A toilet that drains slowly might not seem like an urgent issue, but it could be a sign of a more severe problem with home plumbing. Determining the cause and repairing it is in the homeowner’s best interest. When slow draining toilets are left unattended, they can lead to expensive utility bills or broken pipes and fixtures. Here are common reasons a toilet is draining slowly and valuable tips on what needs fixing.Â
A damaged or disconnected fill valve
A low water level in the tank causes the toilet to drain slowly. In this case, you could be dealing with a damaged or disconnected refill tube or fill valve. The fill valve, also known as a “ballcock,” is usually a black rubber tube found inside the toilet tank. It is responsible for transporting water from the tank to the toilet bowl. If the refill tube is disconnected, try reconnecting it and see if the problem is fixed. Though, a damaged fill valve or refill tube requires replacement.
A clogged or blocked-up drain or toilet
Whether something got sent down the toilet that shouldn’t have, or it’s been a while since the last pipe clear-out, drain blockages happen all of the time. Remember the three Ps of toilet flushing: pee, poop, and paper. Toilet paper, to be exact. That is all that you should flush down the toilet, or you might find yourself with a poorly draining commode or a full-fledged clog.
A cracked or broken toilet
Slow drainage is a potential indicator of a cracked or broken toilet. Water pooling around the base of a toilet suggests that there is a leak somewhere that requires fixing. There is no simple fix for a cracked toilet bowl. A temporary solution is to use a sealing agent, but you should only use this if you have a plan in place for replacement.Â
An obstructed sewer line vent
Plumbing requires proper ventilation to function. A toilet not draining correctly might be caused by something obstructing the vent to the sewer line. The vent pipe regulates airflow so that water and waste run through pipes and out of the home. Most sewer line vents extend from the bathroom to the roof of a building. Outside debris or dead rodents can clog up the vent causing your toilet to drain poorly. A professional plumber should be present to remove an obstruction from the sewer line and will need to access the roof to ensure something is no longer blocking the vent.
A jet hole that needs cleaning
Sediment and minerals from hard water build up over time. The jet holes are openings on the inside rim of the toilet that allows water to flow from the toilet tank to the bowl. Slow draining toilets reduce the pressure behind each flush of the handle. Decreased water pressure still causes the toilet to drain, but gradually.Â
Sluggish toilet drainage is disappointing. However, there are many causes for a slow-to-flush toilet, some severe problems hidden behind them. Broken toilets or plumbing fixtures can cause undetected leaks throughout the home and increase the price of your next water bill. Stick to flushing only the correct substances down the toilet and get an expert opinion when there is no simple remedy.
Royalty Plumbing offers high-quality residential plumbing services in the areas of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin.