6/10
Adjust the Water Level
Most toilets have an indicator line showing the proper water level. If yours doesn’t, set the fill level 1 in. below the top of the overflow pipe. Closer than that might be asking for trouble. In the evening, the demand on your municipal water supply drops, which can increase water pressure. This can cause the water level in your tank to rise a bit.
If water is continuously flowing into the overflow pipe, you’re flushing money as well as water down the toilet. There are many different mechanisms for adjusting your tank’s water level. The most common methods are an adjustment screw on the fill valve, an adjustment screw connected to the float, or a spring clip connected to the float.
Plus, check out our toilet parts guide to learn how to fix broken parts of your toilet such as flappers, fill valves, flush valves and handles. While you’re at it, get to know how to fix a toilet handle.
7/10
Tighten the Flush Handle
A nut inside the tank holds the flush handle in place. If it’s loose, it can throw off the chain adjustment. Tighten the nut, being careful not to over-tighten; it just needs to be snug.
Basement toilets are notoriously bad flushers. There often isn’t enough of a drop from the toilet to the horizontal drain that leads to the main sewer line, limiting the assist of gravity. This can also be a problem if you have a toilet in a building with no basement. A pressure-assist toilet might be your only option in this case.
8/10
Open the Water Supply All the Way
When you flush, it’s not just the water from the tank that’s making the flush. The fill valve also opens, allowing more water to immediately enter the tank. The more water flowing in, the better your flush will be. Learn how to unclog a toilet fast.
