Toilet Flushes Slow but Not Clogged: How to Remedy It

A toilet that flushes slow but is not clogged can be quite frustrating. Weak or slow water movement can fail to create an effective flush. 

In a normally functioning toilet, the rapid water movement creates a suction inside the pipe, which serves as the actual flush that pulls down all waste material down the drain. If your toilet is not flushing completely, then waste material may be backed up in the bowl or you may be using more water than usual.

Are you having the same annoying problem with your toilet? In this article, we will talk about the possible home remedies if a toilet flushes slow but is not clogged.

Toilet Flushes Slow but Not Clogged

Toilet Flushes Slow but Not Clogged: What are the Causes?

Before we go into the fixes of a slowly flushing toilet (without any clogs), let’s talk about what can cause a toilet to have a weak flush. Here are the most common causes of a lazy or slow flushing toilet:

  • Buildup in the feed holes and jet holes of the toilet. The rim feed and jet holes of the toilet are susceptible to accumulation of mineral deposits over time. The constant gush of hard water through these holes may cause the buildup of minerals. This buildup can make the holes smaller and smaller, decreasing the water that goes through and thus causing a weak flush.
  • Not enough water in the tank. When there’s not enough water in the toilet’s tank, the flush will ultimately be too weak or too slow to create a siphon. The water level in the tank should be at least half an inch from the top of the overflow tube. A high enough water level will make sure that there’s a good amount of water to create a good flush.
  • Faulty flapper and/or chain. The flapper is a piece of rubber that sits atop the pipe from which water goes through when the flush is activated. A chain is connected to the flush lever and the flapper. When the lever is pushed down, the chain will lift up the flapper to release water into the bowl. If the flapper itself is unstable or the chain is disconnected/too short, it can result in a weak flush.
Toilet Flushes Slow but Not Clogged

How to remedy an Unclogged toilet with a weak flush

Based on the possible causes that we highlighted in the section above, let’s take a look into some of the best remedies that can get your toilet flushing back to normal. These are just some simple home fixes that you can do by yourself with the use of regular household items, so you don’t have to worry about complexity.

1. Make sure that the water valve is all the way open

You can find the toilet’s water valve near the wall or the floor behind it. In a counterclockwise motion, turn the valve until it reaches a full stop for best performance. If the water fills up too quickly inside the tank (or too noisily) after a flush, turn the valve in the opposite direction until you’ve reached the optimum fill performance.

2. Clean out the rim feed and jet holes

Since hard water goes through the holes constantly with each flush, there may be a buildup of hard mineral crystals that accumulate over the years. If your rim feed and jet holes are the problem, then you can easily clean the mineral buildup out using this technique:

What You’ll Need:

  • Screwdriver or wire coat hanger (unraveled)
  • Rubber gloves
  • Toilet cleaner


  1. Turn off the water supply valve then hold the flapper open until most of the water has drained from the tank.
  2. Take off the lid from the toilet tank. Carefully pour around two cups of toilet bowl cleaner down the flush valve and let the solution sit for 6 to 12 hours. Alternatively, you can also use white vinegar (about one quart).
  3. After the toilet bowl cleaner has dissolved most of the mineral buildup, take your wire coat hanger or screwdriver (or any thin metal tool that you can use) and scrape out residue from the rim feed holes. These holes are located under the lip of the toilet bowl.
  4. With pliers, make a small hook at the end of the coat hanger. Use this to fish out any obstruction that may be blocking the jet hole.
  5. Turn on the water supply valve again, then flush the toilet a few times to get rid of remaining toilet cleaner and minerals.
coat hanger

3. Adjust the water level

The water level inside the tank should not go below more than an inch from the overflow tube. Otherwise, the water will not be enough for a complete flush.

Here are some possible fixes that you can do if this is the case:

  • Use the water level adjustment screw to raise the water level to about half an inch from the top of the overflow tube. This will ensure that there is enough water in the tank for a good flush every time. 
  • Bend the float arm to raise it up high enough so that the water level increases. Float arms are often susceptible to breakage, so you may need to install a new one to ensure your water level remains high enough for a powerful flush. If your current float arm is still good, make sure not to bend it too much as to avoid the water from overflowing. This can cause a leaking toilet and a big wastage on water.
  • Toilet models that have a ball float can be adjusted using a screw on top of the fill valve. Turn this screw clockwise until the water level is high enough. For models with a cylinder float that is attached to the fill valve, pull the float up by squeezing the clip on the side. Wait until the water reaches the optimum level.
  • If there are no changes in water level, you may need to contact a professional to diagnose the problem.
  • Check the diverter tube to ensure that water is being directed perfectly into the toilet tank. The diverter tube is a small pipe that should pour into the toilet tank standpipe. If the diverter tube is misaligned, adjust it accordingly so that the water is pouring into the standpipe.

4. Fix the flapper

If the flapper fails to remain open long enough for the water to drain out into the bowl, this results in an incomplete flush. An unstable flapper can also render the need to manually push down the lever until enough water has drained into the bowl.

  • Make sure that the chain is just the right length for the flapper to function properly. There should be at least ¼ to ½ an inch of slack in the chain.
  • Open up the water tank before trying to flush. In this way, you can see if your flapper is opening up completely and staying open for at least 2-3 seconds with each flush.
  • If your flapper fails to stay open for enough water to drain into the bowl, shorten the chain until it is taut enough but still has sufficient slack. Then, test the flush again and adjust the chain accordingly. If the chain is broken or too corroded with age, replace it immediately with a new one.
  • On the other hand, if the flapper chain is too long, then the water may continuously run down the toilet excessively. You can easily fix this by, again, adjusting the chain length.

5. Make sure the rim feed is connected

When you inspect your lazy-flushing toilet, make sure that the rim feed hose is connected into the overflow on the flush valve. The rim feed hose is responsible for supplying water into the rim holes.

To make sure that you get a powerful flush, the rim feed hose should be connected inside of the flush valve overflow tube. Ensure that it is also pointing downward.

Conclusion: Fixing a Slowing Flushing Toilet without Clogs

Toilets can have a weak flush even if it’s not clogged up. Weak flushes are caused by a variety of reasons; mainly something wrong with the inside of the toilet or a buildup of hard material in the inlets where water flows through.

Other times, the whole toilet is the problem, as some old models usually give out with age and take the flushing power down with them.

In any case, if a toilet flushes slow but is not clogged, following the procedures mentioned above before doing anything drastic. Usually, a slow flushing toilet can be fixed with a simple manipulation of the parts inside the tank, or a good rinse-through with some regular household cleaners.

I hope this article helped you out with your toilet problems. If you have any more tricks up your sleeve that you can share with us, feel free to drop it in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends, as well. Thanks for reading.

Toilet Flushes Slow but Not Clogged

Toilet Flushes Slow but Not Clogged

Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Does your toilet flushes slow but not clogged? Wonder what are the causes and how to remedy it? Then read on to find out.


  2. Clean out the rim feed and jet holes
  3. Adjust the water level
  4. Fix the flapper
  5. Make sure the rim feed is connected