone have any other ideas, before I give up and pay to have a plumber come out? Does the size of the jet holes toward the front of the bowl matter? I noticed these are all small holes. (I have too bathrooms at my own house, one with big and one with small holes, and I noticed that the one with the big holes has a stronger flush.)

0Reply
75 views

Most Popular Reply

Marc Freislinger
Flipper · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 973 posts · 679 votes
16y

The holes are important to spin the water so it goes down. You can clear them out by sticking a wire coat hanger up there too, along with putting vinegar down the fill tube.

Try using a toilet auger also, they are around 50 dollars and will clear a toilet way better than a plunger. I've pulled toys, rags, and toothbrushes out of slow toilets.

If the water spins well, but still doesn't have a strong flush, your problem will be the drain line.

1Reply
See this reply in the discussion

8 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Marc Freislinger
    Flipper · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 973 posts · 679 votes
    16y

    The holes are important to spin the water so it goes down. You can clear them out by sticking a wire coat hanger up there too, along with putting vinegar down the fill tube.

    Try using a toilet auger also, they are around 50 dollars and will clear a toilet way better than a plunger. I've pulled toys, rags, and toothbrushes out of slow toilets.

    If the water spins well, but still doesn't have a strong flush, your problem will be the drain line.

    1Reply
  • Bienes Raices
    OP
    Orlando, FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 282 votes
    16y
    Originally posted by Marc Freislinger:
    The holes are important to spin the water so it goes down. You can clear them out by sticking a wire coat hanger up there too, along with putting vinegar down the fill tube.

    Try using a toilet auger also, they are around 50 dollars and will clear a toilet way better than a plunger. I've pulled toys, rags, and toothbrushes out of slow toilets.

    If the water spins well, but still doesn't have a strong flush, your problem will be the drain line.


    Thanks Marc. I put the snake in there today, but nothing came out, so I'm not sure that's the issue. I'll try the coat hanger idea when I go back there again.
    0Reply
  • Jon Holdman
    Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
    16y

    I've had a toilet like that, too. In fact, its setting in the garage.

    Are you getting a good spin on the water?

    What happens if take a bucket of water and dump it in quickly?

    Do the sink and shower/tub drain well?

    Muratic acid is a stronger alternative to vinegar, if everything else drains well, and the toilet drains well when you dump in a bucket. If all the fixtures are slow, you have a clog further downstream.

    If you're even slightly handy, changing out a toilet is easy. The biggest problem is the water. A shop vac will help, though there will still be water in the trap. Second biggest problem is the weight. A new "toilet in a box" is $100 at home depot.

    0Reply
  • Mitch Kronowit
    SFR Investor · Orange County, CA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    16y

    My parents had a similar acting toilet. It would flush fine with a bucket, but not by itself. There was some debris in the main channel that shoots the water down the toilet's throat, but nothing we tried seemed to fix the thing, so we replaced it (with a turbo-charged power-assisted water-cannon style toilet).

    As Jon said, it's not rocket science to change one out, but it's not a pretty job either. The web is teaming with help and tips for doing so.

    One last item of interest, check with your water supplier. They may offer an incentive (that means cash) for switching to a low-flow water-saving toilet. I believe my parents received $50 or $75 back for each of the 2 toilets we replaced. That covered half the cost of the new ones!

    0Reply
  • Just Don
    Member since 2009 · 499 posts · 117 votes
    16y

    my preferred tool for cleaning the little holes up under the rim is a set of steel twist bits to get just the right size. the hard sides grind out hard deposits pronto. The bit should spin on its own when you wiggle it round and round with your fingers. Rag in the bottom hole in case you drop it or at least plunge water level down.

    I agree the hanger works in a pinch...But twist bits are faster.( NO drill on them of course). besides you can pretend your a dentist doing a root canal.

    0Reply
  • Just Don
    Member since 2009 · 499 posts · 117 votes
    16y

    another thing,,sometimes they get enough lime scum and water deposits in the trap to not flush well.

    Jons suggestion of muratic acid works wonders in bottom too. get all the water out first tho by wet vacing or sopping it out. That stuff is nasty,,careful you dont burn your nose or eyes.

    0Reply
  • Frank Adams
    Loveland, CO · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 123 votes
    16y

    Clogging of the holes was a huge problem when we lived in Houston, terribly hard water there. I used to dump acid bowl cleaner in mine occassionally and always once a year in my rentals on my inspections. I've used the bits too but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

    0Reply
  • Bienes Raices
    OP
    Orlando, FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 282 votes
    16y
    Originally posted by Just Don:
    my preferred tool for cleaning the little holes up under the rim is a set of steel twist bits to get just the right size. the hard sides grind out hard deposits pronto. The bit should spin on its own when you wiggle it round and round with your fingers. Rag in the bottom hole in case you drop it or at least plunge water level down.

    I agree the hanger works in a pinch...But twist bits are faster.( NO drill on them of course). besides you can pretend your a dentist doing a root canal.


    Thanks Don, I'm going to get some of those.

    The tile floors in the house were cleaned with muriatic acid and they stank for days afterwards, so I'm only going to try that as a last resort.

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free