Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Have to flush twice

Did a search on this forum but got no hits.

I have noticed a toilet does not flush as completely as it should. When I hit the lever the water swirls in the bowl but not as forcefully as you might hope. Sometimes the "Washington Politics" re-appears and requires a second flush to finish the process.

Is there a blockage somewhere? Any ideas for a fix?

Thanks

OK, one step at a time and we'll get it fixed. Take the tank top off and see where the water line is. Is it up to within 1" of the overflow tube? If not, adjust the ball or the riser to allow it to fill up completely within 1" of the tube. If the water level is ok, then let's look at the flapper. Is it old? Sometimes they don't hold the proper amount of air to allow it to stay "afloat" long enough for all the water in the tank to be expelled.
If these procedures don't give you the proper flush, then it is quite probably a venting problem. Squirrels and other animals will drop acorns, leaves, sticks, etc down your vent pipe and eventually as it rots and softens, it stops up the vent. It is sort of like placing a soda straw in a bottle of soda and placing your thumb over the end and drawing it out. All the liquid stays in the straw until you release the pressure and equalize atmosphere. If you feel comfortable doing it, you will need to go up on the roof with a garden hose and chug the vent pipe (the larger one) until all the gunk moves downstream.
Post back with results so we can plan our next strategy to get you fixed.

Just a add on too the above. Is this a new unit ?? does the flapper have a hole in the side ?? if so get a new one what out the hole in the side. Are you on a well hard water over years the trap in the toilet will build up and close down the flush . Where it takes like two flushs to clear the bowl. If so open the window and put some muractic acid in it till its cooked out. If you think its a build up .You can pull the stool and clean it out that wayin the trap.

ED;)

Thanks, Chandler and Ed, for the info.

I checked the water level and it is right about at 1". I thought I had a spare flapper from another project but I guess not- I'll replace it and see if that does the trick. We've been in the house 5 years and I've replaced other flappers, but not this one-it may be due.

If it turns out the be a venting problem, do I literally run water down the roof vent? Is that what you mean by "chug"?

2 or 3 years back I put mesh covers on all the vents to prevent animals / leaves / twigs, so if that was the problem it seems like it would have happened before now, but who can tell.

Thanks again!

That's why I saved the fun part for last. Check out everything on terra firma first. If you have help, you can call for water after the initial chugging, but mainly you are using the hose as a snake (cheaper, you don't have to buy one). IF you use water initially, and there is a clog, you will eat the clog by backwash, so do it carefully. Like Ed, it may be the flapper, and since it is due, maybe it will help. Post back the results.

I started the diagnosis as you suggested, and when I went to check the flapper I found it was some weird kind of setup I'd never seen before: your typical replacement flapper wouldn't fit (no common connections) so I bought a new flush valve and flapper set up and replaced it.

In the course of doing that I must have mangled the fill valve because the old one stopped working- so I bought and installed a new fill valve.

When I replaced everything, the flush process worked on the first try- so I figured great, it was the flapper valve after all, problem solved. Tested the flush later in the day and found it was back to its "flush twice" tricks. Tried it earlier today and found it working properly. Not sure what to make of inconsistent results!

It sounds like you are now "right on the edge" with the new stuff.

I have seen some flappers that have a "float" attached to it that delays the flapper from sealing, and results in a better flush.

Adjusting the water lever a little higher (if you can) can sometimes accomplish the same thing.

Im back to is the water hard there . After 5 years the trap in the stool can be smaller . Have ran into that lots of times here.

ED;)