Nothing is more tiring than when your toilet won’t flush and you’re stuck trying to troubleshoot it on your own. Not everyone has the patience to do their own plumbing, and taking the time to fix a clogged toilet can throw off your daily schedule as well. The quickest way to repair your toilet and avoid having it clog again in the future is to understand the most common reasons that toilet’s pipes get blocked. Knowing how your toilet tank works, what not to flush, and what brands of toilets are less prone to getting clogged will help you in the long run.
Your Toilet Won’t Flush Because:
1. Clogged pipes
This is the most common problem when your toilet won’t flush. Whether there is too much toilet paper, or you’ve flushed anything that wasn’t toilet paper, you’re going to need a plunger to unclog your drain. You can also use a toilet auger to dislodge any blockage that the plunger cannot suction out.
2. Lift Chain Adjustment
The lift chain is a fickle thing at times, and when it’s connected to the flapper and flushing handle, it plays a big role in your toilets functionality. If your chain is too loose or too tight, you’ll need to adjust it so that your water flows easier when the handle is pulled.
3. Damaged Flapper
A warped or damaged flapper can also easily clog a toilet. If you take a look inside your tank and see a misshapen or decomposing rubber flapper, it’s time to replace it to get your toilet flushing once more.
4. Check Your Water Valve
Your tank’s water level should always be one inch below the tank’s overflow tube. Your water valve determines how much water refills the tank with each flush, so make sure it’s turned on and working properly, otherwise it will need to be replaced immediately for your toilet to work correctly again.
5. Broken Handle
If the handle feels loose, is rusting, and doesn’t flush when you push it down, it’s time to purchase a replacement flush handle. A new one will need to be re-installed and connected to the lift chain for effective flushing.
Don’t Flush These Items Down Your Toilet
As previously mentioned, there are a dozen different ways that that can clog your pipes and drains so your toilet won’t flush. Some of these items may seem silly to flush but accidents happen and there are many misinterpretations on what is okay to flush and what’s not. Avoid flushing feminine products, wet wipes, floss, Q-tips, paper towels, or cigarette butts. Facial tissues, hair, pills, and food products are also big contenders in clogging toilets.
Many of these items are believed to be flushable because they break down over time. However, flushing them will immediately plug up the thin, curving pipes that drain your toilet water to a local sewer system. Be wary of what you’re trying to flush and to keep things safe, just stick to toilet paper exclusively!
Toilet Brands That Are Extremely Difficult to Clog
1. Toto Toilets
When it comes to uncloggability, Toto toilets have developed their own great reputation and are highly recommended by netizens everywhere. These toilets are elongated, and have environmentally friendly dual-flush capabilities. It also has a fully glazed trap-way that allows for smooth, easy flushing and enhances bowl cleaning performance. The Toto Drake II and Toto Vespin II are excellent options for replacing toilets that won’t flush.
2. Kohler Toilets
Just like the previous brand, Kohler toilets come elongated and sold in two separate pieces. They are known to be built for comfort and have a large glazed trap-way to avoid clogging. Another unique feature it offers is a Single-flush gravity that uses the force of gravity and a precision-engineered tank, bowl, and trap-way to create a strong siphon during flushing. This toilet is tough to clog and is a great match for any bathroom’s design with it’s many models and colorful options. The Kohler Archer is sought after by many homeowners.
3. American Standard
This brand may be more well known and popular for good reason. American Standard toilets claim to have “virtually no clogs” and are reviewed to have very efficient flushing. Not only does it not clog, but it’s a low-consumption toilet that uses 20 percent less water than traditional toilets use. It’s elongated, easy to install, and are relatively cheaper than the other two brands. One of the more favored models is the AS Champion.
Never Worry About Flushing Troubles Again
As you can see, there’s a lot of things to look out for when it comes to keeping your toilet functional and unclogged. It can be vexing to pay attention to all the little detail when it comes to your bathroom knowledge, which is why having a friend in the plumbing business comes in handy. If your toilet won’t flush, Deer Valley Plumbing is always willing to step in and offer advice and assistance to clients who need immediate help with their plumbing problems. Getting your pipes up and running like normal is our priority so that your summer schedule can continue without any distractions!