How To Fix A Toilet That Flushes Twice: (Problems And Solutions)

why does my toilet flush twice

Last updated on January 8th, 2022 at 08:30 am

You might be confused and worried why does my toilet flush twice? When too much water is released from a tank to a bowl, it automatically forces it for twice flush.

Flushing aquatically is respectively annoying and water wasting for any house owners. There have two primary reasons for twice or three-time toilet flushing. A lightweight flapper and the overwater pressure from the tank to bowl are the main reasons.

You will get here the details troubleshoot for toilet flushes three times and twice and toilet not flushing strong. For these reasons, you need to know first how does a toilet works? So, let’s get a start.

Contents

How Does A Toilet Work?

Are you facing a problem with the toilet not flushing properly? there have two main parts one is a toilet tank, and another is the toilet bowl. Toilet works with some simple mechanism. There will be a flush button on the left side, right side, or top back of the tank. 

 There is a simple mechanism set inside the tank so that whenever any user presses the flush button, water will automatically come to the bowl from the tank. As a result, all of the waste suck by the gravity flushing power. And go through the waste into the drainage pipe. And the fill valve refills the tank again for the next flush. Here are some simple steps for a working toilet process.

Step 1:

A flush button or handle is connected with a flapper by a metal chain. So, when someone turns the handle or presses the flush button, there will be a pull into the metal chain. As a result, the flapper will lift, and the water will reach the bowl from the toilet tank through the flush valve. 

Step 2:

Because of having gravity technology, the water goes through the trap and reaches the main drain. At the same time, it removes the toilet waste. After each flushing, the flapper is closed automatically to prevent the water from running to the bowl. But the fill valve will be still active and works to bring water from the supply line to the tank. And some water in the refill tube for the next flushing.  

Step 3:

The water supply will be closed automatically if the tank is filled with needed water. And this process is continued in a circle. 

Necessary Tools You Need

Screwdriver

Toilet Flapper

Toilet Fill Valve

What causes your toilet to flush twice or three times?

  1. Lightweight toilet flappers 
  2. Too much water in your tank
Causes the toilet to flush twice or three times

Lightweight flapper

The flapper is a rubber-made door that let’s go the water from the tank to the bowl. If it is lightweight or doesn’t adjust correctly, it won’t close and can occur double or triple flush. It means the water will spontaneously go through the bowl with the flapper with only one press because there has gravity traction.  

How to fix the flapper problem:

Step 1:

You have to open the toilet tank lid to observe the flapper when flushing. So, take off the tank cover and press the flush button. At the same time, notice if the flapper is close quickly by itself

 If the flapper does not close quickly and is open for a while, it must be understood that there is a problem with the flapper.

Step 2:

Suppose your flapper style is like an adjustable cone then you can try to turn it counterclockwise. Then, the flapper’s larger holes will release the inside air and help to close the flapper quickly.

Step 3:

Make sure about the flapper weight. Each toilet flapper should have a standard weight. If you notice that the flapper doesn’t close quickly, think to replace it with the new flapper of ideal weight.

How to replace a new flapper:

Step 1:

Go to a hardware shop and find out a flapper as per your toilet tank measurement. It would help if you tried to take a heavier flapper because it works great than a lighter flapper.

Step 2:

Shut off the water supply line of your toilet and reduce the existing water by flushing. Now remove the old flapper and install the new one. Don’t forget to attach the overflow tube before installing the new flapper. Then reconnect the metal chain with the flapper. Never tightened the flapper connection too strong or loose.

Step 3:

Start the water supply line of the toilet and let the tank be fill. After then flush the toilet for once and observed if the flapper is sinking quickly after one flush.

Too much water in your tank

Why does my toilet flush by itself? If there is additional water in the tank after flushing, it may pour down to the bowel responsible for twice flush. But what is the reason for having extra water in the toilet tank? It might happen from the fill valve problem. If the fill valve is not set properly, then the tank can contain extra water. 

How to fix the fill valve problem:

Step 1:

First of all, make sure about the float arm mechanism and float cup mechanism. If there have a float arm, then take a screwdriver to adjust the fill valve float arm. Use the screwdriver to adjust the fill valve top point to the float arm lower bottom. If you don’t observe the screw for adjustment, then the fill valve has got too old. In this case, it is good to replace a new fill valve because an older fill valve can be the cause of a toilet flush slowly and incompletely

Step 2:

If your toilet tank has a float cup, then you have pressed the float clip and let it sink into the lower water level in the tank. You can also get some fill valve with adjustable water rod, which can adjust the water level in the ideal position. 

Secondary Reasons for toilet twice and tree time flushing

  • Poor quality or low flushing toilet
  • An older and worn flapper
  • Hard water builds inside the bowl
  • Partial clogging in the drain
  • Flapper closes soon

Final Words:

We believe you will not be surprised that why does my toilet flushes twice when you will read this guide. We have covered the genuine reasons why a toilet can flush twice or three times. You are also getting the step-by-step solution to fix the above problem that you can solve by yourself. If you have a problem understanding anything from this guide, then let us know.

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