Toilet Not Flushing, Running or Refilling

Quick diagnosis: what is your toilet doing?

Match your symptom to the likely cause before touching anything.

Symptoms and likely causes

• Handle does nothing or feels loose: broken handle arm or a chain that came off the flapper
• Tank empties but bowl water barely moves: a clog in the trapway or drain
• Weak or slow flush: low tank water, partly blocked rim jets or a partial clog
• Tank will not fill: fill valve, float or supply valve trouble
• Toilet keeps running or refilling: worn flapper or fill valve
• Bowl water level keeps dropping: siphoning through a partial blockage or a vent problem
• Gurgling in other drains: a blockage farther down the line

Toilet not flushing well versus not flushing at all

A toilet not flushing well often has a mechanical or water-level cause. If the handle works and the tank empties but the bowl stays full, the toilet has a blockage. A toilet that flushes but never fully clears the bowl may have a toilet not flushing completely issue with clogged rim holes or a low tank water level.

Common toilet problems in one glance

Common toilet problems fall into three groups: blockages, tank parts that wear out, and water supply problems. Understanding which group you are in helps you choose between a plunger, a small part replacement, or a plumber.

Toilet bowl not flushing: check for a clog first

If the bowl fills high, drains slowly, or the water will not go down, a clog is likely. Toilet water won't go down because the trap, the curved passage in the base, or the drain beyond it is blocked. Start with a plunger.

1. Put on gloves and place old towels around the base.
2. Use a flange plunger, which has a rubber extension that seals in the drain opening.
3. Press in gently first to push out air, then pump firmly with the seal in place for about twenty seconds.
4. If water drains, flush once and watch the level. Do not keep flushing a full bowl.
5. Repeat a few times. If nothing moves, try a closet auger, a short hand-cranked cable made for toilets.

Do not pour drain chemicals into a toilet, and never mix products. Chemical cleaners can splash, damage the porcelain finish and make later work hazardous for the plumber. Safer options are covered under drain cleaners and natural drain cleaning.

When to stop and call

Stop if the plunger and auger do not work, if water rises toward the rim, if other fixtures gurgle or back up, or if you suspect something hard like a toy fell in. Multiple backing-up drains suggest a main line problem, handled through sewer line cleaning. If raw sewage is on the floor, keep children and pets out and avoid contact. For a plumber, a search like plumber for blocked toilet or unclog toilet service is a reasonable next step, and even a cheap plumber to unclog toilet should quote before starting.

Toilet tank not filling up or filling slowly

If the toilet tank not filling up enough, the flush will be weak because the water level is too low. Common causes are a partly closed shutoff valve, a stuck float or a failing fill valve. People ask why is my toilet not filling up with water or why is my toilet not filling up every day, and the culprit is usually mechanical.

Toilet is not filling with water: what to check

1. Take the tank lid off and set it safely aside.
2. Confirm the shutoff valve at the wall is fully open.
3. Look at the float, either a cup on the fill valve or a ball on an arm, and make sure it moves freely and is not rubbing the tank.
4. Check that the supply line is not kinked.
5. Flush and watch whether water enters the tank.

If toilet not filling up all the way or the toilet bowl not filling back up, the fill valve may be clogged with debris. Some valves have a cap you can remove after turning off the water, and the debris flushes out when you briefly turn the water on into a cup. If it still fails, replacement is a straightforward part swap, but many people prefer a plumber.

Water level low in toilet

A water level low in toilet tank should sit about an inch below the top of the overflow tube, in most designs. If it is lower, adjust the float. A low water toilet bowl, on the other hand, may point to a cracked bowl, a blocked vent or a siphoning problem, and should be looked at.

Toilet keeps refilling or running

A toilet keeps refilling when the flapper does not seal, letting water slip from the tank into the bowl and forcing the fill valve to top it up. The toilet tank keeps refilling in short bursts, and that phantom refill wastes water and can bring on a toilet flush problems complaint.

The food coloring test

• Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait fifteen minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper leaks.
• Check the flapper for warping, mineral buildup or a chain that is too tight or loose.
• Look at the overflow tube; water rising above it means the fill valve is failing.
• Clean the flapper seat gently with a cloth.

A worn flapper is inexpensive and commonly replaced by homeowners. A leaking toilet that damages floors is a bigger issue; see leak detection if you suspect water beyond the tank, and consider a plumber to fix leaking toilet trouble when you cannot see the source. Those who want a plumber for leaking toilet visits usually find the wax ring, tank bolts or supply line at fault.

Flush valve, flapper and handle problems

The flush valve is the large opening at the bottom of the tank that the flapper seals. When it fails, the toilet may not flush or may leak. People search repair toilet flush valve, replace flush valve and how to repair toilet flush for this.

Flapper and chain

The flapper lifts when you press the handle, and the chain connecting them needs about a half inch of slack. A tight chain keeps the flapper open; a slack one prevents it from lifting fully. Adjust by moving the chain to another hole on the handle arm.

Handle and lift arm

If the handle spins with no effect, the lift arm inside may have snapped or come loose from the nut. It is a cheap part, but tank bolts and other hardware are involved, so replace it only if comfortable.

Fill valve

To repair toilet fill valve problems or learn how to replace fill valve on toilet, shut off the water, drain the tank, disconnect the supply line and unscrew the nut under the tank. A new fill valve is adjusted to the correct height. Switching to a new valve is a job many homeowners manage, yet stop if a supply valve leaks or a bolt is stuck.

Weak flush: rim jets and siphon holes

If the bowl flush is weak and the tank has water, the openings under the rim may be partly blocked with mineral scale. Hard water leaves deposits that narrow the rim holes and the siphon jet at the base of the bowl. That is why the toilet swirls lazily.

Clearing scale safely

• Wear gloves and safety glasses when working on it.
• Turn off the water, then use a mirror and a small piece of wire to clear the rim holes.
• Follow the toilet manufacturer's cleaning advice for descaling.
• Do not mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners.

Clearing them often restores a stronger flush. If it does not, the drain may be partly blocked farther down.

When the whole system is the problem

Toilet issues that repeat across several fixtures suggest more than a bad flapper. If the toilet gurgles, the tub drains slowly or a basement drain backs up, the main line may be blocked. That calls for a plumber and possibly a camera look through a sewer camera inspection. A blocked plumbing vent can also make a toilet drain slowly or gurgle, and roots, grease or a collapsed pipe are causes worth ruling out. Serious or recurring blockages may lead to hydro jetting.

Toilet broken: repair or replace?

A toilet broken beyond a small repair is a candidate for replacement. Cracks in the bowl or tank, a base that leaks despite a new wax ring and chronic clogs on a clear drain all point that way. Flapper, fill valve and handle repairs cost little compared with a new fixture. For replacement, read about toilet installation and replacement. The wider subject is toilet repair and toilet plumbing.

What a plumber checks and what it costs

A plumber starts with the symptom, tests the flush, inspects the tank parts, plunges or augers the fixture and checks the drain if the blockage is deeper. Toilet bowl repair may involve resetting the toilet on a new wax ring, and fix toilet plumbing tasks can include shutoff valves and supply lines. Price depends on what is found, how deep the clog is and whether parts are needed, and it is confirmed by phone. See plumber cost for how quotes are built.

Tools and supplies worth keeping on hand

A small kit turns many flush problems into a ten-minute fix.

• A flange plunger, not the flat sink type
• A closet auger for clogs a plunger cannot clear
• A replacement flapper and a universal fill valve
• Rubber gloves, towels and a small bucket
• A flashlight and an adjustable wrench

If the tank or supply valve leaks, a water leak and pipe repair visit may be needed, while general fixes fall under plumbing repair. Supply lines and shutoffs belong to the home's water lines.

Preventing flush trouble

Habits that prevent clogs

• Flush only toilet paper and human waste
• Avoid so-called flushable wipes, which do not break down like paper
• Replace flappers every few years or when they warp
• Keep the tank clean and inspect parts twice a year
• Try a plunger at the first sign of slowness
• Teach everyone in the house where the toilet shutoff is

If sewage backs up or water is overflowing and you cannot stop it, close the shutoff valve behind the toilet and use emergency plumbing guidance to decide how fast to act.

Where You Can Get Toilet Not Flushing, Running or Refilling Help

Plumbing calls are taken for 21 states, 1,511 cities and 3,769 ZIP codes. Pick your state, or look at a sample city and ZIP for each state; coverage for your exact address is confirmed by phone.

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

Related Plumbing Help

Frequently Asked Questions