- 1). Check the water level in the toilet tank. The water should be about 1/2 inch below the top of the overflow tube. Water level that is lower means that the tank is not filling up with enough water to allow it to be flushed.
- 2). Inspect the float to determine if it has gotten waterlogged. Too much water in the float will make it too heavy to rise enough to allow the water level to rise to the proper level. Replace the float if it is filled with water.
- 3). Raise the float mechanism higher by slightly bending the arm. Bend the arm enough so that it raises the float high enough to allow the tank to fill the proper level.
- 4). Squeeze the clip located on a plastic floating-cup ballcock if your toilet is equipped with one of these. Squeezing the clip will raise the float and thereby adjust the water level appropriately.
- 5). Loosen the thumbscrew if your toilet is equipped with and adjustable guide arm. Raise the arm about a 1/2 inch. Shorten the lift rods by using a pair of pliers to bend the top hook. Check the chain that controls the ball or the flapper on the bottom of the tank. If there is too much slack in the chain, it will affect the ability of the toilet to be flushed. Reduce the amount of slack if necessary.
- 6). Call a plumber if the toilet routinely fails to flush completely and none of the above solutions fix the problem. The cause of consistent problems with a toilet not flushing may be related to a clog in the waste line, improper venting or the necessity for greater water pressure in a low-flush style toilet. A professional repair is recommended if any of these are the cause of your toilet's flushing problems.
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