Six Reasons Your Toilet Isn’t Flushing in Winnipeg, MB

King's Services

After using the toilet one day, you press the handle—and nothing happens. Again, you rattle the handle. The toilet still refuses to flush.

You wonder, “Why is my toilet not flushing? Do I need to call a plumber for repairs?”

Try the troubleshooting tips below, but don’t hesitate to call us for plumbing services in Winnipeg, MB. Bumping one flushing component back into its correct position is easy to do yourself, but King’s Services also looks for underlying causes. You don’t want it to happen again or cause a nasty toilet backup issue!

Why Is My Toilet Not Flushing in Winnipeg, MB? Top Causes of a Non-Flushing Toilet

A malfunctioning toilet is much more than just a household annoyance. You won’t be able to use the toilet until you fix it, and on top of that, it’s unsanitary. You’ll want to repair the problem right away, so give these toilet troubleshooting tips a shot:

1. You’ve Got a Clogged Toilet

Clogs are one of the most common causes of toilets that won’t flush. Maybe you used too much toilet paper, or perhaps you (or someone else) flushed something problematic, like sanitary products, baby wipes, or foreign objects that belong in the trash, not the toilet.

You might reach for your plunger to fix a toilet blockage. Make sure there’s some water in the bowl for good suction, and then press the plunger firmly over the drain to form a tight seal. Rapidly yet firmly pull and push the plunger up and down to dislodge the clog.

Is the plunger not working? Try a plumbing snake that reaches further into the drain and pulls clogs out.

2. You’ve Turned Off the Water

Has someone in your house turned off the water supply to the toilet? Toilets with insufficient water in tank holds won’t flush.

Look for a valve behind your toilet and turn it counterclockwise. If the valve is difficult to turn, try applying some lubricant.

If your entire house has no water, check that you haven’t turned off your home’s main water supply. Your water main may be in the basement, next to the water heater, or outside near your water meter.

3. You’ve Got a Flapper Valve Malfunction

Inside your toilet’s tank, you’ll find a rubber flapper. Its job is to open and release water when you flush the toilet. Afterward, it closes to ensure the right amount of water stays in the tank.

Is the flapper worn or damaged? You may not have enough water in the tank to flush the toilet. It’s inexpensive to replace the flapper, and it’s an easier and quicker fix with our expert plumbers in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

4. You’re Facing Overflow Tube Issues

The overflow tube, as you might be able to tell from the name, ensures that the water in the toilet tank doesn’t overflow. If there’s something wrong with the overflow tube, there may be insufficient water in the tank to flush your toilet.

Look inside your tank and check the water level. It should be about 1 inch below the overflow tube (the plastic tube standing vertically in the center of the tank). If the water level is too low, ensure that you haven’t turned off the water supply.

Is the water supply fine? There might be something stuck in the overflow tube. Call our local plumber from King’s Services to take a look.

5. Your Lift Chain Has Too Much Slack

Why is my toilet not flushing? Next, check the lift chain inside your toilet tank. The metal chain runs from the flapper to the toilet handle.

This chain is responsible for lifting the flapper when you flush. If the lift chain has come loose or has too much slack, it can’t lift the flapper, and the toilet won’t flush. Shortening the chain until it’s able to lift the toilet flapper when you press the handle should fix the problem.

6. Your Toilet Handle Is Loose

Normally, when you press the handle or knob, you’ll feel a bit of pressure before the toilet flushes. If the handle feels loose, it might be detached. Reattach it from inside the tank, and you’ll be back in business.

Still not working? Damaged handles will need a replacement.