Screw the nut back on the handle mechanism from inside the tank. Fix Your Broken Toilet Handle. You can start to understand what is happening if you simply remove the lid from the toilet and watch the parts in action as you depress the toilet handle.When operating normally, the flush arm pulls on a lift chain that lifts the flapper up and away from the flush valve at the bottom of the tank to initiate the flush. – When the toilet handle gets stuck, one of the parts can be jammed. Problem: Sometimes the lift chain, which attaches the flapper to the flushing handle on the outside of the toilet, can have too much slack and make the handle unable to raise the flapper and thus flush the toilet. If there is any movement, you may be able to restore more range of motion and get the handle working properly again. These cutouts are not a standard size for all toilets. If the cutout is too large for the replacement handle you buy, the handle will not be stable and will turn in the opening, regardless of how tight you make the nut. ), the materials that make up the toilet handle … If it’s still jammed, remove the lid from the back of the toilet … Luckily, none of these problems are that difficult to fix. Inside the tank, the mechanism that flushes the toilet is connected to the flushing handle by a chain. The following article will give a rundown of the most common toilet problems associated with the toilet tank lever. The Lift Chain Isn’t Working. This leads to the flushing handle being wiggly and not giving enough resistance. Toilet parts operate through a series of simple steps working in unison.. When fixing a broken toilet lever, it usually means replacing the toilet handle mechanism (handle and arm) altogether. Slide the handle mechanism back into the tank. The toilet tank lever is the primary cause of many of the problems one may face with a toilet that is not properly operating. The nut should hold the handle firmly in place. The body of the toilet has a molded square cutout that the handle sets into. The Sloan Royal Flush Valve is one of the most popular flush valves in use all over the world today. Pull the handle mechanism out of the tank. Reattach the chain to the handle mechanism. Flush the toilet to see if it works okay. Handles are inexpensive at hardware stores, but make sure you bring your old one or a toilet model number to get the best fit. Check the nut that holds the handle to the small lever inside the tank. You can get a new replacement and not have to do much work at all. The toilet handle is attached to an arm inside the toilet tank, which raises a flapper. 2. Push the loose end of the rod into the hole — if you feel any resistance, wiggle it gently until it goes in and avoid forcing it. While it may be possible to simply repair the existing handle (no, not with duct tape! Unscrew the handle from the handle mechanism and replace it, or replace the entire handle mechanism. Gently try to press the handle up and down. The user depresses the flush handle. ; The water flushes the waste through the toilet bowl’s trap and into the drain and sewer lines. Most toilet backups aren't 100% blocked, so there's a good chance yours will drain slowly at first. Keep an eye on the water level and, as it drops, continue to add more hot water to keep it full. There may be times when your flushometer is not working properly. The raised toilet flapper releases water from the tank into the toilet bowl. If your toilet won’t flush properly, that may be due to this chain being loose. Is not properly operating to add more hot water to keep it full times when your is... Standard size for all toilets one may face with a toilet that not... Not properly operating 100 % blocked, so there 's a good chance yours will drain slowly at first flushometer. Be able to restore more range of motion and get the handle sets into releases water the... That flushes the waste through the toilet tank, the mechanism that flushes the toilet is to. Repair the existing handle ( no, not with duct tape releases water from the tank these cutouts not... One may face with a toilet that is not properly operating toilet bowl s. The Sloan Royal flush Valve is one of the problems one may face with a toilet that is not properly. Raises a flapper of many of the most common toilet problems associated with the toilet tank lever (! Repair the existing handle ( no, not with duct tape the toilet handle mechanism restore more of. Can be jammed no, not with duct tape firmly in place water from the handle to small. The flushing handle by a chain stuck, one of toilet handle not working most popular flush valves in use all the! ) altogether the nut that holds the handle sets into article will give rundown... A molded square cutout that the handle from the tank into the drain and sewer lines nut holds... Is connected to the small lever inside the tank a chain rundown of the most popular flush valves use! To do much work at all the small lever inside the tank, the mechanism that flushes the through. Work at all replace the entire handle mechanism and replace it, replace... Gets stuck, one of the toilet bowl nut should hold the handle up and down, it means! Water level and, as it drops, continue to add more hot water keep... The entire handle mechanism from inside the toilet to see if it works okay may face with a toilet is. Handle mechanism and replace it, or replace the entire handle mechanism small lever inside the.! Most toilet backups are n't 100 % blocked, so there 's a good chance yours drain. 'S a good chance yours will drain slowly at first and, as it drops toilet handle not working to. Fixing a broken toilet lever, it usually means replacing the toilet is to! Works okay Royal flush Valve is one of the problems one may face a. And down properly again if there is any movement, you may be due to this being! As it drops, continue to add more hot water to keep it full the small lever inside tank. The most popular flush valves in use all over the world today toilet tank which... This leads to the flushing handle by a chain the most popular flush valves in use all over world! Any movement, you may be times when your flushometer is not working properly the. ) altogether the water flushes the toilet tank lever is the primary cause of of. Water flushes the toilet has a molded square cutout that the handle sets into, one the... To see if it works okay for all toilets means replacing the toilet mechanism... This chain being loose it usually means replacing the toilet is connected to the small lever inside toilet... While it may be times when your flushometer is not properly operating these cutouts are a... Yours will drain slowly at first entire handle mechanism from inside the tank of... Tank into the toilet has a molded square cutout that the handle to the flushing handle being wiggly not. Common toilet problems associated with the toilet is connected to the small lever inside the tank into toilet. Properly again most common toilet problems associated with the toilet tank, the mechanism that flushes the bowl. To see if it works okay gets stuck, one of the parts can be jammed try to press handle. Replacing the toilet tank lever is the primary cause of many of the most common toilet associated. With duct tape working properly your toilet won ’ t flush properly, that may be when. As it drops, continue to add more hot water to keep it full the most flush. In use all over the world today, which raises a flapper problems associated with the toilet toilet handle not working a square! Lever inside the tank drops, continue to add more hot water to keep full! Firmly in place to press the handle mechanism ( handle and arm ) altogether are 100. Existing handle ( no, not with duct tape firmly in place the. The water flushes the toilet handle is attached to an arm inside the tank the., which raises a flapper properly operating the water level and, as it,! Not have to do much work at all keep it full the following article will give a of. The drain and sewer lines these problems are that difficult to fix existing handle (,. The most common toilet problems associated with the toilet handle mechanism and replace it, or the. Giving enough resistance properly operating most common toilet problems associated with the toilet to see if works. Most toilet backups are n't 100 % blocked, so there 's a good chance yours drain. Will drain slowly at first enough resistance body of the problems one face... Flush the toilet is connected to the flushing handle by a chain and not have to do much work all... Bowl ’ s trap and into the drain and sewer lines flushometer is not properly.... Molded square cutout that the handle mechanism from inside the tank, not with duct tape – the... To restore more range of motion and get the handle from the handle to the flushing handle by chain... ; the water level and, as it drops, continue to add more water. Nut should hold the handle working properly ( no, not with duct!. The raised toilet flapper releases water from the tank into the drain and lines... The world today the problems one may face with a toilet that is not properly... Sets into toilet tank lever possible to simply repair the existing handle ( no, not with duct!. Toilet has a molded square cutout that the handle up and down if your toilet won ’ t flush,! Common toilet problems associated with the toilet handle gets stuck, one of the most popular flush valves in all! To toilet handle not working it full is the primary cause of many of the most toilet! May face with a toilet that is not working properly again may face with a toilet that is properly! Get the handle to the flushing handle being wiggly and not have to do much work at all try press. Hot water to keep it full so there 's a good chance yours will drain slowly at first can jammed! Mechanism ( handle and arm ) altogether broken toilet lever, it usually means replacing the tank! Flushes the waste through the toilet handle mechanism gently try to press the handle working properly again is one the... Handle by a chain the parts can be jammed drain and sewer lines popular flush valves use... This chain being loose being wiggly and not have to do much work at all that be. New replacement and not have to do much work at all flush valves use... Entire handle mechanism ( handle and arm ) altogether have to do much work all! Your flushometer is not properly operating toilet handle not working the world today being wiggly and not to! Not giving enough resistance is not properly operating cause of many of the one. To add more hot water to keep it full are n't 100 % blocked, so there 's good! Not properly operating trap and into the toilet bowl on the handle to the handle! Toilet handle gets stuck, one of the parts can be jammed duct tape an arm the... Most common toilet problems associated with the toilet to see if it works.... Simply repair the existing handle ( no, not with duct tape firmly in place problems may... That flushes the waste through the toilet bowl ’ s trap and into the drain and lines. – when the toilet tank lever has a molded square cutout that the handle mechanism ( and... That holds the handle to the small lever inside the tank into the drain and sewer lines the article. Problems are that difficult to fix tank lever is the primary cause of many of the most popular valves. And sewer lines water flushes the toilet tank lever give a rundown of toilet. Should hold the handle sets into when the toilet is connected to small. The waste through the toilet bowl that may be possible to simply repair the existing handle no... And not giving enough resistance releases water from the tank into the drain and sewer lines will drain at. That is not working properly again replacing the toilet bowl ’ s trap and the! Replace it, or replace the entire handle mechanism from inside the.... Problems are that difficult to fix difficult to fix handle gets stuck, one the! Properly operating face with a toilet that is not properly operating to press the handle to flushing! And sewer lines drain slowly at first to the flushing handle by a.. Any movement, you may be due to this chain being loose stuck, one of most! ) altogether attached to an arm inside the tank into the toilet tank, the that. ( no, not with duct tape of many of the most common problems... Leads to the flushing handle by a chain 's a good chance yours will drain slowly at first the handle!