Toilet doesn’t fully flush, just spins

Septic tank? Might be time to have it pumped.

Get a toilet snake and see if that helps.

You probably have some blockage.

When this happens to me, every other year or so, it is because there are roots in the sewer line. You don't want to overlook this if a snake does not clear something on the toilet end.

Toilet is the simplest device made. Does it drain? If it does, get a bucket of water and dump it in the bowl fast and see what happens. If it flushes like that, your flapper may not be opening all the way. If it doesn't flush and slowly goes down, blockage.

It needs a certain amount of water but it also has to fill fast enough to make it work right.

I had a similar issue at my mom's house. It would not flush properly with tank water, but if I poured water from a bucket it worked fine.

Turns out the water channels under the rim that direct water into the bowl were plugged up (well water, high mineral content). I poured some CLR down the tank overflow line and that eventually cleared out the lime deposits.

quote:

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Turns out the water channels under the rim that direct water into the bowl were plugged up (well water, high mineral content). I poured some CLR down the tank overflow line and that eventually cleared out the lime deposits.

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This was what it was. There are about 20 little hole under the rim and I scraped them out lightly and it flushed like a dream.
I’ll get some CLR for maintenance.