How to Flush A Toilet Without Water

We are used to flushing toilets by pressing the flush buttons or lever. Water comes into the bowl and removes all debris instantly. However, there are situations when the flush system does not work. These can be responsible for it:

1. Plumbing issues
2. Temporary water shut off for repairment
3. Clogged toilet
4. Low tank water level
5. Malfunctioning lift chain
6. Problematic rubber flapper
7. No available water source
8. Occasional water shut off for natural calamities
9. Cracked overflow tube

No matter what the reason is, it is frustrating. Sometimes, people finish using the toilet without knowing the scarcity of running water. They only figure it out after pressing the flush button. Embarrassing, isn’t it? Luckily, there are still some other methods to flush toilets, and we are presenting them one by one:

Filling up the water tank with water

Your toilet won’t be able to flush with an empty water tank. Hence, pouring water manually becomes the ideal solution. You will need a bucket, water, and newspaper/ paper towels for it. Many people don’t have buckets; they can use a mug or cups instead.

Of course, you’ll need water as well. Most often, the toilet’s water supply stops when other facets of the house remain active. Or, you can collect from tube wells, well, rain, neighbors, nearby swimming pools, lakes, ponds, etc.

The process is straightforward to do yet quite effective. First of all, you need to separate the tank cover. Secondly, pour water into it and fill it up to the marking. The amount depends on how much water your toilet consumes for a single flush.

Most standard toilets require 1.5 to 2 gallons. Multiple models might need even more. So, if the tank can store 6 gallons of water, it might be enough for two to three flashes. Then, you have to pour water again.

Don’t worry about spilling water because you can clean it with newspaper or dry paper towels. Now, you can flush the toilet normally.

Throwing water into the bowl

What if the water tank is full, but the flush system is not working? The toilet’s construction is the likely culprit. Try pouring water directly into the bowl. All you need is a bucket and water. Gather all essentials before you start.

The required amount of liquid is the same as the previous method. Buckets with gallons of water capacity are the best. Alternatively, you can pour sixteen cups of liquid to achieve the result of 1 gallon.

Start by lifting the toilet lid as well as the seat. Now, you have a big opening to dump the water. Check whether the drain is clogged or not first. Throw a little bit of water. Water going down indicates that your toilet is not blocked.

Therefore, it’s time to pour the entire container. Keep your pouring speed slow at first and increase gradually. It will induce a natural pressure to remove dirt within seconds. Don’t hurry to avoid splashing.

You have to continue this procedure after every time anyone uses the toilet. A few toilets may consume 3 to 4 gallons in the first flush even though the requirement is 1 gallon only. 

Solving rubber flapper or lift chain issues

The rubber flapper closes to preserve water in the container. It opens after pressing the flush lever to push debris in the drainpipe. As you can assume, flapper malfunctions have a significant impact on the flush system. In such a case, you have to get a new flapper.

Detach the lid of your toilet tank. If you see a disconnected chain, join it to the handle arm. If the flush works, you don’t have to do anything else.

Else, check the position and condition of the flapper. Secure the intact flapper in the right place. Replace a new one in place of the broken flapper. Press the handle to see the flushing performance.

Conclusion

Anyone with basic knowledge can fix flushing problems by following mentioned instructions. Just be careful while dumping water to prevent splashes onto your body. If you are not confident enough, call a professional plumber.