Replies

1. 
   Sphere | Aug 10, 2008 09:37pm | #1

   Could be a plugged vent and another fixture draing is siphoning out the bowl.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   You gonna play that thing?

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0

2. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 10, 2008 09:57pm | #2

   The tank is what sets on the back of the toilet.

   The bowl is what you sh*t into.

   Now is this what is happening?

   You start with the tank at "full level" (see mark on tank). And water in the bowel.

   When the toliet is flushed the tank empties into the bowl and the level rises to near overflowing. And the tanks refills and stops.

   Then the water in the bowl slowly goes down back to normal level.

   If that is not what is happening then give more details.

   If that is what is happening either the rate at which water goes into the bowl from the tank is too slow (or too little) or there is an obstruction in the toilet drain or vent.

   Take a bucket with about 2-3 gallons of water in it. Dump it in the toilet.

   If it does not flush them the problem is in the drain or vent.

   If it is them the water from the tank is too slow or too little.

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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
3. 
   Matt | Aug 10, 2008 09:57pm | #3

   You sure you got that problem description right?

   >> The tank fills when flushed.  It stays full.   <<  The tank should have been pretty much full before it was flushed.  The tank is the (usually) upright part on the back of the toilet - right?  It empties when the toilet is flushed and then re-fills toward the end of the flush cycle and stays full for the next usage.

   >> The stool fills, then drains. <<  When you say the stool - do you mean the bottom part with the seat - which as far as I know is called the bowl?  This part of your description sounds like it is just a clogged toilet, which can be cleared with a plunger or "closet auger".

   Maybe I got it all wrong.... 

1. 
   Bert40 | Aug 10, 2008 11:08pm | #4

   OK, let's start over.  After the bowl fills it drains out slowly.  The tank stays full.  I knew what I was talking about, even if I didn't get all the terminology right.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 10, 2008 11:11pm | #5

   Most likely it is something stuck in the toilet trap.But the bucket test will eliminate problmes with the jet and washdown holes being clogged..
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   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

2. 
   inperfectionist | Aug 10, 2008 11:28pm | #6

   Bert,I was on a job a few months back.A seemingly good used toilet was installed (this was supplied by the HO).Same problem you are having.The bowl had a crack somewhere in the trap,,,,,, no water on the floor.Harry

1. 
   Bert40 | Aug 10, 2008 11:42pm | #7

   Thanks for your help.

3. 
   Matt | Aug 11, 2008 04:06am | #8

   Plunge the toilet.  Vaseline on the plunger helps.  If that doesn't work snake it with a closet auger.  If that doesn't work, remove the toilet and snake the waste pipe with an electric drain rooter.

1. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 11, 2008 04:29am | #9

   If you have to pull the toilet check the toilet trap for rooting the drain.That trap is fairly small and things like a toy or tooth brush often get caugth in their, but a closet auger will go past them..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

2. 
   Bert40 | Aug 11, 2008 04:35am | #10

   Thanks guys for all the suggestions.  After all this, my friend has just about decided to buy at least a new bowl.  If I were him, if I was going to replace it, I'd buy the whole thing at the same time.  Thanks again for your input.  Bert

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Aug 11, 2008 02:23pm | #11

   As Sphere pointed out, this could be caused by a venting (or lack thereof) problem causing the water to be sucked out of the bowl when other fixtures lower the air pressure in a clogged vent. If that's the problem, a new bowl, or whole toilet, won't fix it.

   It could also be a cracked bowl or something stuck in the bowl's trap that is allowing the water to siphon into the drain.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

2. 
   Bert40 | Aug 11, 2008 03:28pm | #12

   Thanks for the info.  My friend will be here this morning and I'll give him your info.  Your help is very much appreciated.  Bert

4. 
   DanH | Aug 11, 2008 05:49pm | #13

   If it drains out real slowly, over a period of hours, it's a defective bowl. If it drains out partially (water down, say, 1-2 inches from "normal"), on windy days, this is "normal" siphoning due to the "whistle" effect of wind on the vent pipe.If the bowl overfills while the tank is filling and then drains after the tank stops filling then the drain is probably clogged.
   It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way. --Rollo May

1. 
   Bert40 | Aug 11, 2008 06:10pm | #14

   Thanks.

1. 
   CapnMac | Aug 11, 2008 09:09pm | #15

   Before pulling out the toilet, I'd be inclined to go up on the roof and snake the vent.  I might even snake the vent for the nearby vanity & tub vents while I was up there, too (since the vents we see are not always the vents that are connected; or are "used to be's").

   And, if it's a defective casting, you might be able to get just the bottom half (bowl, siphon, trap & all--which the pottery people do call a "stool").  Also, you might need to go to the plumbing supply house and not the big box store to do just that (and, not being a plumber can sometimes cause grief at the PSH). 

   The trick of only replacing the stool, is that, often, the tank you have may not match the new base.  Or it will do so poorly.  This winds up being enough of a run-around that it's simpler to buy a toilet entire (even if it gets rung up at the register as two pieces <eyeroll>).

   If replacement seems likely, and a plumber is not hired for it, go ahead an get one of every thing, please.  Supply, cutoff, wax ring, flange screws, nuts (and caps) for same, and so on.  Why?  For the same reason I have a bucket of parts I did not need until after 2100 on Sunday--learnt the hard way <g>Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)