If you have a
toilet in your home that always seems to require two flushes, it can be very annoying and waste a great deal of water. So, it is important to understand why this is happening and what can be done to correct the issue.
The Toilet Basics
Most toilets work on the basis of simple mechanisms. The bowl and the tank store water, when the handle is pushed, water runs from the tank into the bowl. This creates a siphon effect to suck the contents of the bowl down the drains into the sewer. The tank and toilet bowl then refill ready for the next use.
When you need to flush a toilet more than once, it is usually a result of insufficient water flowing into the toilet bowl. A lack of water means that all the waste cannot be effectively flushed away.
The Causes of One Flush Problems
There are several common reasons why you may need more than one flush. The most common is that you have a poor quality, low flush model. While low flush toilets are designed to be more water efficient, some models fail to create the suction required to get the job done. This means that you need to flush more than once or even hold the handle down to create the proper suction. This type of problem can usually only be solved by replacing your toilet.
Another reason for this type of problem is a worn flapper. The toilet tank flapper keeps the water inside your tank, but over time it can become worn and crack. This allows water to leak into the bowl slowly, decreasing the amounts of water in the tank. When you flush, there is not enough water to force any waste into the drain.
Your toilet may also be affected by a hard water buildup. If you live in a hard water area, the minerals can accumulate in the holes that allow water to pass from the tank to the toilet bowl. Once these holes start to clog, there will be insufficient water when you flush. To solve this problem, you will need to tackle the underlying hard water issues.
Finally, you may have a toilet flapper that closes too quickly. If you can flush on the first dry when you hold the handle down, you may have a flapper that is closing early and therefore not allowing enough water into the toilet bowl. This can be corrected by shortening the chain.
Getting Pro Help
If you are still struggling with your toilet, it is a good idea to have it checked by a professional plumber. Although a two flush toilet may not seem like a massive problem, it could be costing you in large amounts of wasted water and creating an annoyance in your home. An experienced professional has the skills and expertise to evaluate your toilet to determine the underlying issues and problems. This will ensure that any issues are corrected properly, so you can reduce your water usage and relieve any annoyance.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
