Gabek
New Member
Hello everyone. I'm really close to calling a professional, but I wanted to throw this one out there because it's been really unique. I am but a simple homeowner, but have dealt with a thing or two. This one is weird. Background:
1) I have a "basement" (bottom floor on try-level) toilet that never really impressed me on flushing power. The flush valve went bad, and so I set out to find a replacement. Turns out, the original is discontinued and the replacement is a Champion 4. It is an American Standard, 1.6 GPF toilet, and from what I can tell, is designed for this type of flush valve. With the new flush valve, I'd get about the same performance if I held the handle. If I pushed the handle and let go quickly like most people would, the water would swirl in the bowl and kinda sorta flush.
2) To rule out bad or obstructed toilet, I pulled it. Snaked the trap. Set the toilet in the backyard on blocks and flushed it several times with very good results. Concluded that it's still a good toilet. One thing I observed was that the wax ring remained on the floor, rather than being stuck to the bottom of the toilet, and it was sitting crooked on a partial tile. Also, it wasn't centered over the floor drain very well, though it wasn't missing the opening, just way off to one side.
3) Thought that perhaps the crooked/off-centered wax ring could be the issue. Got a new, extra thick, unreinforced wax ring and carefully reinstalled the toilet. After that, even if I held the handle down, the water flooded the bowl but NEVER flushed. It would slowly leak down as the tank was refilling. Thought perhaps my wax ring slipped and covered the drain, so I pulled the toilet once more only to find that it was still perfectly centered around the trap opening, and stuck to the toilet.
4) Investigated roof vent, and I it seems like there's something down there, visually, that shouldn't be there. Pulled the garden hose up to the roof, turned on the water, and tried to use the hose to ram whatever it was through, but it was still there. Tried my flimsy drain snake, but all it did was flop around.
Could a blocked or obstructed vent cause what I'm experiencing? I am just about to call a plumber to snake the vent from the roof. But I'm having a hard time understanding why my toilet flushed much WORSE after I reinstalled it with a new wax ring. Could the old one have not been sealing, and essentially venting a little bit at the floor?
I just want my toilet to work. =)
1) I have a "basement" (bottom floor on try-level) toilet that never really impressed me on flushing power. The flush valve went bad, and so I set out to find a replacement. Turns out, the original is discontinued and the replacement is a Champion 4. It is an American Standard, 1.6 GPF toilet, and from what I can tell, is designed for this type of flush valve. With the new flush valve, I'd get about the same performance if I held the handle. If I pushed the handle and let go quickly like most people would, the water would swirl in the bowl and kinda sorta flush.
2) To rule out bad or obstructed toilet, I pulled it. Snaked the trap. Set the toilet in the backyard on blocks and flushed it several times with very good results. Concluded that it's still a good toilet. One thing I observed was that the wax ring remained on the floor, rather than being stuck to the bottom of the toilet, and it was sitting crooked on a partial tile. Also, it wasn't centered over the floor drain very well, though it wasn't missing the opening, just way off to one side.
3) Thought that perhaps the crooked/off-centered wax ring could be the issue. Got a new, extra thick, unreinforced wax ring and carefully reinstalled the toilet. After that, even if I held the handle down, the water flooded the bowl but NEVER flushed. It would slowly leak down as the tank was refilling. Thought perhaps my wax ring slipped and covered the drain, so I pulled the toilet once more only to find that it was still perfectly centered around the trap opening, and stuck to the toilet.
4) Investigated roof vent, and I it seems like there's something down there, visually, that shouldn't be there. Pulled the garden hose up to the roof, turned on the water, and tried to use the hose to ram whatever it was through, but it was still there. Tried my flimsy drain snake, but all it did was flop around.
Could a blocked or obstructed vent cause what I'm experiencing? I am just about to call a plumber to snake the vent from the roof. But I'm having a hard time understanding why my toilet flushed much WORSE after I reinstalled it with a new wax ring. Could the old one have not been sealing, and essentially venting a little bit at the floor?
I just want my toilet to work. =)