A slow draining toilet is never fun to have. With the experts at Five Star Plumbing, Harford County’s best plumbers, we are here to explain how to unclog a slow draining toilet. Unclogging a slow draining toilet usually requires a little more effort than a toilet that is completely stopped up. With that in mind if you are not fully comfortable with your plumbing skills don’t be afraid to call in the help of the Five Star Plumbing team. However, if you are ready to tackle how to unclog a slow draining toilet let’s dive in!
1.) Poor or Clogged Venting
If you’ve ever been on your roof, there is a small open pipe up there. This is the vent stack for your sewage. It is designed to allow air to move through your plumbing so that water can flow downwards. Without this, it would just sit where it is.
This vent also releases gases and smells from your house. Without it, noxious gases and odors would build up inside and make you sick.
With that though, outside factors can clog this pipe. A bird could potentially put a nest there, an animal could get stuck. Problems like these will of course restrict airflow.
Inspecting the pipe usually isn’t feasible or easy but you could look for other signs that point to this being the cause. With the slow draining toilet are you also noticing some odors in the house? If you have more than one toilet are, they all draining slowly?
If you do notice any of these issues it is highly recommended to call a plumber. You can’t really tinker with the vent pipe on your own, and the gases can become health hazards.
2.) A Blockage Between the Tank and the Bowl
Your problem could not be between the bowl and the drain line. Instead, it could be something between the tank and bowl. Pressure comes from the tank emptying one or two gallons of water, helping push what’s in the bowl down the drain.
If there is lime buildup or other potential blockages in the inlet hole, then the water is seeping much slower that in should into the bowl. This means less pressure and a slower draining process.
The best way to look out for this problem is by watching the bowl when you flush. What you should see is water pouring in from the top, under the rim. If you’ve ruled out the flush mechanism, but that water’s not coming down, or if that flow appears weak, you’ve more than likely found the culprit.
With this to start, you will want to turn off the water and flush, so the tank drains. Then, gently push through the inlet hole with a stiff wire to see if you feel anything. Or, pour some white vinegar down there to help disintegrate any buildup.
3.) Damaged Flush Mechanism
Take the top off your tank and flush. If the mechanism connected to the handle that opens the flap is malfunctioning, then water might not be moving fast enough. This will cause the bowl to drain slowly.
The first thing to check is the chain connecting the flap to the mechanism. If there’s too much slack in the line, you won’t get enough action going to lift the flap. Try taking out a few links to make it taut.
If the entire mechanism looks damaged or worn down you can buy a new one at any local hardware store. If you’re good enough with repairs/directions, it is easy enough to follow along to install a new one.
4.) Clogged Drain Line
If the problem is in the drain line, then there is an object that is clogging it, and water can’t freely move past it. This could be human waste or anything that got flushed down when it shouldn’t have been (tissues, feminine products, toys).
If it is waste or even tissues, there is a good chance you will be able to clear it. Odds are though you’ve already gone at it with a plunger once. If that is the case it is probably further down the line and you’ll need to expand the process a little bit.
Hot water and dishwasher soap:
Warm water or dishwasher soap can help break up a large piece of waste or some other lighter objects. If you use a gallon of water at once, the pressure might even move the blockage further down the line where it can continue traveling out of the house.
Now do keep in mind that you should not use this method with an old porcelain toilet. With sudden heat you could crack the bowl which would be an even bigger mess on top of the potentially clogged line.
Don’t use Drano or other plumber cleaner products, simply due to the fact that they were not made for toilets. The chemicals are caustic enough to cause further damage.
If you do have a newer toilet do try the hot water method and this should cause the bowl to flush on its own from the water pressure. After that feel free to try the dish detergent as well. After waiting a while try flushing again and potentially plunging once more if you’re still having a problem.
If you are still having issues the detergent and water didn’t completely eradicate the problem. However, they may have broken things up enough for you to finish the job yourself.
Need help from a plumbing company in Harford County?
If your home’s toilet’s are still draining slow don’t hesitate to have an expert come service the problem. When you need service contact the experts at Five Star Plumbing today! Five Star Plumbing Services is locally owned and operated, and has been proudly serving customers in Harford County and Baltimore County since 1991. With Five Star you are getting amazing expert knowledge for all your plumbing needs.