Quick takeaways
- No water in the tank → fill valve or supply issue.
- Water in tank but won't flush → chain or flapper.
- Flushes but won't clear → partial clog or weak siphon.
- Flushes weakly every time → jets clogged or low tank water level.
Diagnose by symptom
Lift the tank lid and look. If the tank is empty, your fill valve isn't refilling — either the supply line is closed, the fill valve has failed, or the float is stuck. If the tank is full but pushing the handle does nothing, the flapper chain is broken or disconnected. If the handle moves the flapper but the flush is weak, you've got a clog, a low tank water level, or clogged rim jets.
Self-fixes
Chain disconnected: reconnect it with about 1cm of slack. Flapper not sealing: replace it (universal flappers are $8 at any hardware store, 10-minute job). Fill valve failed: Fluidmaster 400A replacement is $15-20 and 30 minutes. Partial clog: try a flange plunger (the one with the extension, not a flat sink plunger).
When to call us
If the toilet flushes weakly across multiple flushes despite a full tank, or if more than one fixture is sluggish (toilet + tub draining slowly together is a classic main-line partial clog), call us. Repeated partial clogs almost always mean a deeper issue we should auger or camera-inspect.
Need a Kanata plumber?
24/7 dispatch · flat-rate pricing · local crews