Two questions... Low water pressure and cheap power cord

[WoodysGirl]

1) Might be a bit TMI, but the water pressure for my toilet is a bit low. Not quite flushing the way it should. Don't want to call a plumber because of the $55 service call. Any idea what I can do?


2) Power cord for my friend's 'puter is messed up. Any idea where she can find a relatively cheap one? She said she has a Toshiba Satellite. I've pointed her to newegg.com and overstock.com. Just trying to find more options.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

1) Might be a bit TMI, but the water pressure for my toilet is a bit low. Not quite flushing the way it should. Don't want to call a plumber because of the $55 service call. Any idea what I can do?

eat less roughage.

 

[WoodysGirl]

eat less roughage.

He he. Not. Everything flushes as it's supposed to. Just not flushing with the same amount of pressure.

 

[Yeagermeister]

1) Might be a bit TMI, but the water pressure for my toilet is a bit low. Not quite flushing the way it should. Don't want to call a plumber because of the $55 service call. Any idea what I can do?


2) Power cord for my friend's 'puter is messed up. Any idea where she can find a relatively cheap one? She said she has a Toshiba Satellite. I've pointed her to newegg.com and overstock.com. Just trying to find more options.

#1. Have you tried turning up the valve behind the toilet?

#2. She should be able to find an after market type of ac adapter at Best Buy that will work.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

He he. Not. Everything flushes as it's supposed to. Just not flushing with the same amount of pressure.

You try opening the spigot behind the commode, at the wall a turn or 2?

Remember, "righty tighty, lefty loosey". :

 

[big dog cowboy]

1) Might be a bit TMI, but the water pressure for my toilet is a bit low. Not quite flushing the way it should. Don't want to call a plumber because of the $55 service call. Any idea what I can do?


2) Power cord for my friend's 'puter is messed up. Any idea where she can find a relatively cheap one? She said she has a Toshiba Satellite. I've pointed her to newegg.com and overstock.com. Just trying to find more options.

1. Is this a new issue? Might just be a temporary thing. If it's been getting progressively worse, call a plumber and save the headache.

2. I agree with Yeag, Best Buy. Or Wally's.

 

[WoodysGirl]

#1. Have you tried turning up the valve behind the toilet?

#2. She should be able to find an after market type of ac adapter at Best Buy that will work.

You try opening the spigot behind the commode, at the wall a turn or 2?

Remember, "righty tighty, lefty loosey". :

So basically if I tighten it a bit, the theory is that the pressure should rise a bit? I'll try the turn thing when I get home. The only time I've messed with those things is when the bowl cracked in my other bathroom and I had to turn the water off.

I'll tell her to check out Best Buy to see if they have one she can use.

1. Is this a new issue? Might just be a temporary thing. If it's been getting progressively worse, call a plumber and save the headache.

2. I agree with Yeag, Best Buy. Or Wally's.

New issue. When I got back home the other day, I noticed it. Wasn't doing it before I went out of town as far as I can recall. The toilet in my other bathroom flushes fine. Being brand new, it should.

After I turn the spigot thingy, I'll track it to see if it gets worse.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

So basically if I tighten it a bit, the theory is that the pressure should rise a bit?

No, open/loosen it.

$55 please. :

 

[WoodysGirl]

No, open/loosen it.

$55 please. :

Send me a bill and I'll make sure you get a check.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

ebay for the power cord. dirt cheap.

 

[jksmith269]

WG sent you a PM, everyone telling you to turn up the volume so to speak on the water flow isn't correct if you have a fill tank system, now if you ahve a tankless system it could help but considering it's at home I'd bet on a tank...

 

[jksmith269]

and just so you guys know all turning up the water pressure to a fill tank does is help in the recovery time (time between flushes)

 

[joseephuss]

Opening the valve is not going to change anything. That only controls the supply to the tank and how fast the tank fills. Even if the valve were partially closed, it would still end up filling the tank.

You may need to adjust the float or the flapper within the tank. These control how much water goes into the bowl when you flush it.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...n&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&cd=1

There are a few different types of floats and what not, so you may need to google which kind you have and how to adjust it.

 

[Yeagermeister]

and just so you guys know all turning up the water pressure to a fill tank does is help in the recovery time (time between flushes)

Opening the valve is not going to change anything. That only controls the supply to the tank and how fast the tank fills. Even if the valve were partially closed, it would still end up filling the tank.

You may need to adjust the float or the flapper within the tank. These control how much water goes into the bowl when you flush it.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...n&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&cd=1

There are a few different types of floats and what not, so you may need to google which kind you have and how to adjust it.

I wasn't sure if that would help or not......thanks

 

[Hostile]

1) Might be a bit TMI, but the water pressure for my toilet is a bit low. Not quite flushing the way it should. Don't want to call a plumber because of the $55 service call. Any idea what I can do?

If the water in your area has a lot of calcium in it (you know if there is white scale around shower heads and faucets) then it could be that the jets under the toilet rim are starting to clog up form calcium. This reduces the water pressue quit a bit. In fact if it's real bad you may need to flush more than once for everything to go down.

CLR works better than anything for removing calcium build up. Spray some up under the rim and pour some in the toilet tank and let it work for a half hour or so. Flush the toilet and see if there's improvement. If there is then you just need to really clean those jets. Regular treatments of CLR in the tank will help.

If this doesn't work my guess is that your float has breathed it's last. They are very easy to replace. No need to call a plumber. I can walk you through it.

 

[jksmith269]

If the water in your area has a lot of calcium in it (you know if there is white scale around shower heads and faucets) then it could be that the jets under the toilet rim are starting to clog up form calcium. This reduces the water pressue quit a bit. In fact if it's real bad you may need to flush more than once for everything to go down.

CLR works better than anything for removing calcium build up. Spray some up under the rim and pour some in the toilet tank and let it work for a half hour or so. Flush the toilet and see if there's improvement. If there is then you just need to really clean those jets. Regular treatments of CLR in the tank will help.

If this doesn't work my guess is that your float has breathed it's last. They are very easy to replace. No need to call a plumber. I can walk you through it.

Good job hostile, I completely brain farted on that, which is correct about the build up, but the float shouldn't have anything to do with the flush, other than the amount of water that goes into the tank. the flapper could be an issue, or it could be a blockage in the line.

I suggested to her to take a mop buckett of water and pour directly into the bowl if it goes down at normal speed then it's in the tank (ie the flapper or build up under the rim like you suggested) if it drains slow like it does when she flushes it's in the lines and other than trying some draino (shouldn't use often as it may damage some of the pipes after prolonged use) she will need a plumber... She doesn't have any trees near her so it shouldn't be roots growing into the line which if it's not and she's on city sewer it's more than likely just a small blockage...

 

[ologan]

Conserve water.......If it's yellow,let it mellow; If it's brown,flush it down!

 

[joseephuss]

Good job hostile, I completely brain farted on that, which is correct about the build up, but the float shouldn't have anything to do with the flush, other than the amount of water that goes into the tank. the flapper could be an issue, or it could be a blockage in the line.

I suggested to her to take a mop buckett of water and pour directly into the bowl if it goes down at normal speed then it's in the tank (ie the flapper or build up under the rim like you suggested) if it drains slow like it does when she flushes it's in the lines and other than trying some draino (shouldn't use often as it may damage some of the pipes after prolonged use) she will need a plumber... She doesn't have any trees near her so it shouldn't be roots growing into the line which if it's not and she's on city sewer it's more than likely just a small blockage...

That is good advice on the build up.

If the float is not properly working, then the tank will not fill to it's normal level. Less water in the tank means less water going through during each flush. Since it is a gravity system, less water in the tank also means less pressure. It most likely is the flapper and your proposed test is a good one.

 

[poke]

i was completely inrigued by the title of this thread....not often
i think of toilet pressure and electricity.
having said that i have 2 power cords which were shipped to me by mistake
for my hp laptop. i am pretty sure they were made to work on the toshiba.
i could send you one of them and if it works everybody will be happy and if it doesnt i would not need it sent back ( tired of them being in my way).
let me know if you would like one.

 

[Hostile]

Good job hostile, I completely brain farted on that, which is correct about the build up, but the float shouldn't have anything to do with the flush, other than the amount of water that goes into the tank. the flapper could be an issue, or it could be a blockage in the line.

I suggested to her to take a mop buckett of water and pour directly into the bowl if it goes down at normal speed then it's in the tank (ie the flapper or build up under the rim like you suggested) if it drains slow like it does when she flushes it's in the lines and other than trying some draino (shouldn't use often as it may damage some of the pipes after prolonged use) she will need a plumber... She doesn't have any trees near her so it shouldn't be roots growing into the line which if it's not and she's on city sewer it's more than likely just a small blockage...

Out here because of the hard water the float can get saturated and "too heavy" and quit working as efficiently and it loses pressure. That is rare. It is usually those holes under the rim clogging up.