How Do You Fix a Toilet That Swirls but Won’t Flush?

If your toilet is not flushing all the way, it’s most likely because of one of these problems: The water level in your toilet tank is set too low, Problems with your flapper can cause a toilet to swirl but not flush, while a clog in the toilet can make it difficult for the water to reach and cleanse the bowl properly.

Toilet tanks come with an markings that tell you how much water should be in it at all times. If this isn’t followed, then over time sediment will build up and cause your toilet to start swirling instead of Flushing.

A clogged drain may also be causing trouble as sewage collects there until it backups into your house’s main sewer line or septic system. At which point you may have serious flooding issues on hand.

Always refer to plumbing diagrams before making any repairs so that you don’t damage anything else inside or outside of your home.

For temporary fixes like fixing a low water level, first try turning off both cold and hot taps near the sink; doing so will help raise the water level in your tank overnight (be sure turn them back on again once everything has settled down).

If those steps still don’t work, call a professional plumber who will inspect and clear out any blockages before refilling/replacing/installing a new part or whole potty.

Why Does My Toilet Swirl but Not Flush? Possible Solutions

This section contains the probable reasons and solutions to the flushing problem/

Clogged Jet Holes 

When you flush, water is released through some holes under the rim of your toilet. Those small holes are called jet holes. If the water contains more minerals, for example, if the water in your area has more iron, jet holes will get clogged and you know the consequences, toilet will not flush.

The solution

Clogged holes will be the reason for the reduction of water flow while flushing. To solve this, you need to unclog the jet holes with heated vinegar and wait for one hour at least. Then you have to flush the toilet and repeat the process. Then use a thin rod to remove the remaining from the holes.

Incomplete Tank Filling

Every flush tank holding water for flushing in a toilet has a minimum level up to which must be filled for a successful flush. That level is always marked from the inside of the tank, usually having a gap of an inch from the top of the overflow tube. If water doesn’t fill up to that mark, the toilet will swirl but won’t flush.

The plausible reasons

There can be several reasons why the tank is not filling. The most common reason is maybe you are not waiting enough time to fill the tank after one flush. Or someone has manually set the tank to fill below that mark.

Also, fault in the mechanism inside of the tank that regulates the water level can be the reason for water not filling properly. Normally, a light rubber ball or a floating cup ballcock is used to raise the water level and close the water inlet.

The solution

If the problem is with time, wait for several minutes to fill the tank after each flush. You can also easily check and reset the tank filling level. But if the problem is with the mechanism, first identify the type of regulator. 

For a floating rubber ball, bend the rod of the ball upwards to let more water in. But if the regulator is a floating cup ballcock, all you need to do is to adjust the float adjustment screw to let more water in.

Malfunctioning Flapper 

In the flush tank, there is a rubber lid called a flapper that acts as a barrier to stop the water flowing from the tank to the toilet bowl. There is a chain that is connected to the flapper and flash button. When you push the flush button, the chain pulls the flapper to the open path and all the water flows into the toilet.

The solution

If used for a long time, flappers wear out and cause water leaks, and reduce the amount of water in the tank. In case it is the problem why the toilet is swirling but can’t flush, then the only solution you have is to replace the flapper. You can find one in most of the stores and replace yourself since it’s not hard.

Lift Chain Faults 

The lift chain used to pull the flapper can also be a reason why the toilet swirls but won’t flush. Sometimes the chain can get slacked too much with time passes and can’t pull the flapper properly anymore. If this happens, water will not flow at all or flow too slowly after pushing the flush button.

The solution

You don’t need to replace rings to solve this problem because the lift chain comes with multiple anchor points to deal with this kind of issue. All you have to do is pick the chain from the current anchor and connect it to the point below that old anchor.

Design of the Toilet

The design and location of the toilet are important factors that affect toilet flushing. Such as, the toilets in the higher floors flush better than the lower floors because the water pressure is higher in the water floor because of the gravity. that’s why lower floor toilets go through more flushing problems.

The solution

Also, fault in the design of the toilet parts or drain can lead to flushing problems. Although you can’t do much about the problem due to the height, you can solve it if the issue is with the design. But you will need a professional for it.

Size of Pipe

If the pipes connected from below the P-valve to the sewer are smaller in size than the recommended one, they won’t be able to handle the amount of water volume. For this reason, the toilet will swirl, but the flushing process will be too slow.

The solution

To solve this problem, you will need to go through a cumbersome and time-consuming plumbing process. Also, you will need a skilled plumber to avoid other plumbing problems.

Clogged Toilet or Drain

If the reason why the toilet swirls but won’t flush is not related to water flow from the tank, a clogged toilet is the most probable cause. It usually happens when something gets flushed in the toilet other than toilet paper. This problem is very hard to deal with, so call a professional to solve it.

Solution 1

However, if you can’t get a plumber and want to solve it yourself, you can try using a plunger to unclog the toilet. Place the plunger on the mouth of the toilet and keep pushing and pulling it to create suction. Although it is not always helpful as it can push the object even further down the drain.

Solution 2

You can also try using a flexible metal pipe named Auger to unclog the drain. As it is flexible, it can reach deeper parts of the toilet drain and can solve the clogging issue.

Clogged Vents 

Vent pipes and plumbing are interconnected in a house, that’s why clogged or improperly installed vents can also create problems in the toilet drain. Though it happens rarely, it is still a reason for improper flushing. You will need a skilled plumber to solve this problem.

FAQs 

Can the toilet eventually unclog itself?

If you flush easily degradable things like toilet paper, the answer is yes. Otherwise, the toilet won’t unclog itself.

Closing Statement