Toilet Repair & Installation
Stop a running, rocking, leaking or clogged toilet, or set a new bowl.
Plumbing guide
Toilet Won't Flush in Goodyear, AZ: Causes and Fixes
When a toilet will not flush, the cause is usually in the tank, in the trap or in the line. A few checks sort them out in minutes.
By the Goodyear Express Plumbing team ·
Check the tank first
Lift the lid and flush. If the handle feels loose, the chain may be off or broken. If the tank is empty or low, the fill valve or the supply valve may be closed. Open the supply valve at the wall and listen for water entering the tank.
If the tank fills but the flapper does not lift, adjust the chain so there is a little slack. Too much slack or too little both cause a weak flush.
A clog in the bowl or trap
A bowl that fills and drains slowly points to a partial clog. Use a flange plunger, with a tight seal, and push and pull with steady strokes. Avoid chemical cleaners, which can damage the porcelain finish or the fittings.
If the plunger does nothing, a closet auger reaches deeper. Be gentle so you do not scratch the bowl.
Symptom to first step
Pick the row that matches what you see.
| Symptom | Cause | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Loose handle | Chain off or snapped | Reconnect or replace the chain |
| Empty tank | Supply valve shut or fill valve | Open the valve and listen |
| Slow-draining bowl | Partial blockage | Use a flange plunger |
| Several drains slow | Main line blockage | Book drain cleaning |
Clogged rim jets
Hard water scale can block the small holes under the rim that send water around the bowl. The flush then comes from the siphon jet alone and is weak. Scrape the holes with a small tool after soaking them in vinegar.
Scale builds up faster in the Valley, so a softener helps. See water softener installation.
Vent and line problems
If several fixtures gurgle or drain slowly, the clog is in the main line, not the toilet. A blocked vent can also keep a toilet from flushing well. In that case the toilet may gurgle and other drains may slow.
A drain cleaning visit clears main line clogs. If it keeps coming back, a camera look may find roots or a sag.
Water rising in the bowl
If the water is rising, do not flush again. Remove the tank lid, lift the flapper or close the supply valve. Then plunge. If the bowl overflows, towels and a bucket buy time. Close the supply valve first so the tank does not keep refilling.
Shut the toilet off until the cause is found.
When the toilet is the problem
An old toilet that clogs often may be a low flow model that never worked well, or one with a damaged trap. Replacement with a modern, efficient bowl is often more reliable. Our toilet installation page covers choosing and fitting one.
A toilet that rocks needs its seal and flange checked.
Calling for help
Call if the plunger fails, if more than one fixture is affected or if sewage rises anywhere. Tell the dispatcher how many bathrooms are affected, whether the washer was running and when it started.
What a plunger can and cannot do
Use a flange plunger with a rubber flap that fits into the drain. Cover the hole completely, press down gently first to push out air and then pull and push with firm strokes for about twenty seconds. A good seal matters more than force.
If water drains slowly afterward, repeat. If nothing changes after several tries, the obstruction is probably deeper than a plunger reaches, or the cause is not in the bowl at all.
Things that should never be flushed
Wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss, feminine products and toys cause many calls. Wipes sold as flushable do not break up like paper, and they snag in the drain and in the sewer line. Keep a lidded trash can in each bathroom.
Children flush surprising items. A quick talk and a closed lid prevent many clogs.
Low flow models and older bowls
Toilets from the early days of water saving rules often flush poorly. A bowl with a narrow trap clogs easily. If you plunge the same toilet every month, the bowl is the problem and replacement makes sense.
Look at the number stamped in the tank for gallons per flush and ask a plumber about a model with a wide trapway.
Septic or sewer, which do you have
Most Goodyear homes connect to a municipal sewer, but some outlying properties use septic tanks. A septic tank that is full or a drain field that is saturated can cause slow flushing everywhere. If you are unsure which system serves your home, check your closing papers or ask the city.
Do not pour solvents or drain openers into a septic system, since they can harm the bacteria that treat waste.
After the fix
Flush several times and watch the swirl and speed. Check the base for leaks and the supply line for drips. Wipe the floor dry and look again in an hour. If the toilet clogs again soon, the cause is probably further down the line.
Keep a plunger in each bathroom and teach everyone how to use it.
Overflow safety plan
Know where the toilet's supply valve is, usually behind the bowl near the floor. Turn it clockwise to stop refilling. Keep old towels, a bucket and gloves nearby. If sewage comes up in a tub or floor drain, stop using water, keep children away and call.
A backup in several drains at once points to the main line. See sewer line repair if the line itself is damaged.
Tools worth owning
A flange plunger, a closet auger, rubber gloves, a flashlight and a wet vacuum cover most bathroom emergencies. Keep them where everyone can reach them. A little prepared kit turns a messy morning into a ten minute fix.
Common questions
Toilet flush questions
Common causes are a low tank water level, a loose chain, scaled rim jets or a partial clog.
If only one toilet is affected, yes. If several drain slowly, avoid using fixtures.
It is better not to. Chemicals can harm fittings and are dangerous if they splash.
If many fixtures are slow, the main line is likely. A plumber can confirm with a camera.
Related services
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Open clogged sinks, tubs, laundry lines and main drains, and find out why they keep stopping.
Sewer Camera Inspection
Look inside the sewer pipe on video before a repair or a home purchase.
More plumbing guides
Running toilet: how to fix it
A toilet that hisses or refills by itself wastes water. Work out which part is failing.
Sewer smell in the house
Sewage or rotten egg odors indoors come from a short list of sources. Begin with traps and vents.
Tree roots in your sewer line
Roots follow moisture into old joints. Learn the signs and the repair paths from cutting to replacement.
Toilet still refusing to flush?
Phone in and describe what happens. The dispatcher will find a contractor nearby.