How to Ream Clogged Toilet Bowl Ports

A toilet's flushing power depends on the water flow through the small outlet holes (ports) on the underside of the toilet bowl's rim and the main port at the bottom of the bowl. When these ports become clogged with dirt or mineral deposits, there is inadequate flushing power. To correct this problem, you need to ream the clogged toilet bowl ports.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small mirror
• Gloves
• Thin wire or piece of coat hanger
• Stiff brush
• Calcium cleaner
• Screwdriver

1. Take a small mirror and check for clogged ports on the underside of the toilet bowl's rim. Wear your gloves while doing this.

2. Poke the thin wire or piece of coat hanger into a port hole and force out any dirt or mineral deposits if after inspection you detect any clogged ports. Continue to open or ream all the clogged ports in this manner.

3. Scrub under the rim with the calcium cleaner and the stiff brush to ensure that all the ports are thoroughly free of mineral buildup after you ream all the outlet ports.

4. Flush the toilet and check the water flow. If the flushing power is still inadequate, then clean the main port.

5. Use a small screwdriver to clean out the main port which is at the bottom of the toilet bowl. This should resolve any flushing problems due to clogged ports. Clean the ports on a regular basis to prevent this problem in the future.

Tips & Warnings

• Call a professional plumber for a complete inspection of the toilet if the problem persists. It can be a more serious problem that you may be unable to detect or fix on your own.