Toilet for Basement Seems Clogged but Is Still Flushing

Sewer Line Level

Depending on where your sewer line enters your basement, you may not need a grinder pump to push waste up to the sewer. A sewer line needs to be lower than the toilet drain to function properly. If your sewer comes in through your basement wall, it is too high for a normal toilet. If your sewer line is beneath the basement floor, it may be low enough for a normal gravity fed toilet. If the sewer line is only just low enough to allow for flushing, your symptoms may be due to your toilet not being high enough from the sewer line to have a powerful flush.

If your sewer line is located above the basement floor, you must have a pump to remove waste from the toilet to the sewer. If your grinder pump, or ejector pump, is not functioning properly, the symptoms can vary from a non-functional toilet to one that seems clogged. Ensure your pump is functioning properly, and if need be, have it serviced.

A toilet can be clogged and still flush. A clog that is not completely sealing off the drain will allow waste to pass, but will reduce the speed at which the toilet drains. Use a plumbing snake to ensure there are no clogs in the toilet itself. Check your user manual on your grinder or ejector pump to ascertain how to clean the pump itself, and find out if it is safe to use a snake or liquid clog remover.

If your basement toilet is the last drain in the house drain line before it enters the municipal sewer or septic tank, a poorly flushing toilet may indicate a larger problem in the sewer system. A damaged tank, crushed sewer pipe or sewer clog located further down the line near the street would manifest itself first in your last drain. Have your sewer system inspected for any damage and have it repaired as needed.