Toilet Repair & Installation
Fix a running, leaking or clogged toilet or replace it.
Plumbing guide
Toilet Won't Flush in Sun City West, AZ? Causes and Fixes
A toilet that will not flush has one of three problems: no water in the tank, a mechanism that does not lift, or a drain that is blocked. A few quick checks tell you which.
By the Sun City West Plumbing Co. team ·
Lift the tank lid and look
Take the lid off and flush while you watch. The handle pulls a chain or a lever that lifts a rubber flapper, which lets the tank water rush into the bowl. If nothing moves when you press the handle, the problem is in the handle linkage. If the flapper lifts but the bowl does not flush, the problem is in the water supply or the drain.
Also look at the water level in the tank. There is usually a mark on the inside, or the water sits about an inch below the top of the overflow tube. A low level means too little water for a full flush.
Handle and chain problems
If the handle feels loose or limp, the nut inside the tank may have come off or the lever arm may have broken. If the handle works but the flapper does not rise, the chain may be disconnected or too slack. The chain should have just a little slack when the flapper is closed, about a half inch.
Reattaching the chain or adjusting the length often restores the flush. If the chain is too short, the flapper will not seal and the toilet will run. If it is too long, it may get caught under the flapper and keep it from closing. Replace a handle or lever that is bent or cracked.
No water or low water in the tank
If the tank is empty or low, look at the supply. The shutoff valve under the tank must be open, and a valve that was turned partway closed during other work can starve the tank. Check the fill valve inside the tank. If the float is stuck, the arm is bent or the valve is clogged with debris, it will not refill.
A fill valve that is old or clogged is cheap to replace, and in most cases the toilet's internal parts are replaced as a set. A supply line that is kinked or blocked, or a low-flow shutoff valve that is mostly closed, also slows refill. Turn off the water and flush to empty the tank before you work inside it.
A clog in the bowl or the trap
If the bowl fills almost to the rim, rises and drains slowly, or the water sits high after a flush, there is a clog. Use a flange plunger, which has a rubber extension that fits into the drain, not a cup plunger. Seal the drain, push down gently first to push out the air, then pull up and push in a steady rhythm.
A closet auger, also called a toilet snake, reaches clogs a plunger cannot. Feed it into the drain and turn the handle. Avoid chemical drain cleaners in a toilet. They rarely clear it, they can damage plumbing parts, and they leave a harsh liquid in the bowl that is dangerous to the next person who works on it.
Won't flush: what you see and what to try
Match what you see to a row, then try the fix beside it.
| What you see | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| A loose or limp handle | The nut inside the tank is off or the lever arm broke | Check the handle assembly |
| The handle works but the flapper does not lift | The chain is off or too slack | Reattach it with about a half inch of slack |
| An empty or low tank | A partly closed shutoff, a stuck float or a clogged fill valve | Open the valve and check the fill valve |
| A bowl that fills near the rim and drains slowly | A clog | Flange plunger, then a closet auger |
| Other fixtures also slow | Trouble in the main line | Stop using water and call |
Weak flushes and clogged rim jets
A toilet that flushes weakly but does not clog may have blocked rim jets. These are small holes under the rim that wash water around the bowl, and mineral deposits close them. Clean them with a small brush or a wire, and pour vinegar into the overflow tube and let it sit.
The siphon jet, a hole at the bottom of the bowl, can also clog and reduce the flush. If cleaning does not help, a blocked trap or a problem in the vent stack may be the cause. See toilet repair for how these are fixed.
When more than the toilet is affected
If other drains are slow, a bathtub gurgles when you flush, or a toilet clogs again right after you clear it, the problem may be in the branch or main drain. Try a different toilet. If both are slow, the line is the likely cause.
In that case a plunger will not help. Drain cleaning can clear a main line clog, and a camera look tells you why it keeps returning. If sewage is coming up in a tub or shower, stop using water in the house and call right away.
When the utility asks you not to flush
During a heavy monsoon storm or any event that knocks out power or overloads a sewer system, a water or wastewater provider may ask residents to limit water use and avoid flushing for a time. A toilet that will not take a flush in those conditions is not always a clog in your house.
Follow the utility's instructions in those events. Keep a few buckets of water on hand for manual flushes, and do not run water you do not need until service is confirmed back to normal. After service returns, flush gently and watch for slow drains, since a line that sat full may need clearing.
Low-flow toilets and flush power
Older toilets use much more water per flush than modern ones. A newer, low-flow toilet depends on a good siphon and clean jets to work well, and a little buildup shows up as a weak flush. A toilet that has always flushed poorly may simply be a poor design, and replacing it with a better-rated model solves it.
What not to flush
Wipes sold as flushable, paper towels, cotton balls and feminine products fall apart far more slowly than toilet paper. They snag in the pipe and form clumps. Even a small amount of grease, hair and wipes together can form a hard mass. Keep a bin in the bathroom for them. Use only enough toilet paper for the job.
Common questions
Toilet flush questions
The flapper may be closing too soon because the chain is too short or the flapper is worn. Adjust the chain or replace the flapper.
There is usually a clog in the trap or drain. A flange plunger or a closet auger often clears it.
It can be, particularly if other drains are slow. Check another toilet and a tub.
It is better to avoid it. Chemicals can harm the fixture and are hazardous to remove, and they rarely clear a toilet clog.
Related services
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Clear kitchen, bath, laundry and main-line clogs and find out why they came back.
Sewer Line Repair
Fix a cracked, rooted or sagging sewer pipe, from spot repair to a longer section.
More plumbing guides
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The dye test, the flapper, the fill valve and the float. How to find why a toilet keeps running and fix it.
Sewer smell in the house
Where a sewer smell comes from, the easy fixes to try and the signs that the sewer line itself is the problem.
Tree roots in a sewer line
How roots get into a sewer pipe, the signs, what a camera shows and why cutting roots is only half the answer.
Toilet clogged and not clearing?
Call and describe what it is doing. The dispatcher will connect you with a local contractor.