Toilet flushes sometimes-do I need to get my septic tank cleaned out?
#1
07-23-17, 11:23 AM
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Toilet flushes sometimes-do I need to get my septic tank cleaned out?
Hello,
Toilet flushes sporadically-better on #1 than #2. I think that is a pressure problem. Here is what I have done...replaced toilet guts, poked out the hard water deposits from ALL toilet holes. Poured a bucket of water down and it flushes fine so no clog pipes. No backup or soggy leach field to indicate full septic tank. Bought this place 7 years ago. Previous owner spent a ton of $ getting everything oversized. I was told the septic tank people told them the tank would never need to be cleaned out. They did not put in a clean out tube so that made sense to me, otherwise wouldn't clean port been put in with new tank? Any way my real question is do I need to get my septic tank cleaned out to solve my flushing issues even though no hard evidence that it is full?
Thanks
Original thread....
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/to...cond-time.html
Toilet flushes sporadically-better on #1 than #2. I think that is a pressure problem. Here is what I have done...replaced toilet guts, poked out the hard water deposits from ALL toilet holes. Poured a bucket of water down and it flushes fine so no clog pipes. No backup or soggy leach field to indicate full septic tank. Bought this place 7 years ago. Previous owner spent a ton of $ getting everything oversized. I was told the septic tank people told them the tank would never need to be cleaned out. They did not put in a clean out tube so that made sense to me, otherwise wouldn't clean port been put in with new tank? Any way my real question is do I need to get my septic tank cleaned out to solve my flushing issues even though no hard evidence that it is full?
Thanks
Original thread....
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/to...cond-time.html
Last edited by PJmax; 07-23-17 at 03:09 PM. Reason: removed incomplete link from text
#2
07-23-17, 02:09 PM
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Is the flapper staying up long enough? Is there too much slack in the chain? If you hold the handle long enough, will it flush?
#3
07-23-17, 03:11 PM
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You had a partial DIY link in the middle of your post. It looked like you were referring to your previously posted toilet thread so I posted it for you. Let me know if that was incorrect.
Is that toilet the lowest point out to the septic ?
Usually you'll get an overflow from the lowest item in the system.
Is that toilet the lowest point out to the septic ?
Usually you'll get an overflow from the lowest item in the system.
#4
07-23-17, 03:36 PM
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Flapper stays up. Doesn't matter how long you hold handle. Just swirls around about 60% of the time.
Pete-did not mean for that link to be in post-no idea how that happened. I put in the septic tank section because I'm wondering if getting it cleaned out will solve it.
No overflow at all. I think the septic is lower than the toilet at least it is outside where the flat grass area is. Berm home so I'm pretty sure the only way for it to go is the backyard as the other sides are earth.
Pete-did not mean for that link to be in post-no idea how that happened. I put in the septic tank section because I'm wondering if getting it cleaned out will solve it.
No overflow at all. I think the septic is lower than the toilet at least it is outside where the flat grass area is. Berm home so I'm pretty sure the only way for it to go is the backyard as the other sides are earth.
#5
07-23-17, 04:26 PM
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You said it flushes fine with a bucket of water, right? (Multiple times in a row?) So that rules out any septic system troubles.
Is the water in the tank all the way up to the fill line like it should be? You're saying it swirls around but the water still drains properly rather than starting to overflow the bowl?
The only other thing I can think of is your wax ring is shot. I once had a toilet that was so bad it would rock when you sat on it, and obviously the wax was broken loose but I let it go too long. It would always flush a lot like you are describing.
By the way, after 7 years it's time to have the tank pumped anyway. (But it doesn't sound like it will solve anything for you.) I don't know what a clean out tube is, but just because you don't have one doesn't mean you don't have to pump your tank once in a while. You have to dig up the tank if you don't have a visible riser. Maybe this other person was talking about the filter on the output baffle or lack thereof when he said it never needed to be cleaned out.
Is the water in the tank all the way up to the fill line like it should be? You're saying it swirls around but the water still drains properly rather than starting to overflow the bowl?
The only other thing I can think of is your wax ring is shot. I once had a toilet that was so bad it would rock when you sat on it, and obviously the wax was broken loose but I let it go too long. It would always flush a lot like you are describing.
By the way, after 7 years it's time to have the tank pumped anyway. (But it doesn't sound like it will solve anything for you.) I don't know what a clean out tube is, but just because you don't have one doesn't mean you don't have to pump your tank once in a while. You have to dig up the tank if you don't have a visible riser. Maybe this other person was talking about the filter on the output baffle or lack thereof when he said it never needed to be cleaned out.
#6
07-23-17, 04:49 PM
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Yes flushes multiple times with bucket. Yes, water up to fill line in tank. Yes, it drains just not enough power to get the crap to go down. No backup or overflow. Eventually it works fine so all goes down.
I was saying clean out tube because I didn't know proper term-riser.
Bad wax ring with no leak?
I was saying clean out tube because I didn't know proper term-riser.
Bad wax ring with no leak?
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07-23-17, 04:50 PM
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#8
07-23-17, 04:59 PM
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#9
07-23-17, 06:20 PM
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Ok, no Charmin, no wipes. I don't know how the wax ring could cause that but it's the cheapest solution, to try. I have a client with the exact same flushing problem. If it works for you, I'll do the same.
#10
07-23-17, 07:14 PM
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The wax ring could allow sewer gases into the room..... it could allow water to leak from the base of the toilet..... but I don't see how it could affect flushing.
Two thoughts come to mind...
1) problem or plugged vent line to the roof.
2) the toilet has a lot of mineral buildup inside. More than just cleaning the rim holes could eliminate.
How old is the toilet ?
Two thoughts come to mind...
1) problem or plugged vent line to the roof.
2) the toilet has a lot of mineral buildup inside. More than just cleaning the rim holes could eliminate.
How old is the toilet ?
#11
07-23-17, 10:20 PM
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Post make and model of toilet.
If the toilet flushes normal with bucket then there is not much that can be the issue.
Toilets flush by gravity.
If you have an overflowing septic and its acting as a partial clog, during non use of the toilet water in the bolw can siphone out some. So on first flush there may be not unough water to make a complete flush.
On the second flush soon after the first the bowl on refil will have more water in it to complete the flush..
That with a possible low water level in the take can magnify it.
Also put food coloring in the tank and let us know if the flapper leaks.
This can cause your issue too.
And yes 7 years???? Have the septic pumped...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iOntqeVGOU
If the toilet flushes normal with bucket then there is not much that can be the issue.
Toilets flush by gravity.
If you have an overflowing septic and its acting as a partial clog, during non use of the toilet water in the bolw can siphone out some. So on first flush there may be not unough water to make a complete flush.
On the second flush soon after the first the bowl on refil will have more water in it to complete the flush..
That with a possible low water level in the take can magnify it.
Also put food coloring in the tank and let us know if the flapper leaks.
This can cause your issue too.
And yes 7 years???? Have the septic pumped...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iOntqeVGOU
#12
07-24-17, 12:10 AM
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The wax ring could allow sewer gases into the room..... it could allow water to leak from the base of the toilet..... but I don't see how it could affect flushing.
Rider93- wax rings don't necessarily cause a water leak. You might never notice it until/if your line is blocked below the toilet flange, and then you have a nice river coming from underneath the toilet.
If you're going to pull the toilet for any reason you should address the mineral buildup at the same time. I'd probably pour CLR in the water supply channels and let it soak upside down or something.
Last edited by core; 07-24-17 at 12:27 AM.
#13
07-24-17, 04:55 AM
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OK, will try new wax ring because that's the only thing left to replace on toilet. I'll let you guys know.
Thanks for all the help!
Thanks for all the help!
#14
07-24-17, 09:55 AM
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OK, will try new wax ring because that's the only thing left to replace on toilet. I'll let you guys know.
Thanks for all the help!
Thanks for all the help!
#16
07-24-17, 01:19 PM
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I had an older American Standard toilet that had the same problem. I replaced it.
The mineral build up is between the tank and the rim holes ... and to the bottom siphon hole if your toilet has that.
I had used muriatic acid which temporarily helped the problem but not for long.
The mineral build up is between the tank and the rim holes ... and to the bottom siphon hole if your toilet has that.
I had used muriatic acid which temporarily helped the problem but not for long.
