Of all the things in your home to be lazy, the toilet should be last. When you need your toilet to work, you need it urgently. Low toilet flush power has no place in the busiest room in the house! If you find yourself stuck on the losing end of the power struggle, don’t panic. There are usually only a few causes for low toilet flush power, and many can be resolved without needing to call a local plumber. Follow our guide on how to increase toilet flush power and you’ll be back to marveling at your appliances’ efficiency in no time!
Clogs: a toilet’s flush power nightmare
To know how to fix something, you must first understand how said thing broke. You’ll notice certain symptoms, such as your toilet failing to remove all the waste in a single flush or a slow flush. When this occurs, check for a few issues. The first thing to check for is a clog, which is the most obvious and common reason for low toilet flush power. Clogs occur when too much waste matter goes down all at once and the toilet is unable to properly dispose of it. Fortunately, this is an easy fix with a good ol’ plunger and some elbow grease. If that doesn’t work, call your local plumber. They have a tool which can break up even the largest clogs safely without harming the pipes.
Hard water is extra hard on your toilet’s flush mechanisms
If not by a clog, your low toilet flush power may be caused by mineral deposits building up on the jets. As hard water is cycled through the toilet with each flush, calcium and other minerals slowly build up. It’s similar to the white ring commonly found around kitchen faucets which indicates calcium has made its home on your plumbing. This is yet another easy fix: allow all the water to drain out by lifting the flapper in the tank and apply a toilet bowl cleaner to the entire bowl. You’ll want to find a cleaner that has calcium removal highlighted, which should be available at any home improvement store. Keep the area well ventilated during the entire cleaning process! Many cleaners release harsh fumes which can be dangerous to human health if inhaled in a closed space for extended periods. If you have any doubts, don’t be shy about calling in a professional to handle it.
Short flush not doing the job? A fill valve adjustment will boost your toilet’s power
Imagine you’re at a party and you use the restroom, but to your horror the water refuses to take everything down. Would you be embarrassed? Of course! Spare your guests this humiliation by taking some toilet flush power precautions. To have a powerful toilet flush right out of the gate, check your water level. This is done by opening the tank when it’s full. You’ll see a pipe that acts as an emergency overflow stopper. The waterline should be within an inch of this pipe. Any less and you’ll find there isn’t enough water to fully drain and replenish the toilet, leading to low flush power. If there’s more than an inch of space between the waterline and the overflow pipe, adjust the fill valve on the toilet to allow more water into the tank between flushes. Any objects that were put in with the hopes of saving water (the traditional option is a brick) should be removed. While they do help take up more space, they lead to low flush power and an inefficient flush. Over time, they waste more water than they save and are bad for your toilet. If you do want to save water and have a powerful flush, give Sin City Plumbing a call for assistance during your plumbing project!
