Have you ever gone to the bathroom and noticed that the water level in your toilet was low.
The easiest way to notice this is to spot the watermark in the toilet. Although most people hate seeing the watermark in their bowl and do their best to remove it when cleaning, it is helpful in showing the correct waterline.
There are two places in a toilet where the water level can be low. 1) The tank and 2) The bowl.
While adjusting the water level in the tank is easy and fairly straightforward, the reason for a low water level in the toilet bowl can be tough to discern.
In this article, I’ll share 6 causes of low water in a toilet bowl and tank. I’m sure one of the reasons will answer to your question.
Let’s learn a little more about the water level in a toilet and bowl.
6 Causes Of Low Water Levels In A Toilet Bowl Or Tank
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Fill Tube Leak
As your toilet’s tank fills, the tank also redirects water to the bowl. The fill valve is commonly seen on the left side of a toilet.
Its main job is to fill the tank after each flush, however, you’ll notice a rubber tube that stretches from the fill valve to the overflow valve. The tube hooks into the overflow valve and it’s responsible for filling the bowl with water (here’s a tank photo with labels).
The fill tube is usually attached to the overflow valve with a small clip and attaches onto the fill valve in a similar way. Check the fill tube to make sure it’s installed properly and make sure there isn’t a leak.
An old fill tube could crack due to long-term exposure to moisture, however, this is unlikely.
Once the fill tube is adjusted, flush the toilet and observe the water line. Is it still low or has it fixed the problem? If not, see one of the other reasons below.
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Tank Water Level Set Low (Tank)
If you notice the water level in the tank is low it’s likely a result of the float position. The float controls the water level.
If the float is set low, the tank will fill to a lower height. It will use less water and save you money on your monthly bill. A low water level in the tank can also result in a weak flush (if you find yourself flushing two times after going the bathroom consider raising the water level in the tank).
Adjusting the water level is done differently depending on the float you have. A balloon float merely needs a gentle bend while newer floats can be adjusted by tightening a screw.
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Leak In The Bowl
A cracked bowl can lead to big problems.
- You could be injured if you sit and the bowl breaks
- The crack could leak
- The crack could seep and damage floors and foundation
A crack in porcelain can be a very fine line. Sometimes they are hard to see, but once there’s a crack, it tends to get larger if not repaired. If the crack becomes large enough, water may begin to leak through the toilet.
>> check out how to fix a crack in a toilet
This isn’t common, but it’s certainly something to be aware of. If the bowl is cracked it could definitely be losing water and affect the water level.
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Water Evaporation
If you haven’t used your toilet in a few weeks you might notice the water level has changed. Evaporation doesn’t just take place outside in the sun. It can also occur in our home.
Toilet water evaporation occurs in cabins, beach houses, and vacation homes that remain empty for long periods of time.
This is an easy fix because the water level should return once the toilet is flushed. If the water level in the bowl was very low, I recommend flushing the toilet a few times to hydrate the pipes below the house. Chances are, they may have dried out if the plumbing wasn’t used for an extended amount of time.
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Plugged Vent Pipe
Almost all toilets have a vent pipe, but most households will never see it. The vent pipe is hidden behind the toilet, inside the wall and extends upward to the roof.
A vent pipe is important for a number of reasons but it’s especially helpful for moving waste through the pipes. Vent pipes make your plumbing air-pressure neutral so you shouldn’t see bubbles or burps coming from your toilet (if your toilet does these things the vent might be plugged).
If the vent is clogged, it might be sucking water from your toilet through the trap and into the pipes. Suffice to say, plumbing acts strange when there isn’t an air-pressure neutral environment.
If there is a low water level combined with burps or bubbles when you flush, then there’s a good chance something is obstructing the vent. A plumber will help in this case since the vent can be difficult to access.
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Fill Valve Isn’t Working Properly
If your fill valve isn’t working properly it can affect the water level in the tank and bowl. Fill valves usually last decades because once they are installed they aren’t touched.
If you have hard water, or if you’ve been tinkering with your toilet, the fill valve could be broken. Rather than try to fix a broken fill valve, it’s usually easier to replace it (I wrote an article on the best toilet repair kits).
Installing a new valve will only take 15-20 minutes and your water level in the toilet bowl and tank should be back to normal.
Conclusion
We use our toilets every day so it’s no surprise that eventually something will go wrong. Don’t worry, low water level in the toilet bowl isn’t a big problem and you can probably solve it on your own.
In this article, I shared 6 reasons the toilet water level is low and I shared a few suggestions to fix it. Possible reasons include:
- Fill valve not working
- Vent pipe plugged
- Evaporation
- Leak
- Fill tube
- Low tank setting
Review the list and think about why your water level is low. I bet you can solve the problem on your own, without having to call an expensive plumber.
Thanks for reading another Toilet Travels article. I aim to answer every question you have about your porcelain throne!
