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Your Comprehensive Guide to Fixing a Toilet that Won’t Flush

“toiletwontflush”
It’s one of the most frustrating problems a homeowner can deal with. A toilet that doesn’t flush can be a major inconvenience to a household, especially one that primarily uses a single bathroom.

Thankfully, most of the causes of this problem are easy to fix and can be done without the help of a Winchester, VA bathroom plumbing service. You’ll get back to flushing your toilet in no time.

Are you ready to learn how you can take care of your flushing problem? Here’s a guide to fixing a toilet that just won’t flush.

Fix the Flapper in the Tank

“tankflapper”The most common cause of a toilet that won’t flush, and the easiest to patch up, is a poorly seated flapper.

This component is located at the bottom of the toilet tank. It opens when you flush to let water flow into the bowl and closes again to fill the tank back up. The flapper is linked with a chain that’s connected to a rod attached to the handle.

Pushing the handle lifts up the chain and opens the flapper. If you push the handle and no water comes out, but you hear it running, it means the flapper isn’t seated properly over the opening. A worn-down flapper can cause this; a loose chain or the chain got caught underneath the flapper. Sometimes it can be fixed if you jiggle the handle. If you hear the tank filling up, you know it did the trick.

Otherwise, you will have to remove the lid from the tank and take a more hands-on approach. Seat the flapper yourself, reconnect the chain or remove the chain from under the flapper, whichever the situation calls for. Once you’re done, the tank should begin to refill. When it stops, flush the toilet and make sure the flapper seats properly and put the cover back on. Bathroom plumbing problem solved.

Pour Water Inside the Bowl

“waterinsidetoilet”Another way to get your toilet to flush is by filling the bowl with water yourself. Grab a big bucket and fill it with water.

Pour the contents into the bowl all at once, and the toilet should flush on its own. Be sure you’re not slowly pouring in water or the water level will only slowly rise. Enough water must be poured in at once for this trick to work.

Call a Plumber to Search for Clogs

“callaprofessional”Clogs are another reason your toilet may not be flushing. If you’re unable to unclog the toilet with a plunger or snake, it’s probably a good idea to call a professional bathroom plumbing company to conduct an inspection.

Any clog in the toilet flange or drain will require the services of an expert to fix. Common causes of clogs include flushing down too much toilet paper or items that aren’t meant to be flushed, such as baby wipes, diapers or something tossed in by your kids.

Trust us; it happens a lot. Be sure your toilet paper isn’t too thick for flushing and consider installing a seat lock if you have children.

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