Have you ever taken a look at your toilet’s water level and wondered, “why is it so low?” Water levels can vary in toilet bowls, and the reason why can come down to a number of factors. If your toilet’s water level is low and you don’t know why, your toilet may be in need of adjustment or repair. Read on to learn more about toilet water levels and why they are important.
Why You Might Keep your Toilet Water Level Low
A toilet tank’s mechanics can be adjusted so that less water goes into the bowl after a flush. This is a feature that is primarily used to control how much water is used per flush. There are two main reasons for doing this: either to save water or to limit how much water goes into the home’s septic system, if the home has one.
Water is a precious resource, needed the world over. Clean water is hard to come by in many areas, so it makes no sense to waste gallons upon gallons just to flush your toilet. Toilets that are more than thirty years old will usually use a lot more water than a newer one would, so adjusting the water level can help make an old toilet more efficient. Many homeowners find they can get by with a lower water level, even with newer toilets.
When a home is connected to a septic system, water use is an ever-present concern. Using too much water can damage the bacterial ecosystem that works day and night to break down waste. A smaller septic tank, or one that isn’t large enough to handle all the flushes, showers, and faucet use in a day may overflow, and in the worst case, cause a backup of sewage. If your home uses a septic system, be sure to train everyone that lives in your home how to conserve water.
What Should I Do if I Can’t Get My Water Level Higher?
Aging toilets may not be able to maintain a reasonable water level. For example, if the water barely fills up the hole at the bottom, your water level is too low. If nobody is adjusting the water level low on purpose, it is time to open the lid to the toilet tank and see what is going on. If you are renting, report the low water level to your landlord right away. Otherwise, try to see if there is some kind of obstruction or break in the stopper, float, chain, or some other part of the tank’s inner workings. While you can replace the components in a toilet tank yourself, you might also consider contacting a plumber to get the job done professionally.
