A toilet is one of the most significant rooms in your house where you are most likely to pay a visit on any given day. When a toilet fails to flush, it can cause adverse effects, but these problems are easy to detect. Besides you, the flush toilet action is enabled by two other factors which are gravity and of course the water pressure.

When you prompt the toilet to flush by pulling the handle, it triggers the chain in the tank to pull and lift the flapper (rubber trap door). This action then causes the water to pass through the big hole and empties the bowl. After the tank is emptied, the flapper then closes the hole as the float (which is attached to the filling valve) drops with the flashed water in the tank. This action then causes the valve to open and the tank to refill again. The float will again rise as the water rises and when it’s in a vertical position, it will shut off the valve.

Below are the common causes why your toilet may not flush and what causes the plumbing to get backed up.

The Toilet Tank Refills Itself

There are instances when the toilet tank automatically refills itself making the water to overflow into the tank. The main reason behind this problem is because the flapper does not seal properly. The solution involves ensuring the flapper is placed in downside position all the way. If the problem persists, replace the flapper with a new one.

Loose Flushing Handle

This happens when you try to flush using the handle and feel that it’s loose. The common cause of this result is either a detached flapper chain from the handle arm or simply a broken flapper chain. You can correct this by reattaching the chain if it’s detached or replacing it with a new one when it’s broken.

The Toilet Refills Continuously

There are instances when the toilet never ceases to refill. When it’s empty, there are chances that the flapper won’t close and has hung up on its chain. It can also refill continuously and remain full and continue to overflow, and there are chances that either your valve has a problem or you need to adjust your float or float arm by adjusting either one of them.

Weak or Incomplete Flush

The main reasons why the flush is weak or incomplete is either because the toilet or the drain line has clogged. Another reason is that the flapper might have a problem and need replacement especially when it closes before the tank is empty. The float might also cause this problem, and all you need is to adjust on the flush-and-fill valve.

The problem in your toilet especially the one that causes it not to flush and when the plumbs back up it not only spread dirt but can also cause the spread of harmful diseases. If you wish to fix these problems by yourself, you should always ensure that the water supply is shut off to avoid causing further damage. However, if the problem is too complicated, you can always call a professional and reputable plumber to fix it in the most appropriate way.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Montclair, Livingston and West Orange.