Toilet only flushes with hot water and soap!

11 years ago

Our toilet was clogged last week, but we finally fixed it. Or so I thought. It doesn't flush completely. The water will rise, swirl, and that's it. The water doesn't leave the bowl so there is no "gulp" at the end. I saw a video on YouTube where hot water and dish soap will unclog a toilet. I did that about 5 times, and each time it flushed completely. Without the hot water, it just swirls. Is it still clogged, or is there a serious problem?

Another thing to add, the little hole at the bottom of the bowl seems to have toilet paper in it. I can't seem to pull all of the paper out. Could that be causing the issue?

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Tina L

8 years ago

Hi.. I have (somewhat) the same problem.. My toilet only flashes with dish soap. Without it, the water just swirls without the 'gulp'. The problem started when I poured water (with soap) that I used after hand-washing a piece of garment (with a bar soap). I guess the soap scum has clogged the toilet. To make things worse, while trying to fix the problem, I poured Drano Crystal both into the bowl and the overflow tube. Now, the toilet no longer flushes with a gallon (or so) of hot water. (Before putting Drano, it did.) It only flushes (100% of the time) if I poured dish soap before flushing. I've been doing this for about a month and now I'm tired of doing this every time I flush. If the toilet flushes (with dish soap), doesn't that mean the clog is gone? What do you suggest as my next step for fixing this? Thanks in advance!

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Comments (6)

randy427
11 years ago
Yes, that little hole proviudes a solid stream of water that gets the siphonong action going for the bowl to be emptied. That toilet paper was undoubtedly in the tank and then washed down during a flush cycle. It needs to be removed. Multiple tweezer-picks and a few rinsing flushes will be needed.
User
11 years ago
You could have one of several problems:

1) The holes under the rim of the bowl could be clogged. If you pour a gallon of water into the toilet bowl (just plain cold water), does it flush?

2) Syphon or jet hole as described above

3) The toilet trap or drain line could be clogged. If you try to flush and the bowl fills and swirls, does it then slowly drain itself?
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Curtis E. Combs Jr.
5 years ago
I know this is an old thread, but I have the same problem that Tina has. The toilet only "half flushes" if I don't use dish soap. It happens everytime, without fail! Adding dish soap is the only thing that will allow the water to fully flush! It's so weird!

Any advice or recommendations? Thanks!
HU-400142271
last year
Flushes other drain clogged toilet.
HU-400142271
last year
last modified: last year
Help toilet flushes with dawn only no other water issues just the toilet