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  1. #1
    Michael Civisca's Avatar
    Michael Civisca Guest

    Default No toilets are flushing

    What would cause all three toilets not to flush in a house? All the faucets work fine. Is this a venting issue?

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  2. #2
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Could be a venting issue, or could be someone has adjusted to fill valve, or could be inferior toilets.

    Fill a bucket with about 4 gallons of water
    pour the water into the toilet bowls (4 gal each).
    If they flush check the water fill adjustment.
    If they don't flush, could be venting.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    How about the main drain having blockage?

    Rick, 4 gallons? I never see anything over 1.6 anymore unless its an old place.

    Paul Kondzich
    Ft. Myers, FL.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Kondzich View Post
    Rick, 4 gallons? I never see anything over 1.6 anymore unless its an old place.
    He does not say how old, but 4 gal will still make a newer toilet flush whereas 2 gal may not make an older toilet flush.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Are the water closets all on the same floor? If so can be a blocked sewer. If not, each one may have a blockage in them. I have seen this often. They clog the firdt one stop using it and leaving it clogged, use the second one till they clog it, and so on.


  6. #6
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Was the home previously "winterized"? Perhaps not fully "de-winterized", i.e. a trap balloon/plug in the toilet's integral "S" trapway. Was the home ever occupied? perhaps the flange k.o. is still intact, and the w/c's are just set atop multiple wax rings for "show"? Another wild stab - are the stop cocks opened for the w/c water supply? Oh, one more, perhaps the handle chains aren't connected to the flapper or lifter.

    "No toilets are flushing" is rather ambiguous.


    "The faucets" working what is that supposed to mean? That you have water supply elsewhere but not at the toilets/water closets? Or were you trying to imply that the lavatories/sinks/fixtures DRAIN well?!?

    A clog or obstruction is the first guess - you also didn't mention if city sewer or private sewage disposal system.

    Last edited by H.G. Watson, Sr.; 11-07-2012 at 08:35 PM.

  7. #7
    Michael Civisca's Avatar
    Michael Civisca Guest

    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Thanks for the input, gentlemen. Additional information is:
    All sinks in the house drain fine.
    Public service.
    The house is in Upstate NY.
    The house is 40 years old and this is the first time something like this has happened. All three toilets, which are all on same level are sluggish on the flush.

    Thanks.
    Michael


  8. #8
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    If it was me, I would pull the toilet furthest down stream and run a snake. Venting does not make sense to me as the toilets are meant to siphon by design. (JMHO)

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    There is a blockage in the drain line then. Get a plumber / drain cleaner out there to clear the stoppage.


  10. #10
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Civisca View Post
    What would cause all three toilets not to flush in a house? All the faucets work fine. Is this a venting issue?
    Is the house on a well ?
    -----Silt may be reducing water flow around rim.

    Calcium in water. Public and private water source.
    ------There may be a calcium buildup on/in the whole located in the bottom of the bowl that will restrict the flow and thus flushing? Cleaning out the whole may resolve the problem (wire bottle brush).

    Are the toilets new and identical (all sequential production) ?
    ---- There may be a design/manufacturing flaw in the casting reducing flow.


  11. #11
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Toys flushed down the toilet during the 40 years partially blocking the flow.


  12. #12
    Dennis Webber's Avatar
    Dennis Webber Guest

    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    I agree with Ron Hasil. Home 40 yrs old, my first guess is tree roots. Esp true if owner noticed drains gradually slowing down over the last few years (roots growing larger). Is the sewer a cast iron system?


  13. #13
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by Dennis Webber View Post
    I agree with Ron Hasil. Home 40 yrs old, my first guess is tree roots. Esp true if owner noticed drains gradually slowing down over the last few years (roots growing larger). Is the sewer a cast iron system?
    More the question is it "Orangeburg pipe" that's about the right age!

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  14. #14
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    vern

    you would pull a toilet or a plumber

    cvf


  15. #15
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by CHARLIE VAN FLEET View Post
    vern

    you would pull a toilet or a plumber

    cvf
    How do you pull a plumber? By his belt or by his feet?

    Billy, give us the picture.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

  16. #16
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kogel View Post
    How do you pull a plumber? By his belt or by his feet?

    Billy, give us the picture.
    This is getting out of control. I want to poke a sharp stick in my minds eye

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  17. #17
    Dennis Webber's Avatar
    Dennis Webber Guest

    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by Vern Heiler View Post
    More the question is it "Orangeburg pipe" that's about the right age!
    I hadn't thought about that pipe. However I don't think that it was still being used in the 70's, was it?


  18. #18
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    Default Re: No toilets are flushing

    Quote Originally Posted by Dennis Webber View Post
    I hadn't thought about that pipe. However I don't think that it was still being used in the 70's, was it?
    It was used through the 1970's. The last home I found with it was built in 1973.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

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