I live in a house built in the 1940s, and although the plumbing has been updated (thanks to PVC), I'm having major trouble with both of our toilets. They need multiple flushes to get rid of toilet paper, and it's driving me crazy! I'm not very handy (I'm more of an IT person), so I'm looking for some advice. I thought it might be a clog from my three kids, but since they don't use the master bathroom, that seems unlikely. I bought an auger and it helped a bit, reducing the flushes needed from eight to four or five, but it's still not ideal. Plus, all other drains in the house seem fine, and I've replaced the flappers in the toilets since we moved in five years ago. What else should I check or do?
3 Answers
I've had similar issues in my new home with eco-friendly toilets. It turned out that the toilets themselves just weren't powerful enough to do the job. Replacing them made a world of difference! Maybe give that a thought if nothing else works for you.
Sounds like you might have a clogged plumbing vent! That can definitely make toilets flush poorly. If you're comfortable with heights, check the roof vents—sometimes they just need a good cleaning to work right again. If it's not you, maybe consider hiring a pro for that part.
Yeah, I actually had a plumber clean the vent last week, but it sets me back $200.
Getting on the roof is no joke! Mine is way too steep for me to handle.
It could be a variety of culprits, but if the rest of your plumbing is good, then I bet it's not a main line issue. Look into whether your waste lines have vents—some older homes might not have them, which can trap air and cause flushing issues. If they do exist, they could be clogged. Just a thought!
Great point! I live near a giant oak tree, so it could be blocked by debris. I'll definitely need to find a plumber who can check that out.
Absolutely! Those early low water toilets just don’t cut it anymore. The newer models are much better.