I’ve got a toilet problem, one of my favorite things in the world. Just dropped a brand new American Standard toilet into a new master bathroom remodel, installed the tank, flushed, and no siphon. The toilet stack is all new, correctly sized, passed inspection. But the water won’t siphon out of the bowl.
When I pour a bucket of water into the tank, it goes down smoothly and has that satisfying “glurgle” sound at the end, so I don’t think the stack is plugged or has an obstruction.
Sometimes, if the handle is held up long enough, the bowl will siphon completely, but it is not consistent. I’ve tried varying levels of water in the tank, but to no avail. All the siphon holes in the rim are open, the toilet is level and the water refill tube is running into the overflow tube.
There is one thing – if you stick your hand into the water and partially obstruct the jet hole that is opposite the exit trap, the bowl will almost always siphon. That shouldn’t happen. If your hand is in the bowl, it would obstruct the flow of the water and restrict the siphon from starting.
It’s the weekend, and American Satandard isn’t answering their phones, so I’m posting this in the hopes that someone will have had a similar experience and post their toilet wisdom. Do I have a defective toilet?
Replies
Test plug still on the vent stack? I doubt it is a bad toilet, they have pretty much got them down pat with the moulds and casting.
Sounds like an air block or sumpthing...I'm not a plumber, but this might halp as a bump.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" Everything looks like a nail, to a hammer"
Thanks for the reply. Test plug on vent is gone. Vent is clear and open, otherwise adjacent sink drain would empty when I dumped the bucket of water into the bowl.Here's a possibility I just thought of - could the wax ring not be seated down enough? If it wasn't completely seated, then air could be drawn in through the seal and prevent a siphon? There aren't any leaks from below, so I don't think this is the problem.
not necessarily, I don't know jack about toilets, I do know, in the last year, I've seen 3 bad toilets show up...
Such a simple device to cast, I am surprised, by that. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" Everything looks like a nail, to a hammer"
One was a Toto that just wouldn't set right, kept leaking from around the flange, one was a Gerber, problem wasn't actually with the stool but the tank, it wasn't cast right and couldn't seat, and one was a cheapo POS I can't recall the manufacturer of that the HO provided and it wouldn't flush properly...
I had a bad kohler. Leaked from under, and after 3 tries with new rings (And the subsequent inspections showing that it was obviously sealing properly) it ws replaced...no furhter problems.Jake Gulick
Lateapex911@optonline.net
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Getting a good flush by pouring a bucket of water in the bowl usually indicates that there isn't enough water volume or flow going into the bowl.
Is the bowl refilling completely?
Is the tank refilling completely (to the water level line)?
Is there an adjustment on the flapper? Some have a foam float on the chain that can be adjusted up or down.
mike
The bowl refills completely and the tank fills to about 1/2 - 3/4" below the overfill tube (there's a note stamped into the tank "adjust water leve to 3/4 below" - that's all).I've taken up all the slack in the chain. And yes, there is a foam float on the chain. I've tried it low and high and in the middle, it doesn't seem to help anywhere I put it.
Is it possible something fell into the hole in the bowl where the tank drains and it's blocking the flow of water from the tank to the bowl when flushed. Some of the packing styrafoam maybe.
Just a thought.
How fast is the flapper closing?
From what you posted & others have replied with it does sound like not enough water is going down the douglas valve.
2 things
First the guy who came up with 1.6 gallon flush requirements should be SHOT.
Second the flappers with float on chain are junk------replace with standard flapper that has air in it so it doesn't close untill almost all the water is out of the tank.
I would suspect a defective toilet, assuming that you're not doing West Texas plumbing (2" soil pipes).
happy?
No to the Texas plumbing. Ha.It's 3" below and up to vent. All traps upstream don't evacuate when the bucket is poured in, so right now I'm assuming it's a defective toilet.I visited plg.com chat board and from what I've read there, it appears this is a problem with American Standard toilets.Thanks for your input.
It's really not to hard to imagine how you could get a bad toilet. They aren't cast as a single piece, but are actually assembled out of maybe 10 separate pieces. The "green" clay is glued together with "slip" to form the completed unit. It would not be too hard for something to be out of alignment, or for a joint to not seal tightly, leading to improper water flow and flushing problems.
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people
happy?
Have you tried eating fresh fruits and vegetables? Maybe prunes and raisins would help.Sorry, couldn't resist :)
Just to follow up, American Standard is sending a new bowl. They think it's a faulty toilet.Thanks to everyone for your advice and comments.