It goes without saying that your toilets are one of the most important parts of your home’s plumbing system. Any sign that this fixture isn’t working as it should is a cause for concern, especially if it’s starting to flush slowly. While it could mean the fixture itself has a problem, it can also be a sign of a septic tank issue.
5 Reasons Your Toilet Is Flushing Slow
The 5 most common causes of a slow flushing toilet include the following:
1. Not enough water in the tank
One of the most common reasons for a slow flushing toilet is that there is not enough water in your tank. This is something that is easy to check on your own. All you have to do is lift the lid off the back of the toilet and check to see if the water level is below the indicated line. It is critical for your toilet to have a sufficient amount of water in its tank because otherwise, your toilet will not be able to create enough suction in the bowl for it to flush properly.
2. Sediment in the waterline
If it's been a while since your water line was inspected, there's a good chance that sediment has built up to the point where it's restricting the flow of water to your toilet and other plumbing fixtures. If you notice flow issues with other fixtures beyond your toilet, there's a good chance this could be the problem.
3. A clog or blockage in the pipes
A clogged drain or blockage in the pipes is a very common reason that could explain why your toilet is flushing slow and weak. Anything from a paper towel to a tampon to a wad of hair can get caught in the pipes and seriously affect, if not completely block the flow of water to and from your toilet. Even if you can temporarily fix the problem with drain cleaner or a plunger, there's a good chance part of the clog remains and will continue to give you problems until you call in a professional plumber to completely clear it out.
4. Problem with the flapper valve
Another reason why your toilet could be flushing slow and weak could be because of a problem with your toilet's flapper valve. Your toilet's flapper valve is the rubber stopper found at the very bottom of the toilet bowl. It works every time that you let go of the toilet flush handle, by being lifted and allowing a passageway between the toilet tank and the toilet bowl. Naturally, with time, a flapper valve can weaken and not work at optimal levels. In order to fix this issue, all you have to do is replace the flapper valve with a new one.
5. Hard water
Another reason that your toilet is flushing slowly could be because of hard water. The minerals that hard water contains, amongst them magnesium carbonates and calcium, can with time damage your toilet and its pipes. This can happen because these minerals can stay and create a buildup inside your pipes, as water makes its way down your toilet drains. A professional plumber will be able to inspect and determine whether hard water is responsible for your toilet problem. Better yet, a professional will be able to remove all of these unwanted minerals that are creating the damage and install a water softener that will help to prevent this problem from happening again in the future.
Get Professional Help
One of the most potentially damaging forms of clogs in your plumbing is a blockage in your septic tank. If left alone, it will continue to get worse and can eventually lead to exponentially worse issues down the line. Carter Quality Plumbing has three reasons why you should consider calling for septic tank pumping near you whenever your toilet flushes slowly:
- It’s a solution that gets to the root of the problem – In many cases, toilet issues can be traced back to a septic tank pipe clog. Clogs in septic tank piping can prevent your toilet from flushing away waste as it should.
- Clogs don’t go away on their own – You can’t just ignore these types of clogs and hope they go away. If you put off calling for septic tank pumping or repairs, a clog will only get worse.
- A slow flushing toilet could be the least of your problems – When more clogs are left untreated, the blockage will only get worse. When wastewater can’t reach the septic tank, it will go back in the other direction. The end result is a septic back up into your toilets, showers, and sinks.
As you can see, putting off the preventive maintenance of septic tank pumping can lead to a real emergency if you’re not careful. If you notice that your toilet is flushing slower than normal, call Carter Quality Plumbing. We provide septic tank pumping near you and septic tank services in Rock Hill, SC and the greater Charlotte area of the Carolinas. Trust us to get your septic tank and toilet back to working as they should.
Carter Quality Plumbing provides plumbing and septic services for Lancaster, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and surrounding areas of North Carolina and South Carolina. Contact us for more information!