[SWEET_Z]

I just moved into a new house a couple weeks ago and have been having some issues with my toilets. When I flush: it swirls, refills the tanks and shuts off. However the swirly only makes it all the way down and empties the bowl about half the time. Is there some way I can fix this or should I just put some new toilets in. The ones we have are pretty crappy... HA! CRAPPY!

We have septic but the tank was just pumped a month ago so I don't think its a problem with that. All other drains are functioning normally.

[mikeb]

i'd go to home depot and get some new one's you can get them pretty cheap and there easy to install. you could be real cheap and get re-build kits for the old ones but why bother.

[legalspeed]

Your flapper valve is closing too soon. Get a new one, with handle and chain. Prolly a good idea to replace the supply valve too.

Newer johns are 1.6 gal, not good, try to keep your old one.

[RandyO]

if there is a problem with you leaching field, then your septic tank can fill up quickly..... was it pumped due to a problem, or normal maintenance?

if a new flapper & supply as Dan said don't fix the problem, I would start looking at the tank, open both ends, look for blockage at inlet and outlet ends, if you have a heavy toilet paper user that wadds a half a roll every time they use it, that can cause a problem quickly

depth of scum floating on surface should be no more than 1/3 total depth of liquid, depth of sldge on bottom should be no more than 1/3 of total depth

not all septic pumpers know what they are doing, some just pump liquids andf leave solids, not good, the purpose of pumping it to remove accumulated non biodegradable solids

be careful whe you put in your drains with a septic system... garbage didposals are extremely bad, leaky fixtures are bad, toilet paper should be plain white, inks & dyes are not biodegradable. do not use septic addatives, they are placebos and usually do more harm than good

just because you read "septic system safe" or "flushable" printed on a product container, doesn't mean that it is, the only things that should go down the drain is water and bodily waste and minimal amounts of toilet paper.

cleaners should be organic and not antiseptic, you do not want to kill the bacteria in your septic tank,

[Currently]

Randy, you forgot the number one nasty for a septic tank ... Bleach!

Paper towels are bad because of a wet strength additive they put in the paper.

[richw]

I think it is toilet tank related

Flush with lid off looking at flapper. Make sure flapper comes way up and stays up till tank is empty. Try it once or twice with you holding up the flapper up.

Examine depth of water in tank make sure it is like 1 inch from the top of the overflow tube. Adjust float mechanism to do this.

Next the woosh. There are relatively small holes under the rim of the toilet that the water sprays into the bowl. These could be reduced in size or blocked by Hard water deposits or fumunder if previous occupant was EEEEYouuu. Anyway clean them out for full flow including poking with a wire and a calcium cleaner like CLR.


The purpose of flush is to fill the bowl quickly enough whereby the depth of water forms a syphon over the trap. The syphon then having the power to generate a quick vacuum emptying the bowl completely.

Except for the most expensive new flush toilets the evil EPA and their 1.6 gallon flush has new toilets usually worse then old ones.

EPA a greater threat then Alqaeda


pps I f this is your 1st septic then Liquid Laundry detergent only. Powder is 2/3 inert clay and will quickly fill your septic

[SWEET_Z]

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I'm just going to get some new ones because the tanks are pretty nasty as well. Might as well just replace the whole thing.

Now I am concerned about the septic because I am pretty sure the previous owner used some bleach. There was bacteria in the water and he had to shock the well. I am assuming this bleach made it into the septic tank.

[richw]

Not to worry

use Ridex evey now and again especially if your going away for a cuple of days+

Bacteria in a well is normal like a dead mouse

[RandyO]

Originally posted by richw
Not to worry

use Ridex evey now and again especially if your going away for a cuple of days+

Bacteria in a well is normal like a dead mouse

NEVER, I mean NEVER use Ridex or similar septic system addative

the do nothing excepty maybe move a clog from the septic tank to the leach field where it becomes even more expensive to repair

all testing ever done on septic systems addatives has shown that addative at best do absolutely nothing, and at worse, cause the system to fail prematurely

the only addative that do anything for a sewer system are for aerobic wastewater treatment systems like a municipal treatment plant. Septic systems are a passive anerobic treatment system

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Currently
Randy, you forgot the number one nasty for a septic tank ... Bleach!

Paper towels are bad because of a wet strength additive they put in the paper.

clorine bleach in not an organic cleaner... but is a antiseptic one, yes, bad for system, small diluted amounts in laundry occsionally is ok


powdered laundry soap and animal fats combine and make "cakes of ivory soap" that makes a quickly clogging scum layer .... use liquid detergent is very goood advice

[SWEET_Z]

Yeh we only use liquid detergent and bleach clothes very rarely.

When he shocked the well I think the instructions said to pour a gallon of bleach in to shock the water system. Would that gallon of bleach kill all the good stuff in my septic tank as well? It was over a month ago, I would suspect most of it has been washed out by now.

[RandyO]

a gallon diluted into your well is prolly more diluted than a cup in a load of laundry, it has passed thru your system within a few days and new bacteria are growing

[SWEET_Z]

Cool, thanks Randy

[legalspeed]

Randy,

You sure know a lot about shit.

[beet]

[dhuze]

Originally posted by legalspeed
Randy,

You sure know a lot about shit.

He rides his bike all over just to look at shit.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by legalspeed
Randy,

You sure know a lot about shit.

ya, I have a bunch of certificates on my wall that even say so

[beet]

[Punjistick]

If you are gonna get a new toilet, make sure you get one of the better ones that will still produce a powerful flush. As far as I know all the new toilets are water savers, but I think they have improved them since they first came out. Check out this one from American Standard 1.28 gallons per flush, yet still powerful which could add up to some savings.

[ssg]

Unless you want to replace all the shitters, sounds like you need to adjust your flapper valves...sounds like they lost their air bubble or just suck.

[SWEET_Z]

Yeh I was looking at the American Standard toilets at lowes with the different flushing mechanisms. I've read they have had problems with the gaskets leaking water into the bowl. Think I might give them a shot anyways. It's either that or install one of those industrial ones like I have at work.