The toilet is arguably the most important seat in the house. If your toilet isn’t flushing well, don’t just live with it! You can probably fix the problem in less than 30 minutes. We’ve put together nine simple tips to help you get the best possible flush every time.
9 super-simple ways to optimize your flush
1 Clean the rim jets
Over time, particularly if you have hard water, mineral deposits can plug the rim jets. If you notice the sides of the bowl aren’t clean after flushing, the rim jets likely need cleaning. You’ll need a mirror to see them. Depending on the size of the jets, use a coat hanger or small screwdriver to clean them out.
2 Get a flapper with a chain float
A chain float helps the flapper stay open a bit longer, allowing more water to enter the bowl for a better flush. You can adjust the float up or down on the chain to fine-tune how long the flapper remains open.
3 Switch to single-ply
Sometimes a poor flush is caused by partial drain clogs. The majority of these clogs are caused by toilet paper, particularly the luxuriously soft two- and three-ply varieties. Switching to single-ply toilet paper can help because it breaks down faster, even if you use the same amount of toilet paper.
4 Try a different flapper
This story is from the May 2018 edition of The Family Handyman.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2018 edition of The Family Handyman.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
7 Bicycle Maintenance Tips
Keep your bike in tiptop shape and ride safe!
SETTING FENCE POSTS WITH EXPANDING FOAM
Any fence builder knows you need strong posts for a strong fence, and that means backfilling the postholes with a dense, hard material other than dirt.
PEBBLE MOSAIC STEPPING STONES
COLLECT SOME RIVER ROCK AND MAKE YOUR OWN UNIQUE STEPPINGSTONE PATH
EARTH-FRIENDLY WEED KILLERS
HEALTHIER CHOICES FOR HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DIY! HYDROPONIC GARDEN
FRESH VEGETABLES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
GROW MINI VEGETABLES
GROW A GARDEN IN A TINY SPACE!
BUILD A VERTICAL GARDEN
TIME TO GROW UP!
MODERN WATER FOUNTAINS
A SPLASH OF PEACE FOR YOUR PATIO
9 ALTERNATIVE USES FOR SAWDUST
Every fully stocked wood shop has a table saw. You can usually find a pile of sawdust under it, even if it's used only occasionally. If a shop has a belt sander or band saw, there's probably another pile of finer sawdust under that. Even people without stationary tools have sawdust accumulation on their workbenches.
INSULATE WITH FOAM
IT'S A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO FIBERGLASS