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Our commode is about 20 years old (big tank) and over the past few months it's developed the bad habit of not voiding all the contents when flushed. I tried cleaning out the jets along the rim, no help.

Now for the crazy thing, if you lay a plunger in it, letting it partially block the outlet, it will make a nice whirlpool and completely empty, every time.

So, whats up and how do I fix it.

Thanks, RJR

 

Leave the plunger in it, but MAKE SURE YOU CUT THE HANDLE OFF
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Sounds like you have a clogged roof vent and it's air locking.

 

Lay off the Tacos...

 

it's just not dumping the water fast enough, when you hold it back a bit with the plunger it get enough water in the bowl to work. cleaning the jets only seems to work a time or two. i bet you have a mineral build up in the ring around the base.

 

Is there a fairly large hole in the bowl pointed at the outlet? Sounds like there might be something slowing the water down. If something was put into the tank it could make it into the jet. When that happens, I suggest replacement.
Tom

 

When you have a clogged vent pipe it's like putting a straw in a drink and placing your finger over the hole. You can lift the straw and the fluid stays inside until you remove your finger. It has to have air to drain. It's very common for leaves and debris to clog a vent. It's not as common to have the 3-4 inch drain clog.

 

I just went through something similar a couple of months ago. Our toilet was doing the same thing and over time it got to where it would not flush at all. I had a contractor tell me it was the vent also, but when I removed the toilet from the floor I noticed that the wax sealing ring was shot and the floor flange was not even. After cleaning up the flange and installing a new extra thick wax ring, that toilets flushes every time with the exception of when our 6yo son packs it full of t-paper. He has the smallest butt in the house but thinks he needs to use a full roll every time he uses it.

 

Flushing but not voiding all the contents?

Sounds like too much fiber in your diet! Those “FLOATERS” can’t even be beaten down with a plunger.

 

 

I had one that gave me a hard time once. I finally had to pull this ladies toilet off and take it in the front yard and flip it over. Put a high pressure hose in from the bottom and blasted a bunch of TP out of there. When I ran the snake through it kept just putting a pinhole in it then closing up again when I pulled the snake out.

 

Thanks for all the replys, even those of questionable merit; cut the handle off, tacos and fiber .

I'm gonna run a waterhose down the vent and flood it, see what happens. If no change, then pull the unit, check the wax seal and go from there. It's just hard to see one of these things wearing out, but a new throne could be in the works.

I'll report the cure in a few days.

RJR