In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the possible reasons why your toilet might not be flushing. There are a few potential culprits here, from simple ones you can likely remedy on your own to a few more complex issues that might require the assistance of a plumber.
At City Creek Plumbing, we’re happy to offer a variety of bathroom plumbing, kitchen plumbing and other plumbing services to clients throughout Layton and Kaysville, including assistance with toilets having issues. What are some of the other reasons your toilet might not be flushing, and what can you do about it, either on your own or with the help of our trusty plumbers? Here’s a primer.

Not Enough Water
In some cases, the simple reason behind your toilet failing to flush is a lack of water in the bowl. Toilets are designed to use a certain volume of water in order to function properly, and if the tank isn’t being filled up enough, your toilet won’t flush. This is usually not a very difficult problem to solve, but it’s also the most common reason for toilets having issues.
Ensure there are no obstructions in the tank or any water leaking out of the overflow tube. If either of these are happening, try fixing them yourself or calling a plumber if you aren’t comfortable with this.
Warped Flapper
Have you noticed that your toilet won’t flush, but keeps making regular noises as if its running? This likely means your flapper, which connects to the lift chain and opens when you press the handle, is warped or otherwise not working correctly.
There’s not much you can do about a warped flapper — it simply needs to be replaced. If you’re confident handling this job on your own, flappers can be purchased at any home improvement store; if not, our plumbers will be happy to perform this task for you.
Drain or Sewer Line Problem
Finally, if none of the issues we’ve gone over to this point are present and your toilet still won’t flush — or especially if multiple toilets in the same home are having flushing issues, along with drains in your home — this could be a sign of a significant backup or other problem in your drain or sewer line.
Typically, you’ll be able to tell if this is the case by diving down into the sewer trap under your toilet with a flashlight and seeing if there’s any water or other matter in it. If not, this probably isn’t what’s causing your issues; however, if the sewer trap is full of dirty water or other matter, you’re going to need the help of a plumber immediately.
For more on the possible reasons why your toilet won’t flush and what you can do about this, or to learn about any of our plumbing services, speak to the team at City Creek Plumbing today.