What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the far side
of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water, but the
water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in a
row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a half
hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working like
that for years.


Another interesting thing about this toilet is that just after it
finishes flushing, I hear thunder from somewhere. Well it sounds like
thunder or like the way the special effects man would imitate thunder
during radio dramas by taking a piece of sheet meal and shaking it.

But what's strange about this is that there's another toilet in the
next bathroom, back to back with this one, with only a stud and
sheetrock wall in between, using most of the same pipes, and it doesn't
make this noise.

On Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:14:50 -0500, micky
wrote:

What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the far side
of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water, but the
water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in a
row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a half
hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working like
that for years.


Another interesting thing about this toilet is that just after it
finishes flushing, I hear thunder from somewhere. Well it sounds like
thunder or like the way the special effects man would imitate thunder
during radio dramas by taking a piece of sheet meal and shaking it.

But what's strange about this is that there's another toilet in the
next bathroom, back to back with this one, with only a stud and
sheetrock wall in between, using most of the same pipes, and it doesn't
make this noise.

There was something similar to this on Ask This Old House recently,
but I don't remember why it happened. The solution was to replace the
flush valve on the offending toilet and the problem was solved.

On Friday, January 30, 2015 at 5:40:49 PM UTC-6, Gordon Shumway wrote:
The solution was to replace the
flush valve on the offending toilet and the problem was solved.

My toilet offends too...but not its fault! 8^(

On 1/30/2015 6:14 PM, micky wrote:
What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the far side
of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water, but the
water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in a
row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a half
hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working like
that for years.


Another interesting thing about this toilet is that just after it
finishes flushing, I hear thunder from somewhere. Well it sounds like
thunder or like the way the special effects man would imitate thunder
during radio dramas by taking a piece of sheet meal and shaking it.

But what's strange about this is that there's another toilet in the
next bathroom, back to back with this one, with only a stud and
sheetrock wall in between, using most of the same pipes, and it doesn't
make this noise.


The hammering, thunder as you call it, *may* be caused by the valve that
you say is barely open. I have a toilet, that if the shutoff valve is
nearly closed, threatens to shake the wall apart. Try opening the valve
fully and see if Thor goes away. What you think you are accomplishing by
just opening the valve to a trickle escapes me. You still need the same
amount of water, it just takes a silly amount of time (1/2 hour ? - LOL)
to get there.

As far as the bowl emptying itself, I have no idea, a siphon effect
caused by who knows what? A leaky vent or bad toilet gaskets come to
mind. But if its a 3 gallon model its probably way past it 'use by' date.

Anyway, since this isn't a low flush model, the first thing I would do
is replace the toilet with a modern low flush job. I have a cheap (8~
year old 'Standard') and an expensive (1-1/2 year old 'Kohler') and they
both flush every bit as good as an ancient 3 gallon model (40+ year old
'Standard') that I have in a seldom used powder room.

John

On Friday, January 30, 2015 at 6:14:58 PM UTC-5, micky wrote:
What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the far side
of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water, but the
water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in a
row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a half
hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working like
that for years.


Another interesting thing about this toilet is that just after it
finishes flushing, I hear thunder from somewhere. Well it sounds like
thunder or like the way the special effects man would imitate thunder
during radio dramas by taking a piece of sheet meal and shaking it.

But what's strange about this is that there's another toilet in the
next bathroom, back to back with this one, with only a stud and
sheetrock wall in between, using most of the same pipes, and it doesn't
make this noise.

Once the bowl is full, the only way I see for it to later
empty would be for a pressure difference between the bathroom
and the plumbing system to push it out. That could be caused
by a venting problem or since you're hearing something later,
by some kind of blockage in the drain pipes that allows water
to accumulate, get backed up, then suddenly release. That
would provide a vacuum effect at the toilet, especially if there
is also a vent problem.

Why you have the toilet supply turned off so low that it
takes 30 mins to fill, IDK. I would think that would be a
real pain in the ass, for obvious reasons.

What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the far side
of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water, but the
water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in a
row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a half
hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working like
that for years.


Another interesting thing about this toilet is that just after it
finishes flushing, I hear thunder from somewhere. Well it sounds like
thunder or like the way the special effects man would imitate thunder
during radio dramas by taking a piece of sheet meal and shaking it.

But what's strange about this is that there's another toilet in the
next bathroom, back to back with this one, with only a stud and
sheetrock wall in between, using most of the same pipes, and it doesn't
make this noise.


*I had the same occurrence many years ago and asked a plumber about this. His response was "Capillary action" If I remember correctly. He said sometimes toilet tissue gets hung up in the drain tube and water will drip down that paper and siphon the water out of the bowl. His advice was to pull the toilet and clean it out from underneath. I never did and I think it eventually stopped.

On Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:14:50 -0500, micky
wrote:

What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl?

Does this happen during high winds? The vent stack creates a vacuum
and sucks water out, is what I'm thinking.

On Sat, 31 Jan 2015 07:41:46 -0500, John wrote:

On 1/30/2015 6:14 PM, micky wrote:
What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the far side
of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water, but the
water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in a
row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a half
hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working like
that for years.


Another interesting thing about this toilet is that just after it
finishes flushing, I hear thunder from somewhere. Well it sounds like
thunder or like the way the special effects man would imitate thunder
during radio dramas by taking a piece of sheet meal and shaking it.

But what's strange about this is that there's another toilet in the
next bathroom, back to back with this one, with only a stud and
sheetrock wall in between, using most of the same pipes, and it doesn't
make this noise.


The hammering, thunder as you call it, *may* be caused by the valve that
you say is barely open. I have a toilet, that if the shutoff valve is
nearly closed, threatens to shake the wall apart. Try opening the valve
fully and see if Thor goes away. What you think you are accomplishing by
just opening the valve to a trickle escapes me. You still need the same

I'm making the toilet quiet, in part so I can go back to sleep, and it
works.

amount of water, it just takes a silly amount of time (1/2 hour ? - LOL)
to get there.

Yes, I know it takes the same amount of water. I never have to use
it twice in an hour.

As far as the bowl emptying itself, I have no idea, a siphon effect
caused by who knows what? A leaky vent or bad toilet gaskets come to
mind. But if its a 3 gallon model its probably way past it 'use by' date.

Thanks.

Anyway, since this isn't a low flush model, the first thing I would do
is replace the toilet with a modern low flush job. I have a cheap (8~
year old 'Standard') and an expensive (1-1/2 year old 'Kohler') and they
both flush every bit as good as an ancient 3 gallon model (40+ year old
'Standard') that I have in a seldom used powder room.

John

On Sat, 31 Jan 2015 07:43:54 -0800 (PST), John G
wrote:




*I had the same occurrence many years ago and asked a plumber about this. =
His response was "Capillary action" If I remember correctly. He said somet=
imes toilet tissue gets hung up in the drain tube and water will drip down =
that paper and siphon the water out of the bowl. His advice was to pull th=
e toilet and clean it out from underneath. I never did and I think it even=
tually stopped.

This sounds like a good plan!

Thanks, and thanks, Trader.

On Sat, 31 Jan 2015 11:41:55 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:14:50 -0500, micky
wrote:

What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl?

Does this happen during high winds? The vent stack creates a vacuum
and sucks water out, is what I'm thinking.

I think it happens all the time, but only for the last 2 or 3 days. I
don't think the winds have been high much of the last 3 days. Thanks.

On 1/31/2015 1:41 PM, Oren wrote:
On Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:14:50 -0500, micky
wrote:

What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but when
one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from the
bowl?

Does this happen during high winds? The vent stack creates a vacuum
and sucks water out, is what I'm thinking.



Maybe the roof stack is frozen. Water entering the drain below the
toilet is creating enough suction to pull water out of the toilet trap.

LdB

micky wrote:
What does it mean when one fllushes the toilet, the tank empties, the
water level comes back up to its normal level and seems stable, but
when one looks at it an hour later, almost all the water is gone from
the bowl? The water level is just where the porcelain ends on the
far side of the bowl. In other words, the opening is full of water,
but the water goes no higher. .

FWIW, this is not a low-volume toilet. It's happened three times in
a row.

I do have the water supply turned almost off so it normally takes a
half hour for the toilet tank and bowl to fill, but it's been working
like that for years.

The vent pipe is not doing its job, which is to prevent siphoning out the trap?

Is you vent pipe blocked/plugged?

On Sat, 31 Jan 2015 20:59:26 -0500, micky
wrote:

On Sat, 31 Jan 2015 07:43:54 -0800 (PST), John G
wrote:




*I had the same occurrence many years ago and asked a plumber about this. =
His response was "Capillary action" If I remember correctly. He said somet=
imes toilet tissue gets hung up in the drain tube and water will drip down =
that paper and siphon the water out of the bowl. His advice was to pull th=
e toilet and clean it out from underneath. I never did and I think it even=
tually stopped.

This sounds like a good plan!

Thanks, and thanks, Trader.

I coudln't go with this plan after all because the toilet woudl no
longer flush. Water came up near the rim and then gradually went
down. (Dang, I've already forgotten maybe but I think it continued to
go down well below it's normal resting level.)

Only the second time in my life, got a plunger and plunged. It made
the thunder noise every time I plunged down, and every time I pulled
back up (not separating from the bottom, but only turning inside in what
had been inside out when I pushed down.) About 6 times in each
direction, just to check for the noise, even though the toilet was
probably fixed after the first or second down and up's.

So the toilet works fine now. I don't know what clogged it.

Thanks again.

On 02/02/2015 01:46 AM, micky wrote:
So the toilet works fine now. I don't know what clogged it.

Prolly got some **** stuck in it.