A slow draining toilet or even worse, a toilet backing up, always seems to happen at the most inconvenient of times. You might notice this build up overtime, or, you might simply flush the toilet one day and notice the build up of water as you eagerly wait for it to stop, hoping that it doesn’t continue. Then, thankfully, this time, the flusher stops and water very slowly drains from the bowl. Compared to a normal flush, where water fractionally builds ups before clearing completely, this slow draining toilet is the early warning sign that something is not correct with your system. A slow draining toilet can be the sign of many different issues, some easily resolved with a simple home remedy or some more sinister that require professional attention. Whatever the cause, within this article, we will guide you through the potential causes, solutions and prevention tips to stop this happening in the future. Stick with us!
What causes a slow draining toilet?
A handful of things can cause a slow draining toilet and the problem might be a build up of multiple issues. Let’s explore these in more detail.
Low water in the toilet system tank
This is a particularly easy one to investigate yourself. Start by removing the lid on top of your toilet system. Then, take a look at the level of the water inside, does the level look low? You might notice a water mark from previous levels above the current level if the water is low. If it is, this could be due to a broken filler tube, cracked tank or damaged valve. Having a low water level in the toilet system will mean not enough water is being pushed down the toilet bowl itself and therefore creating a slow draining toilet. If the water level in the system looks okay, take a look at the other causes below.
A clogged drain
This one might be noticeable by the toilet backing up or the bowl completely filling when flushed without the water going down. A clogged drain somewhere down your pipe network can be due to a lot of things and sometimes can be fixed with a simple plunger or home remedy method as we explain below in the “how to fix a slow draining toilet section”. On the other hand, the blockage or issue, might be deeper within the system and could be due to anything from root ingress, displaced pipework, collapsed drains, sediment build up or foreign objects flushed down the toilet. A clogged or blocked drain most likely requires intervention from a qualified drainage engineer who can provide inspection and remedial work.
Mineral deposits
If your toilet bowl doesn’t fill when flushed, but the system is still slow draining, this could be a sign of sediment or mineral build up around the rim of the toilet where the water comes from when flushed. Overtime, if not maintained properly, the jet holes can become blocked or partially obstructed leading to a slow draining toilet.
Blocked drain vent
Drain vents are fitted to allow gasses and odours to escape when wastewater is running through internal pipework. However, they are not only in place to prevent a property from smelling. They allow air to enter the waste system keeping the water free flowing through the pipes. A blocked or clogged drain vent can cause issues across the waste system and show in signs such as a slow draining toilet. This can be blocked by buildup of dirt, moss, leaves and debris or even animals.
How to fix a slow draining toilet
You are most likely here because you’re suffering from a slow draining toilet and looking for a quick solution to resolve it. Before we look at how to fix a slow draining toilet, it is worth checking if there are any other warning signs of blockages or backing up with other appliances. Check your sink by running water down it, shower, bath and even dishwasher to see if all the appliances are working correctly and draining. If you notice issues at other appliances, this could be a sign that your problem is deeper routed than a blockage in the toilet and would require professional attention. If there are no other warning signs, it is worth trialling these methods to see if they work:
Plunger
The plunger is one of the most useful and easiest ways to fix a slow draining toilet. This will clear and blockages from tissue stuck in the U bend. Fully submerse the plunger in water before pushing it down to assist with the suction required to unblock the toilet.
Hot water
If your toilet bowl is full, it is not recommended to pour more water in the bowl as this can overflow. However, if you leave the toilet for a while and the water is slowly draining from the toilet, you might be able to try using a bowl of hot water to push the blockage through. Fill a bucket half full with hot water (not boiling water as this might crack the ceramic toilet) and pour it into the toilet allowing the water to flow with some pace. This can assist with breaking up blockages and potentially unclog the toilet.
Drain cleaner or bleach
Pouring drain cleaner or large amounts of bleach into the toilet might help clear any build up or blockages slowing the water down.
Baking soda and vinegar
Using baking soda and vinegar will create a fizzing reaction and can help clear minor blockages or build up within the toilet pipework. Simply pour one cup of white vinegar down the drain followed by a cup of baking soda. Let this react for a minute or 2 and rinse down with warm water.
Plumber
If you have issues with the water level in your system, a cracked system or a broken filler tube, it is recommended to call a plumber to resolve this. Trying to fix this yourself could cause more issues in the system and might lead to full replacement of the toilet.
Drainage engineer
If you have tried all the home remedies, the toilet is still draining slowly or even blocked, it might be time to call in the professionals. Unfortunately, the issue might be deeper routed in your system and a full inspection and drain clean might be required. By contacting a drainage engineer, you will have an understanding of what is going on and how to resolve it. Methods such as high pressure jetting, relining or drain repair might be required.
Will a slow draining toilet fix itself?
A slow draining toilet is normally the visual sign of another issue with your toilet or drainage system. Leaving it and hoping it goes away will not resolve the underlying issue. In cases such as a low water level in the toilet system, this might not be an issue until that one day, where it simply isn’t enough to flush the contents of the toilet bowl. However, in the scenario of a slow draining or backing up toilet bowl along with a slow draining toilet, this might get worse overtime if left. It could start to cause issues with other appliances, cause smells around or inside the property or cause further damage to internal pipework. A slow draining toilet with a blockage somewhere in the drain system means there is a build up of pressure. Pressure can cause pipework to expand, crack or burst. It is not recommend to leave these issues unsolved for an extended amount of time.
How to prevent a slow draining toilet
Hopefully by now, you have identified the issue and used one of the methods above to rectify the problem with your slow draining toilet. We can now take a look at how to prevent future issues from occurring.
Regular cleaning
It sounds simple, but regularly cleaning your toilet bowl with a brush and bleach can prevent build up of sediment and slow draining. We recommend at least once per week to prevent issues.
Drain cleaning chemicals
Regular use of correct drain cleaning chemicals can prevent future clogs or blockages in pipework. Drain cleaner is designed to dissolve or erode any build up of material inside the pipework. It is important to check what chemicals are being used and make sure they are suitable for your pipework as some chemicals can cause damage. Follow the instructions on the bottle and use the recommended dosage.
High pressure jetting
By high pressure jetting your full drainage system, you can clear build up of scale and release any blockages in the network. As this method should only be carried out by a professional, it is going to cost more than other methods, however it is really the only methods that will provide a thorough removal of any build up within the pipes themselves. It is recommended to carry out a drain clean every 2 to 3 years.
For more information on drain jetting, read our Top 10 FAQ’s & Step By Step Guide.
Regular inspection
Inspecting your toilet, system, surrounding pipework or lifting outside inspection hatches can catch issues before they become worse. This can be a quick, visual inspection to check everything is in working order. Carry this out at least once per year.
Use a plunger
If you notice a slight backup or slow draining of the toilet, use the plunger to try and shake loose anything that is stuck. This will prevent larger blockages that could cause more issues.
In our experience with slow draining toilets
After reading this guide, you should now have a full understanding of why a toilet is draining slowly, how to fix the issue and how to prevent it. Hopefully, you will be ready to spot the signs and have an understanding of what you can fix yourself and when to call the professionals.
In our experience as drainage engineers, we have found that most slow draining toilets are the sign of a blockage or damaged pipework deeper within the system. We always recommend a CCTV survey so we can see what is going on inside the pipework and gain an understanding on how to resolve it. Our team of drainage engineers are on-hand 24/7 for all drainage requirements. We also offer free help and advice through our support line at 0800 861 1900. For further help and guidance, contact our team today.
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