Here are a couple of commonly experienced Edgemont toilet problems and some simple fixes you can try on your own. If you find that these don’t work, contact Feehan Plumbing & Heating to schedule a service appointment as soon as you can.
An obstruction in the main vent line above the toilet
When all else fails, you may want to check the main vent line. You can eliminate a clogged drain or vent as the problem with this simple test: Pour a decent-sized pot of water rather quickly into the bowl. If the sudden addition of the extra water leads to a “normal” flush, then the drain or vent is probably fine.
If you don’t get a normal flush after this test, you will need to run a snake through the vent from the roof. The vent is the short pipe you will find on your roof directly above the toilets in your house. This job requires a large snake and climbing up on your roof, which can be very dangerous. This job is best left to professionals who have the proper equipment and experience.
A buildup of scale in the passageway of the toilet bowl
A hard crust of scale can develop on the walls of the passageways of the toilet bowl and bowl rim which will restrict and slow the flow of water. The scale is a buildup of mineral deposits from the water. You may have a flower vase or glass that has a coating inside from water that is impossible to remove; this is similar to the scale in a toilet bowl. While you can usually chip away the scale that you can see, there is a layer coating the passageway that you can’t reach. This scale restricts the passageways and the holes in the bowl rim and reduces the flow of water. The toilet will have to be replaced unless you are willing to take some further rather extreme steps.
When faced with this kind of problem, you can try removing the toilet and taking it outside to the lawn. Roll a golf ball into the bowl and rotate the toilet back and forth until the golf ball comes out of the bottom of the bowl. If the golf ball comes out, that will mean there wasn’t anything obstructing the passageway, and the problem was most likely a buildup of scale. Using a long piece of coat hanger wire, ream out all the holes in the rim and then scrape the passage with the wire. You more than likely won’t be able to see the scale, but you will be able to loosen a great deal of it with the wire. When you think you have loosened as much as possible, flush out the rim and bowl with a garden hose. The scale will probably be surprisingly thick. Then re-install the toilet. If it still does not work as it should, then you will probably need the toilet replaced.