Encountering a malfunctioning toilet can be an incredibly inconvenient way to start your day. The frustration of pressing the flush only to find it non-responsive can strike the fear of embarrassment into even the most unashamed individual.Â
There are several common reasons for a non-flushing toilet, including a clog, a broken lift chain, low water level in the tank, or a loose rubber flapper. Not to worry though, as in the absence of an immediate repair solution, you can still learn how to manually flush your toilet, and throughout this article we will guide you through the manual process of flushing your toilet.
Why won’t my toilet flush?
Need to know how to make your toilet flush? First off, let’s see what could be causing your toilet to malfunction. Here are two of the most common reasons that we see concerning issues with toilets.
Tank water levels
To check the water level in the cistern, lift the lid and inspect the water inside the tank. Ideally, the water level should reach approximately one inch below the overflow tube. If you notice that the water level is lower than this, it may indicate a potential issue with the mechanism within the cistern inlet valve.
If you suspect that a malfunctioning inlet valve is the reason behind your broken toilet, you will need to contact a professional to examine the issue closer and fix the issue. Regularly monitoring and maintaining the water level in the cistern ensures that your toilet remains functioning properly, and helps to quickly identify any issues.
Drainage problems
If the water level in the toilet bowl is higher than normal and waste isn’t going down as usual, the problem is likely in your drainage rather than in the flushing cistern.
Drainage issues can be caused by a blockage in the toilet – such as too much toilet paper, or flushing unsuitable items such as baby wipes or sanitary products. Make sure you are only flushing toilet roll and toilet-safe products to avoid this problem.
How to manually flush a toilet
Regardless of the reason behind your malfunctioning toilet, you want to get the problem fixed (and the evidence hidden) as soon as possible. Luckily, the process of manually flushing your toilet is straightforward and can be done even if your water supply is temporarily turned off.
If your toilet is not working properly, there are a couple of different manual flushing methods that you can try, before contacting your local plumber to properly fix the issue if necessary.
- Pour water into the toilet bowl
You can flush your toilet manually by pouring a bucket of water into the toilet bowl. You will likely need at least 4 litres of water for this to start the flushing cycle.
To manually flush your toilet using this method:
- Fill a bucket of water
- Pour the water into the bowl, gradually speeding up as you do so
- The water should push the waste through the pipes, and so flush your toilet
- Pour water into the toilet tank
If your toilet is not flushing properly and there is no chance of a blockage, there might be something wrong inside the water tank.
To flush your toilet manually:
- Remove the toilet tank cover/cistern lid
- Fill a bucket of water
- Pour the water up to the level line in the cistern, or an inch below the edge
- Try pressing the flush lever now
The water tank should now be full enough to flush properly.
How GreenSmart can help
Even if you’ve managed to manually flush your toilet, it’s still best to get in touch with a professional plumbing company if you’re dealing with a toilet that won’t flush properly, as we will be able to fix the issue properly.
We have the expertise to handle any emergency plumbing situation quickly and effectively. Our technicians will arrive equipped with state-of-the-art tools and equipment to accurately diagnose the problem and provide immediate repairs.
We’re on hand 24 hours a day and are always happy to help you. Contact us today to discuss your plumbing requirements, or if you need us immediately, feel free to give us a call.Â
