[chucktalur]

About a month ago, I noticed that the water level has been dropping after I flush. It would fill to normal level and drop down about an inch within seconds of filling. I think the water level is settling lower and lower as time goes on. I checked around my toliet and there are no leaks. I snaked the main line just in case and it didnt seem to help. Any know what else it could be?

I live on the ground floor of a 4 story townhouse condo building.

 

[joecaption]

A blocked up vent line will siphon out the water anytime someone above you uses water.

 

[chandler48]

Check and/or replace the flapper valve. They get old and scummy.

 

[lenaitch]

Unclear if you mean the level in the tank or the bowl. If tank, do as Chandler suggests. If the bowl, it could be bad venting as suggested. The level in the bowl is fixed by design. Sometimes trapped debris can wick water over the trap but it is usually a slow drip.

 

[chucktalur]

Unclear if you mean the level in the tank or the bowl. If tank, do as Chandler suggests. If the bowl, it could be bad venting as suggested. The level in the bowl is fixed by design. Sometimes trapped debris can wick water over the trap but it is usually a slow drip.

Sorry, I mean the bowl.

 

[chucktalur]

A blocked up vent line will siphon out the water anytime someone above you uses water.

A couple questions about that. This happens every time I flush, even when none of the units above me should be awake. It always takes same amount of time for the water to settle ( within seconds ) at the same water level. Could it siphon even if no one else in the building uses water?

If it was a vent blockage, would it effect other units or just mine?

 

[hkstroud]

You have a cracked toilet. That crack is in the trapway (internal to the toilet). No repair. Replace toilet or live with the lower water level in the bowl.

 

[chucktalur]

You have a cracked toilet. That crack is in the trapway (internal to the toilet). No repair. Replace toilet or live with the lower water level in the bowl.

I hope this is the case. Its easier to replace my own toilet than to gain access to the roof vent. If the crack is internal, there wouldnt be and leakage outside the toilet right? What would cause a crack in the trapway?

 

[hkstroud]

If the crack is internal, there wouldnt be and leakage outside the toilet right?

Correct. The water in the bowl would pass through the crack to the outlet channel and flow out to the toilet drain.

If it were a blocked vent, every bodies toilet would be siphoned dry and everyone would be getting sewer gasses.

What would cause a crack in the trapway?

Life happens. Toilet is vitreous china. Why did your favorite plate or bowl just crack?


You can verify this diagnosis by slowly pouring about a quart of water in the toilet bowl and watch the water level return to the lower level. You can do this repeatedly.


Most likely crack will grow.

 

[chucktalur]

Correct. The water in the bowl would pass through the crack to the outlet channel and flow out to the toilet drain.

If it were a blocked vent, every bodies toilet would be siphoned dry and everyone would be getting sewer gasses.
Life happens. Toilet is vitreous china. Why did your favorite plate or bowl just crack?


You can verify this diagnosis by slowly pouring about a quart of water in the toilet bowl and watch the water level return to the lower level. You can do this repeatedly.


Most likely crack will grow.

Thanks for all your insight and help. I havent gotten around to asking the other residents yet because of the whole covid thing. Ive watched a few videos on how the venting works. One pointed out that in a perfect world, the vent would run straight down from the roof. However, it is possible that the vent forks out into different areas. That being said, its would be still possible for my path in the fork to be clogged and no one elses right?

I really hope youre right about the crack. Im going to wait a couple of months before replacing my toilet. Hopefully the pandemic thing will die down by then.

 

[hkstroud]

Just pour that quart of water in the bowl and watch the action.