Problem flushing toilet

[blythesonline]

As I flush my toilet, the water rises slightly in the bowl, swirls around, but doesn't flush away normally. The water slowly drains down to normal height after a minute or so. I've replaced the ballcock and float already. I've plunged until I'm red in the face. Nothing.

Then I happened to be experimenting and while in the middle of the attempted flush, as the water is spinning around in the bowl, I poured about a gallone of water into the spinning water and it all flushed away normally. So there doesn't seem to be a clog problem.

The good people at Home Depot suggested I might have a blockage in the exhaust pipe going out through the roof. I tried putting water down the exhaust pipe with a hose, thinking it might clear out the pipe. No apparent change.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

[Maintenance Man]

Hmm this is interesting...

Now if I'm reading this right you might have whats known as "a slow flush". This is caused by a buildup of limescale in the water channel under the rim of the bowl partially blocking the holes. Get a small mirror and flashlight to inspect the holes if you find limescale in the holes use a small flat bladed screw driver to remove it, careful don't chip the bowel!. If your bowel has a syphon hole (at the bottom of the bowel) check that for buildup as well. Now I'm sorry to say there isn't a magical cure for this problem if the toilet is old and you live in a hard water area you might have to replace it, as the buildup might be beyond help.

Sorry to be a doomsinger,

Good luck.