Toilet malfunction in our half bath downstairs, sometimes...

[CTyankee]

Sometimes everything goes down, some times it doesn't...we are puzzled. We have a plumber and he is puzzled. Our upstairs toilet, in our full bath, nothing fancy, works every time, no problem.

Replacing the toilet is just too expensive right now. Our plumber warranteed his work for a full year so for a whole year he could come to our house every week and we wouldn't be charged any extra. But it's a PITA having to call him and have him check it out. Plus it is disconcerting not to be sure that flush is gonna do the job!

Add to this the fact that we are both in our 80s and trudging up and down stairs just to go use the toilet is wearing us down.

Any suggestions are welcome!

[c-rational]

1. If it is a tank with a flapper valve, and the tank fills properly and releases properly I would check the

drain to make sure there isn't a small blockage. Does the bowl fill too quickly and discharge slowly? Watch each toilet flush clean and note any diffference. This all assumes both are the same type.

[CTyankee]

2. what I have noticed is a weak circulation in the flush where even just a small bit of toilet paper circles and then just

doesn't make it down and floats back up.

[SheltieLover]

3. Could be tank isn't filling with sufficient water to flush

Put a small bucket in bathroom & dump water into bowl as soon as you flush.

I hope this helps.

[c-rational]

4. Sounds like a fluahometer. If it has a handle you push or pull to flush that iss a flushometer. No

toilet tank. If that is the case, it could be low pressure. Should bbe better on the ground floor unless a supply line is reduced due to deposits due to limited use.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. How old is the house? Did he snake the toilet?

[CTyankee]

7. Our house was built in 1941, one of the last houses built just before WW2 so it is pre-war construction.

We love the house. It has its own outstanding beauty and these houses are treasured in New Haven. We don't know when the half bath was added; or even if it was in the original to begin with.

He didn't snake it last time. Should I suggest he do that?

[bucolic_frolic]

11. He would know enough to do that if he thinks that is the problem.

I'm not a plumber, but it could be a clog in the drain pipe (so he would snake it with a long flexible steel coil), or a clog in the air vent stack. In some local codes at earlier times the air vents were installed differently than roof to basement, for example just roof to drain stack. It can be hard to diagnose.

[KPN]

6. How long have you had the toilet? How long has it been doing this. Toilets can build up mineral deposits within the

rim that can affect the flush. Weak flushes are not uncommon in old toilets. If you can't replace it, you might try the things discussed at this link:

https://www.fluidmaster.com/toilet-problems/weak-toilet-flush/#:~:text=Toilets%20that%20have%20been%20in,a%20weak%20or%20incomplete%20flush.

Hope this helps and good luck.

ps -- If all fails and don't have the ability to replace it with a new toilet, let us know. I'd be more than happy to make a contribution to you to get that taken care of. I'm 74. If I had two stories, I'd definitely want -- and I'm sure some day in the not too distant future would need -- an operable toilet on my first floor for sure.

[CTyankee]

8. That's kind of you, but we can work it out. The reason I am working the plumber so hard is that he gave us a warranty on

his work and I'll bet he doesn't think that includes a new toilet. He'll give up and claim it's just a bad toilet and he did all he could do and goodbye.

[KPN]

9. I'm guessing its just that your rim outlets and/or the jet at the bottom of the toilet bowl are clogged.

little more detail than the one I posted above:

https://westernrooter.com/how-to-fix-a-toilet-that-wont-flush-but-isnt-clogged-expert-guide/

I'm assumning the toilet isn't new. Ask the plumber to check the rim outlets and jets for blockage next time he looks at it for you.

[CTyankee]

10. Thank you!

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Thanks, that's a solution I never knew about.

Will be cleaning the holes ... lots of iron in system here.

[jmowreader]

13. Is this something that just started or an ongoing problem?

If it's new, buy a two-pack of toilet bowl cleaner. Pour one entire bottle of it into the bowl and let it sit 12 hours. Scrub out the toilet (especially the trap) and let it sit for another 12 hours, then flush and repeat. Lime can build up inside the toilet and make it less efficient.

If it's been going on since you bought the house, it's possible the drain on the toilet is below the sewer pipe for it. There are two fixes for that: install a vacuum toilet or turn the bathroom into another closet.

[CTyankee]

15. No. We bought the house over 25 years ago and the toilet then is the toilet now. No problems.

This problem started a few months ago. It was fixed, then it happened again, fixed, started again, etc, etc. I will go over the info provided here with a link to an article I printed out. When the plumber comes I will talk with him about the findings here and find out if he has just been missing the problem all along. But he warranteed his work for a year and if he has to do what the article says must be done, then that will probably take care of it. I have spent $700 on this toilet with just this one incident alone and have no more money to do anything else!

[jmowreader]

18. Root killer comes to mind as a solution

If this has just started then something's stuck in there. Try the bowl cleaner first because it's cheap and easy. If that doesn't work then pull the commode, snake the drain with a toilet snake - which in this case is not a synonym for Donald Trump - and reinstall the commode with new bolts because the old ones always shear off. If that doesn't work roots growing into the drain pipe might be the cause.

[CTyankee]

19. Duly noted for sharing with the plumber coming tomorrow.

Every bit of info from this thread will be shared with the plumber. We will solve this problem once and for all!

[anciano]

14. Are there any trees between your house and the street?

A friend of ours recently had a similar problem that was caused by tree roots that had grown into the drain line.

[CTyankee]

16. Yes, but I'll check out the other remedy before we go that far. I do appreciate your reminding me, tho. Thank you!

[bamagal62]

17. They can put a camera

Down and see what’s up.

[CTyankee]

20. Doubt if he'll do that. For now, we will concentrate of what I have learned from this thread. My thanks to all!

[IbogaProject]

21. Use a bucket with hot water and some dawn

Some times the toilet paper can form something like paper-mache up inside the flow inside of the actual commode, where it kind of goes up and over right before it goes into the hole in the floor. you fill the bucket with 1.5 to 2 gallons of warm or hot water, pour that in and then flush immediately. It might take two times. There are also enzymes that help with the cellulose in the paper to get it broken up. Enzymes are best with municipal but not recommended with septic system.

[CTyankee]

22. He just left and said he had adjusted the water level. Let's hope that works. But your idea sounds feasible.

I will keep this in mind in case this happens again. He has honor his warranty, but I bet he regrets it now!

[IbogaProject]

23. Glad to hear

I learned the bucket part from an old article.