Toilet Repair & Installation
Stop a toilet from running, leaking or clogging, or set a new one.
Homeowner guide
Toilet Not Flushing in Commerce City, CO: Causes and Fixes
If the handle moves but nothing happens, the problem is in the tank. If the bowl fills and will not clear, it is a clog. Check the tank first because it takes a minute.
By the Mile High Express Plumbing team · published
Stop an overflow first
When the bowl is climbing, do not flush again. Take off the tank lid and press the flapper down to stop the flow, or turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise. Lay towels around the base.
If water is coming over the rim and will not stop, close the valve, and call for help.
The handle does nothing
Lift the lid and look at the chain that connects the handle to the flapper. A chain that has come off, broken or gone slack means no lift. Reconnect it with a little slack so the flapper can close.
A broken handle arm or a cracked lever also stops the flush. These parts are inexpensive.
The flush is weak
A weak flush has a few causes. The tank may be filling too low, the flush valve may be partly blocked or the rim jets under the bowl lip may be clogged with mineral. Mark the water line inside the tank, and check that it reaches the overflow tube level.
Scale can clog rim jets. Use a small mirror to look, and clear them with a small brush. Water in the area has an average hardness of about 7 grains per gallon, per the district, so mineral can build up.
A clogged bowl
Use a flange plunger with a good seal, and push down slowly first, then pull up. Repeat in steady strokes for about a minute. If water begins to drain, flush once to confirm.
A closet auger reaches deeper into the trap. Do not pour drain cleaner into a toilet. It rarely helps, and it can damage fittings and hurt whoever works on it next.
Symptom guide for a toilet that will not flush
Pick your symptom to find the first repair.
| Symptom | Probable cause | First repair |
|---|---|---|
| Lever moves but nothing happens | The chain has come loose | Hook it back on with a little slack |
| Feeble flush | Low tank level or mineral-clogged rim jets | Check the water line and clear the jets |
| Bowl fills and stays full | A blockage | Plunge, then try an auger |
| Other drains gurgle as well | A partial blockage in the main line | Drain cleaning |
If it keeps clogging
Frequent clogs point to a low-flow toilet, a partial blockage deeper in the line or a vent problem. Gurgling in other drains, or water backing up in a tub when you flush, means the branch or main line is partly blocked.
In that case a drain cleaning visit is the right step. A camera inspection finds roots or a sag.
Items that should never go down
The district says to keep wipes and paper towels out of the sewer system and to put them in the trash. Wipes labeled flushable can still tangle in pipes. Feminine products, dental floss, diapers and cat litter also clog lines.
Grease should never go down any drain. It cools and coats the pipe walls.
Basement toilets
A basement toilet may drain to a pump or sit low in the system. If it will not flush and a floor drain is slow, the main line may be blocked. If it has an ejector pump, check the pump alarm and the breaker.
Tell the dispatcher that the toilet is in the basement.
When to replace
If the toilet is cracked, clogs constantly or wastes water, replacement may be better than repair. A toilet repair or installation visit can compare the cost of fixing and replacing.
Check the rough-in distance from the wall before buying a new toilet.
Why the water level in the bowl matters
A low bowl level after a flush often means the tank is not delivering enough water or the trap is partly blocked. A bowl that is nearly full and does not move means a clog. A bowl that is empty and loud means the vent is blocked and the toilet cannot pull air.
Note what you see before you plunge. That detail helps a plumber decide whether the problem is in the toilet or in the line behind it.
Safe tools and what to avoid
A flange plunger is the right tool for a toilet, since a flat sink plunger does not seal. Keep rubber gloves and old towels handy. A closet auger has a protected end so it does not scratch the porcelain.
Avoid wire coat hangers, which scratch the bowl, and avoid chemical cleaners, which can damage the wax ring and the finish and make a later repair more dangerous. Hot tap water, not boiling water, with a squirt of dish soap sometimes loosens a clog.
Vent and line problems
If the toilet gurgles when the shower drains, or the tub bubbles when the toilet flushes, air and water are fighting in the line. That points to a partly blocked branch or a clogged vent stack on the roof.
A plumber can run a cable down the branch and inspect the vent. If the trouble returns, a camera shows whether a sag, a root or a collapse is behind it.
Low-flow models and clogs
Modern toilets use less water per flush than older ones, and a few models are weaker than others. If a toilet clogs often even though nothing unusual is flushed, the design or a partly blocked trap may be the cause.
Compare the flush performance of replacement models before you buy. Ask a plumber which ones they install most and rarely have to revisit.
Common questions
Flushing problem questions
The chain may be off or the handle arm may be broken.
It is not recommended. Use a plunger or an auger.
Take off the tank lid, press the flapper down and turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise.
The rim jets or the flush valve may be clogged with mineral, or the tank water level may be low.
Services that help
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Open slow or stopped kitchen, bath, laundry and main drains, then work out the cause.
Sewer Camera Inspection
Send a camera down the line to check its condition before a repair or home purchase.
Keep reading
Running toilet fix
A running toilet wastes a lot of water. Most are fixed by a flapper, a chain or a fill valve in minutes.
Sewer smell in the house
A sewer smell usually has a simple source, like a dry trap, but it can signal a cracked line. Here is how to find it.
Basement sewer backup: what to do
Sewage in a basement drain or floor is a health hazard. Here is how to tell where the blockage is and what to do first.
Toilet will not flush?
Phone in and say what the toilet is doing. A local contractor will be arranged.