When you flush your toilet, you expect it to be an easy task, push the handle and walk away. No one wants to wait in the bathroom hoping that they are not going to have to flush again. When the flush of your toilet is too weak to do it’s job properly it can be annoying. It’s a waste of water and it can also be an embarrassing situation. Here are a few quick tips on getting your toilet back to working like a pro. 

Check Inside the Tank

There are a couple items here that may be causing weak flow to the bowl. Firstly check that the flapper at the bottom of the bowl, connected to a chain. Is the chain too long and not allowing the flapper to open completely? Is everything connected correctly from the handle to the chain and then to the flapper? If the bar that the chain is attached to is not properly positioned, it could prevent the flapper from opening all the way. 

Secondly, check the water refill float or arm. If the arm or refill float is set too low, your tank will not fill with enough water to allow for a proper flush. Toilets are designed with a set amount of water required to work properly. Also make sure that they are not stuck due to hard water buildup or mechanical issues.

Check and Fix Clogs

These may not always be apparent as they are hidden within the trap or even the drain pipe. This can cause the water flow to be interrupted and slowed which will result in incomplete flushes.  One thing you can try is to plunge your toilet. Try using your plunger to see if you had a small clog that was causing the weak flush. After you do this, flush again and see if it changed the strength of your water flow. 

Clean Under the Rim

Mineral deposits under the rim can cause water to flow too slowly to allow the toilet to work effectively. When you clean your toilet be sure to clean this area properly. If you suspect build-up or just want to make sure those jets are in tip-top shape, take some vinegar and an old brush and clean the underside of the rim where each of the jets are. 

Still Having Issues With a Slow Flushing Toilet?

If you have tried our tips or just aren’t sure about tackling this issue, Reddi Services is here for you. Give us a call today and one of our professional plumbers will be dispatched to help get your toilet or any other plumbing problems you may be having fixed right away.

Keeping your home’s plumbing system working properly doesn’t take too much effort. With a common-sense approach to simple maintenance and timely repairs, your plumbing should stay in tip-top condition for many years. Accidents happen, but you can proactively reduce stress and repair costs by avoiding these top four common plumbing mistakes.

#1 Overlooking Signs of Trouble
Strange sounds or banging noises are blatantly obvious signs that something is wrong with your plumbing, but there are more subtle warnings that often come first. Slow drains, low water flow from faucets and showers, repeated clogging in pipes or toilets, decreased water pressure, and unexplained puddling in your yard or garden all need to be addressed right away.

#2 Tossing Scraps in the Garbage Disposal & Using the Toilet as a Trash Can
Food scraps, coffee grounds, oil, grease, and the little bits left on dishes all need to be scraped into the kitchen garbage can. Fruit peels, vegetable skins, and other organic scraps can be easily composted if you prefer not to toss them in the trash. Equally important is to toss used tissues, wipes, hygiene products, and paper towels into the trash can – never flush these!

#3 Overusing Harsh Cleaning Products & Drain Cleaners
Once in a while, minor drain clogs need a little chemical help to resolve, but repeated use of harsh chemicals can cause pipe corrosion and strip the finish off of fixtures.

#4 Making DIY Repair Mistakes
No one wants to end up in a flooded DIY Hall of Shame. Simple maintenance like tightening a water valve, installing a shower drain catch, or changing the toilet flapper is absolutely something you can do on your own, but most plumbing issues are best left to a professional plumber to avoid costly repairs or replacements.

When You Need Plumbing Help

Build-up, blockages, broken pipes, and back-ups are largely avoidable with a few simple tweaks to your daily routine. When you suspect a larger problem, you need a professional plumber with expertise, experience, and the right equipment to get your system back in shape. Call the plumbing experts at Reddi Services for a complete inspection today!

Whether you’re dashing through the shower in a hurry or taking a well-deserved spa moment for yourself, your shower habits might be slowing your drain. Don’t worry – once you know what’s clogging your shower drain, you can clean up your act!

Hard Water – Minerals naturally occur in varying levels in water, but they can build up and corrode water pipes. Soaps don’t lather well in hard water, so you’ll end up using far more than you and your wallet would like.
Bar Soap & Bath Bombs – We like spa days as much as anyone, but bath bombs with glitter and cute foreign objects don’t mix well with hair, mineral deposits, and soap residue. Regular bar soap residue also tends to solidify as it passes through the drain and pipes.
No Drain Screen or Catcher – It doesn’t take long for the hair we all naturally shed to slip down an uncovered drain. Those strands of hair act like a net, ensnaring small pieces of soap, the tiny plastic razor cover that slipped out of your hand, and even tiny bits of shaved hair.

How to rinse without worry?
There are some simple things you can do to keep your drain free and clear of buildup. A water softening system helps tame hard water and reduces the amount of soap you use. Switching to a liquid body wash and installing a drain screen or a drain catcher will also help prevent clogs.

Clogged shower drains tend to cause problems when we’re at our most exposed and vulnerable. If your drain is clogging your shower style, call Reddi Services. For 65 years, we’ve been offering timely plumbing solutions, preventative maintenance, and drain cleaning to keep pipes running smoothly.