Who knows how to fix a toilet?

[badmouse]

At one of the offices where I work. Landlord says he'll replace it - eventually - but I'm wondering if there's something simple I can do.

It works perfectly if you push down the handle and then pour in a half-pitcher of water.

 

Originally posted by: badmouse
It works perfectly if you push down the handle and then pour in a half-pitcher of water.

Looks like you fixed it! 😛

 

[Shooters]

Is any water flowing from the tank into the bowl when you push the handle?

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Shooters
Is any water flowing from the tank into the bowl when you push the handle?

That's what I was thinking. Sounds like the passage ways from the tank to bowl are clogged. It wouldn't be much fun trying to snake these out with some sort of wire.

You could try to pack the rim with clay and pour some CLR in the tank and let it soak if the water doesn't seem to be flowing.

 

[badmouse]

The water flows, there's plenty of it, but it doesn't have enough power to get the stuff down and out. The water levels are fine, but the force isn't there.

Adding water to the tank, rather than the bowl, doesn't help.

I don't NEED to fix this, but I'm curious.

 

[MDE]

The same thing happened to the toilet in my basement. After a couple weeks it's flushing normally again.

 

[Shooters]

Well, if everything is flowing freely from the tank to the bowl then you have something restricting the flow after the bowl. I'm guessing you already tried giving it a couple shots with a plunger?

 

[Squisher]

Might be a clogged stack vent then.

 

[Ornery]

Does it matter how LONG you hold the handle down? If the tank completely empties, does it do the job? Reason I ask, is because the flapper may be closing too quickly.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: Squisher
Might be a clogged stack vent then.

I had to snake that out at my moms and it fixed her toilet problems. That's not a fun job thou.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Does it matter how LONG you hold the handle down? If the tank completely empties, does it do the job? Reason I ask, is because the flapper may be closing too quickly.

Ornery, You've said essentially what I was also thinking. Most newer toilets (read: Kohler) now include a couple of foam "floaters" on the chain of the flapper to ensure it doesn't close too quickly.

Check with your local plumbing supply place and see if they sell these "floaters" that you can attach to the chain on the flapper.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: Squisher
Might be a clogged stack vent then.

I had to snake that out at my moms and it fixed her toilet problems. That's not a fun job thou.

anytime the snakes comes out, it's bad news