A toilet is made up of moving parts and these parts wear out or break. If you notice that your toilet won’t stop running, maybe the answer is just to replace or fix one key part. For this article, we will be discussing how to fix the toilet flusher.

There is a handle that lifts a metal or plastic rod connected by chain to the drainage mechanism of the tank when you flush the toilet. Now, if the handle is damaged, or the rod is broken or bent or you just want to upgrade the handle, you will need to remove the old one (including the rod) and install new ones.

Toilet handles are also one of the reasons why toilets keep on running. Most of the time, they get loose or get corroded. As such, they can no longer pull the flap up or drop it back down in the proper manner. But the good news is that fixing it shouldn’t be that hard, even for a nonprofessional.

Now, you might think this a difficult task because you have to remove parts off your toilet. While it may sound hard, performing the task is really quite simple. Doing so avoids having to call in a professional to help you out, hence allowing you to save money.

Fixing the Toilet Flusher

Here’s a guide on how to fix the toilet flusher:

Take the lid off the tank. Set this piece aside.
Find the chain that is attached to the rod. Set the rod free by unclipping the chain.
Locate the nut located in the inside of the tank (the one where the handle attaches). Unscrew this nut. Since the threads on this nut are backward, turn it to the right or counterclockwise as you view the handle from outside the tank. A little tip: you can do this by hand in case the nut is made out of plastic. However, if the nut is made out of metal, you will need a wrench to turn it.
Once you have removed the nut, set it aside.
Pull the handle away from the hole. Doing so will also remove the rod.
Thread the new rod into the tank using the hole on the side. Make sure the handle is in place then screw the nut back on. To do this, turn it to the left first (or clockwise) as you view the handle from the outside of the tank. Tighten the nut until it is secure but make sure not to tighten it too much as it can damage the threads.
Clip the loose end of the chain onto one of the holes located in the end of the new rod. A small amount of slack in the chain will remain so when you push the handle, the chain should be able to pull the flap straight up on its other end.
Try to flush the toilet to test whether the chain does pull the flap at the right angle. Also, this test determines whether the rod has enough space to activate the chain or not. In case the chain is in the wrong position, unclip it and attach it to another hole in the rod. You may need to do this several times (using different holes in the rod) until you can find the right position.

Additional Tips

In case you want to drain the tank before you start working on it, make sure you turn the water shutoff valve of the toilet in the off position. After doing that, flush the toilet.

In case you drained the tank before working on it, turn the water back on before testing the mechanism at the end of the job.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

When your toilet doesn’t flush, don’t automatically assume the worst. In fact, some issues you encounter may have just a very simple fix. This is why you need to investigate first before pinpointing a specific problem. Here are some things you can do in case your toilet doesn’t flush:

Take a Look Inside The Tank
If nothing happens when you use the handle, the problem might not be that complicated. To determine if that is the case, take a look inside the tank to see what happens when you flush with the handle. If you notice that the chain is a bit loose then try and fix that then try flushing again to see if the problem has been resolved.

Check The Water Level In The Tank
If your toilet can flush but you notice that it’s not the normal amount of water being used, the tank might not be full. You can verify this by checking in on the tank to see where the water level is. Then, wait until it fills up and note how high the water goes. In case the water doesn’t reach the line, then there might be a problem with the float mechanism.

A lot of toilets use the hollow plastic float ball that is attached by a road to the fill valve. When the water in the tank reaches a level that is high enough to life the float ball, the arm that is attached to the fill valve will switch the valve off thus preventing more water from filling the tank.

In case the float ball in your toilet seems to be at the right floating height, you need to check on the flapper chain. This is the chain that runs from the exterior toilet flush handle to the flapper valve. When this handle is activated, the flapper valve is lifted from its seat releasing water from the tank into the bowl. The valve may not open far enough to stay up when flushing occurs when it has become too slack. Try to fix this by making adjustments to the flapper chain or float ball. But if doing those doesn’t fix the issue, then you may have a larger problem at hand. For example, you might have a faulty fill valve. For issues like this, you need to call a plumber to help you out.