I have just purchased an old farm house that has a septic tank. The tub drains slowly and the toilet will not flush toilet paper or waste. The toilet will flush if you pour about a quart of water in the bowl as it's going down; then it will empty out.
Plumbing – Why is all the plumbing draining slowly in the old farmhouse
plumbingseptic
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I picked up some CLR and scrubbed all the jets under the rim. I even ran some through the tank - open flapper so as to minimize contact with the rubber and plastic. Using a mirror and a small piece of wire I was able to clean out a few stubborn holes.
All toilets were able to take a steady volume of water from a bucket without issue. This lead me to do a little more research. What I found was the hole at the bottom of the toilet that forces water down the drain is actually more susceptible to clogging and plays a larger role in the syphoning action. All three toilets had significant mineral build-up in this hole. A few minutes with my finger was able to clear out quite a lot. Some careful work with a small l-shaped alan wrench brought me the rest of the way home. Whammy!
The two younger toilets now flush like a champ. The oldest was so badly plugged I'll be needing a replacement. I'm gonna try a little soaking with CLR to see if it'll free up but I'm expecting a trip to the hardware store.
Actually, that's how a toilet is supposed to work.
You can simulate a flush simply by dropping a couple gallons of water in right away.
The spray paint fill is the natural water level. Flushing occurs by suddenly dumping excess water in the bowl. This raises the water level at the back, an a siphon effect comes into play with pulls the remaining water out of the bowl, giving the typical whirlpool effect.
If you're not getting the whirlpool, and a clearing flush, there are two possible scenarios.
- The tank isn't full, and not enough water is coming down to clear the bowl
- There is a small blockage in the drain.
But timing isn't an issue.
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Best Answer
I would locate the septic tank, have it pumped out, then call a plumber with a snake and camera to check out the piping from the toilet to the septic tank. In my area a septic system is subjected to a rigorous test to see if it works properly. If not, it has to be fixed before the sale or can be sold with an "as is" sales agreement with the prospective buyer.