The Toolbox Essential That Makes Cleaning Toilet Jets A Breeze

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If a toilet flushes slowly or takes a long time to refill, it could be because the siphon jet or rim jets are obstructed. This can happen when hard water and waste mineral buildup leaves deposits around the jets. Blocked toilet jets can lead to clogged pipes, so keeping those jets clear is essential to keep your toilets in working order. Luckily, there's a simple way to clean them out if you're already seeing warning signs that they're obstructed. All you'll need are a few tools every homeowner should have to help clear out those jets, such as a drill bit and a screwdriver.

For supplies, you'll need some rubber gloves, an empty water bottle, a plastic cup, and a ½ inch drill bit. You'll also need a small, sharp object for scraping like an unfolded coat hanger or screwdriver. Depending on the size of your siphon jet, you may need to adjust the size of the drill bit you're using. For example, there are many size options for this YOKOCUT Cobalt Drill Bit.

First, identify where the siphon jet is. If you look at the toilet, you may see a small hole at the base of the bowl, about the size of a coin. Take a gloved finger and check to see how clear that hole is. If it feels like there is buildup or an obstruction, it's time to clear it out. The toilet will need to be empty to do this project, so use the plastic cup to scoop out water. When it's too low to scoop, use an empty water bottle as a suction device, squeezing and releasing it to suck up the remaining water.

Once the toilet is empty, start by taking the ½ inch drill bit and insert the tip into the siphon jet hole. Then, manually start to turn it slowly to drill away the build up. When the clog is eliminated, you can use a flathead screwdriver to scrape away any of the remaining deposits around the jet. There will be a powdery substance that is released which can be flushed away. 

Next, look at the rim jets. These are located at the top of the toilet bowl along the inner rim. You can look with a mirror or camera to see if they are obstructed or feel with a gloved finger. These jets are much smaller than the siphon jet, so you will need to use a coat hanger wire or small screwdriver to clear these out. Insert the very tip of the screwdriver into the rim jets and slowly rotate it with your hand. This will loosen debris and clear the jet. Once all of the jets are clear, it's a good idea to give your toilet a powerful clean with bleach to tackle stains near the rim jets and ensure additional debris or buildup gets washed away. Do this regularly to keep jet blockages at bay. 

You may also want to check if you have hard water because it can increase mineral buildup in your toilet. Getting a water softener is a simple solution for preventing hard water buildup, and will be the most effective step to keep the rim jets along the inner rim of your toilets clear. The siphon jet often gets waste mineral build up because it's at the bottom of the toilet bowl where waste settles. To prevent this, don't allow urine to sit in the bowl for an extended period of time.