Low Toilet Water Level

A low toilet water level, whether in the bowl or tank, is often a cause of concern. For one, the low water level may mean your toilet has a problem. Secondly, the low water level can interfere with the toilet's flushing efficiency. As with many plumbing issues, the cause of the problem determines the solution. Below are some reasons a toilet might have low water.

The toilet fill tube controls the volume of water that fills the toilet with water after a flush. The fill tube has a valve that shuts the water once the water in the bowl has reached an appropriate level. Fill tubes come in different types, but they all perform the same function.

Your toilet might not have enough water if the fill tube is leaking and some of the water is not going to the bowl. Damage, aging, and improper installation are some of the things that can cause a fill tube leak. Replace or adjust the relevant part to normalize the toilet's water level.

Your toilet bowl likely won't hold adequate water if it is cracked and leaking. Most toilet bowls are porcelain, which is relatively strong but destructible. The toilet bowl might crack:

• Due to an accident, for example, if something strong and heavy bumps on the toilet
• Due to age-related degradation
• Due to thermal shock, for example, if you pour boiling water into the bowl

In some cases, the crack might be hairline, and you might not even notice it. If that is the case, carefully examining the floor around the toilet might reveal moisture. However, you might not notice anything if the crack occurs below the floor level. The solution is to replace the damaged toilet.

A water body exposed to the air will evaporate. Water loss via evaporation is slow, so you normally don't notice it in your toilet. However, you will notice the effect in an unused toilet. For example, the effect of evaporation might be noticeable in a vacation house that remains unoccupied for extended periods. Flushing such a toilet should normalize the water level.

You may have an incorrectly adjusted float if the toilet tank doesn't have adequate water. Whenever you flush the toilet, the float goes down and then rises as more water enters the tank. The float has a maximum height, which you can adjust, where it prevents further water entry.

Some people set the float level intentionally low to limit water use. DIY tinkering can also result in an unusual float level setting. An extremely low setting will cause inefficient toilet flushing. Adjusting the float level usually cures the problem. The adjustment technique depends on the type of float.

Plumbing vents have multiple functions. One of them is to normalize pressure in plumbing systems so that water and waste can flow efficiently. The toilet also has a vent, usually at the back of the toilet, for this function.

A pressure difference might arise if something, like debris from the outside, blocks the vents. The pressure difference might create a partial vacuum within the waste pipes, which might suck water out of the toilet. Clearing the blocked vents should get the water level to its normal height.

Hopefully, you won't suffer any toilet problems any time soon. If you do, a professional plumber will help with toilet repair. Rockdale Plumbing & Drain, Inc., handles both residential and commercial plumbing. We have an emergency service that runs round the clock, so you can call us for help at any time of the day. Contact us with any plumbing problem, and we will be glad to diagnose and fix it.