Toilet not "sucking" like it used to.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

Stop flushing tampons and toilet paper.

Toilet paper is usually very porous, is organic and breaks up easily. Let's face it, some of the deposits put down the toilet are more solid, bigger and harder to flush away. 

[Ralf001]

10 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Toilet paper is usually very porous, is organic and breaks up easily. Let's face it, some of the deposits put down the toilet are more solid, bigger and harder to flush away. 

Sweet keep on flushing tampons and toilet paper... ease up on the whinging.

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Sweet keep on flushing tampons and toilet paper... ease up on the whinging.

Who's whinging?   Neither I, nor my female house sharers use tampons. Baby wipes were never flushed down.

Been flushing paper for 13 years with no problems.

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

Who's whinging?   Neither I, nor my female house sharers use tampons. Been flushing paper for 13 years with no problems.

 

Good to hear you don't use tampons.

[Free the 115]

3 hours ago, giddyup said:

The toilet used to make a sucking sound at the end of the flush, now it doesn't do that and requires an extra couple of flushes to clear the bowl. Holding the handle down when flushing seems to help the flush. Pretty sure it's not blocked as everything does eventually disappear.

The toilet has worked well (until now) for 15 years, so maybe needs some kind of gasket kit in the cistern?

The seal on the syphon will be worn or maybe leaking. 
replace the syphon rather than the seals. 
short flush is for wee; holding the handle/button for longer empties the cistern. 

[KannikaP]

5 minutes ago, Free the 115 said:

The seal on the syphon will be worn or maybe leaking. 
replace the syphon rather than the seals. 
short flush is for wee; holding the handle/button for longer empties the cistern. 

As long as the water from the cistern is getting into the bowl, either short or long flush, then that part is working OK.

The 'sucking' is made by the water leaving the bowl, so a blockage somewhere between bowl and septic tank could be the problem.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Saves on toilet paper

So does using the bum-gun.

[nauseus]

Older fixtures do lose their efficiency over time. I noticed a similar disappointing drop in performance from the wife after 15 years.

 

But that's life. 

[fredwiggy]

12 minutes ago, nauseus said:

Older fixtures do lose their efficiency over time. I noticed a similar disappointing drop in performance from the wife after 15 years.

 

But that's life. 

Could she say the same thing?

[Regyai]

Toilet used to suck

 

Now it doesn't

 

(Have you married it in the interim?)

 

[nauseus]

43 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Could she say the same thing?

 

Of  course.

[nauseus]

27 minutes ago, Regyai said:

Toilet used to suck

 

Now it doesn't

 

(Have you married it in the interim?)

 

 

Re read required, matey.

[billd766]

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

Does your septic need sucking?

 

I had/have a similar problem.

 

The plumbers plunger used to clear it and still does, the plumbers snake doesn't seem to do much at all. A wire coat hanger, untwisted, straightened and re bent works OK, My wife had a go with caustic soda and water which worked about the best, though I think that the water should be hot to boiling for a better result.

 

The OP does not mention if he lives in a 2 storey house or a single storey. Ours is a 2 storey and the upstairs toilet worked fine all the time.

 

I have hopefully attached a cutaway drawing of a toilet which may be of use in locating and clearing the problem.

 

When clearing the "blockage" always wear the longest rubber gloves that you can find, a face mask and some safety glasses or goggles, if you can get them from a hardware store.

 

There is a lot of information and videos available if you do an internet search. I have more information should you need it.

 

Good luck.

[giddyup]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

Vanish has worked for me, along with he snake. It's safe on PVC also. I've had trouble with soaps hardening in the pipes here, and the only thing that worked was the snake.

Do you find that the snake can scratch the bottom of the toilet bowl?

[jvs]

3 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Amazing you can hold it in that long.

Yes i have often thought he was full of it!

[steven100]

yes,   I had that problem recently ...    but it wasn't the toilet 

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Do you find that the snake can scratch the bottom of the toilet bowl?

I've used them many times, both here and in a few houses in the US, and never saw any damage to the toilet. You generally stick the tip down low into the hole before you start turning the crank, as most clogs are at the first turn.

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

I had/have a similar problem.

 

The plumbers plunger used to clear it and still does, the plumbers snake doesn't seem to do much at all. A wire coat hanger, untwisted, straightened and re bent works OK, My wife had a go with caustic soda and water which worked about the best, though I think that the water should be hot to boiling for a better result.

 

The OP does not mention if he lives in a 2 storey house or a single storey. Ours is a 2 storey and the upstairs toilet worked fine all the time.

 

I have hopefully attached a cutaway drawing of a toilet which may be of use in locating and clearing the problem.

 

When clearing the "blockage" always wear the longest rubber gloves that you can find, a face mask and some safety glasses or goggles, if you can get them from a hardware store.

 

There is a lot of information and videos available if you do an internet search. I have more information should you need it.

 

Good luck.

We have a single storey house and the septic tank is about a metre from the toilet. Caustic soda can be damaging to plastic pipes so would rather not use that, plus it may be detrimental to septic systems. Plunger doesn't seem to do anything so may try a snake.

[billd766]

16 minutes ago, giddyup said:

We have a single storey house and the septic tank is about a metre from the toilet. Caustic soda can be damaging to plastic pipes so would rather not use that, plus it may be detrimental to septic systems. Plunger doesn't seem to do anything so may try a snake.

I have also used 2 kettles full of boiling water and left it in the toilet for a while and though it did not help that much, it did help a little.

 

If you do need to replace the toilet, then try the Thai Watsadu builders merchants as they have a good line in everything you will need. Cotto toilets had an offer to replace the toilet and do all the work for 900 thb extra. However I have no idea how far distant from the store the offer was. Whether it was 5 or 10 km or more, but I live 60 km away which may cost a lot more even if they would do the job.

 

 Cotto have a big range of single piece, 2 piece with external water tank, short or long flush buttons, handles on the side or the front, all at a  reasonable price. Thai Watsadu also deal with American Standard and I think a German company as well, along with the usual toilet and bathroom fittings.

[Sierra Tango]

3 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

I'll try to give you a serious and hopefully helpful response. 

 

I believe that toilets can accumulate a build up of something on the insides of the pipe.  This leads to a not quite blockage, but it reduces the flow a lot. 

 

It could be something like fat or oil that goes in there, maybe Thai food puts a lot of this in people's stools.  You can buy products that are designed to eat away built up fat within the pipe and clear the restriction.  I believe you can get them in supermarkets.

 

Be wary of the power of the stuff and where you put it.  You can get some milder stuff which you can leave over night and use multiple times.

Yes, supermarkets, hardware stores etc. Can't remember the name but it is like granuals that you tip in the bowl. I try and flush some of it through and let it sit for an hour before letting the whole lot go. Normally works well. Laundry washing powder has also worked. 

[ElwoodP]

@Gottfrid

Please stop now, the replies to your post were entirely appropriate to the post you made.

[Free the 115]

On 5/10/2025 at 3:13 PM, KannikaP said:

As long as the water from the cistern is getting into the bowl, either short or long flush, then that part is working OK.

The 'sucking' is made by the water leaving the bowl, so a blockage somewhere between bowl and septic tank could be the problem.

You sure about that? If water leaks through the seals, then you flush with reduced amount a pressure of water. 
a blockage in the outflow pipe, usually is accompanied by a increase in time for the bowl to empty…something the poster doesn’t mention. 
and thirdly, the sucking sound is usually an indication of the water passing through the syphon

[KannikaP]

20 minutes ago, Free the 115 said:

You sure about that? If water leaks through the seals, then you flush with reduced amount a pressure of water. 
a blockage in the outflow pipe, usually is accompanied by a increase in time for the bowl to empty…something the poster doesn’t mention. 
and thirdly, the sucking sound is usually an indication of the water passing through the syphon

The pressure in the cistern is created by the height of water in that cistern, nothing to do with the bowl emptying.

The pressure in the bowl is created by the head of water in that bowl. You could do it with a bucket. A blockage in the outlet pipe, yes, more likely to prevent proper emptying of the bowl.

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

A blockage in the outlet pipe, yes, more likely to prevent proper emptying of the bowl.

 

Bung some enzyme powder (BigC Mini a blue box near the drain cleaners) into the bowl and flush and leave overnight. That will clear up any organic blockage.

The sucking you used to get is air rushing in to break the siphon effect. If the water can't flow fast enough or deep enough you won't get a decent siphon effect.  

[giddyup]

17 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Bung some enzyme powder (BigC Mini a blue box near the drain cleaners) into the bowl and flush and leave overnight. That will clear up any organic blockage.

The sucking you used to get is air rushing in to break the siphon effect. If the water can't flow fast enough or deep enough you won't get a decent siphon effect.  

Probably easier for me to buy from Lazada, so just buy enzyme powder?

[KannikaP]

Just now, giddyup said:

Probably easier for me to buy from Lazada, so just buy enzyme powder?

Sodium Hydroxide from any hardware shop.

 

[VocalNeal]

 

Bionic 200 grams, organic, toilet deodorizer powder,

 

 

[giddyup]

8 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Sodium Hydroxide from any hardware shop.

 

Not much good for septic systems or PVC pipes.

[giddyup]

48 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Bung some enzyme powder (BigC Mini a blue box near the drain cleaners) into the bowl and flush and leave overnight. That will clear up any organic blockage.

The sucking you used to get is air rushing in to break the siphon effect. If the water can't flow fast enough or deep enough you won't get a decent siphon effect.  

Think it's called Bionic, so ordered 3 boxes from Lazada.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

Not much good for septic systems or PVC pipes.

Does NaOH attack PVC pipes? As long as not over 50% concentrated or very hot. So in general, it can be used.

My septic system seems to still work OK using NaOH twice a year for 12 years