Why won't my toilet flush?
The handle moves with no result, the bowl rises and drains slowly, or the flush is weak and leaves waste behind.
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Key takeaways
- This is usually not an emergency, but it does not fix itself and it gets worse if you leave it.
- Most likely cause: Clog in the toilet trap or branch drain.
- Do this first: Lift the tank lid and check that the flapper seals and the chain has a little slack.
- Call right away if waste water is rising toward the rim and does not recede.
- The repair starts with: Verify tank function and water level.
What it is
Toilet that won't flush A toilet that won't flush means the tank is not releasing enough water to clear the bowl, or waste is blocked in the trap or the branch drain just past it.
It is usually a simple fix, but if other drains in the house back up at the same time the blockage is in the main sewer line and needs prompt attention.
The short answer
A toilet that will not flush is usually blocked in the trap or the branch drain, or the tank is not releasing enough water to drive the flush. Start by lifting the tank lid. If the flapper is not lifting or the chain is off, that is a five minute fix. If the bowl fills and drains slowly, the blockage is downstream. When other drains in the house also back up at the same time, the problem is the main line, not the toilet.
What it usually means
These are the causes we find most often, ranked from most likely to least.
- 1
Clog in the toilet trap or branch drain
Most likely
Wipes, hygiene products, and heavy paper loads catch in the trap or just past it.
- 2
Broken flapper, chain, or handle inside the tank
Common
The tank never releases its water, so there is no flush energy at all.
- 3
Low water level in the tank
Common
A misadjusted fill valve leaves too little water for a complete flush.
- 4
Blocked rim jets or siphon jet
Less common
Mineral scale from hard water chokes the openings that drive the bowl.
- 5
Main sewer line blockage
Occasional
If tubs and floor drains gurgle or back up too, the main line is the real problem.
What to do right now
- 1Lift the tank lid and check that the flapper seals and the chain has a little slack.
- 2Confirm the tank fills to the marked water line.
- 3Plunge with a flange plunger, slowly at first to seal, then firmly.
- 4Stop using every other drain in the house until you know whether the main line is involved.
When it is an emergency
- Waste water is rising toward the rim and does not recede.
- Sewage appears in a tub or shower when the toilet is flushed.
- The overflow reaches finished flooring or a lower level.
What the fix involves
A trap blockage clears with an auger. A tank part is replaced on the spot. When flushing backs water into other fixtures, the work moves to the main line and typically starts with a camera inspection so the blockage is located before anything is cut or dug.
- 1Verify tank function and water level.
- 2Auger the toilet trap and the branch drain.
- 3Camera the line when the blockage returns or affects other fixtures.
- 4Replace worn tank components or reset the toilet if the flange is the problem.
What drives the cost
Every job is quoted before work begins. These are the factors that move the number on this kind of repair.
- Trap clog versus branch line versus main line
- Whether a camera inspection is needed to locate the blockage
- Toilet removal and reset for hard blockages
- Replacement parts or a new fixture
Related problems homeowners ask about
Why does my toilet keep running?
The tank refills on its own every few minutes, or you hear a constant trickle into the bowl between uses.
Read this nextWhy are multiple drains clogged at the same time?
Toilets, tubs, and floor drains back up together, water rises in the lowest fixture when an upstairs one is used, and drains gurgle across the house.
Read this nextWhy is sewage backing up into my shower?
Dark water or waste rising in a shower pan or tub, often when a toilet is flushed or a washing machine drains.
Read this next
Read more on this
This page is for triage and dispatch. These guides go deeper on how the work is done and what shapes the price.
How to Use a Toilet Snake?
A closet auger clears most stubborn toilet clogs in about five minutes. Used wrong, it scratches the bowl or pushes the object deeper. Here is the right technique.
Read the guideIs It Safe to Use Drano on a Toilet Clog, which Drano Product Should You Use?
The short answer is that standard Drano is not made for toilets. There is one product in the line intended for slow toilets, and even that is the wrong call on a full blockage.
Read the guide
Licenses, credentials, and company proof
- Colorado Master PlumberLicense MP-18927
- Colorado State Plumbing ContractorLicense 2110
- Family Owned & OperatedServing Denver since 2006, 20 years
- Better Business BureauAccredited Business, A+ rating
- Angie's List Super Service Award2012 through 2017
- Serving Denver since 2006Residential and commercial properties across the metro
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Before you book: pricing, timing, and guarantees
Straight answers on what toilet won't flush work costs, how fast we can get out, and what stands behind the repair.
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