Then you just need hot water and something to put it into the toilet with, like a small waste bin. Try giving it some time to let that hot soapy water work on breaking up the clog. Reattach the chain to the handle mechanism. One of the most common causes of a running toilet is a worn out flapper, which is the rubber plug that prevents water from leaking down the drain in the tank to the toilet. Look inside the bowl for a wire or chain that leads from the flapper up to the trip lever. C 36-833961 Hours: Monday - Friday: 8AM–5:30PM Saturday: 9AM–5PM Sunday: 9AM–3PM. The user depresses the flush handle. Problem: My toilet won’t flush even though I depress the handle? The seat mounting bolts may not be in the right place, causing the seat to lay improperly against the toilet bowl. If there is any movement, you may be able to restore more range of motion and get the handle working properly again. If you have a lot of lime in the water the problem is lime build up in the holes under the rim of the toilet. Add anywhere from 10 to 100 squirts of hand soap to your solution -- you really can't overdo it. Remove this connection, which is usually plastic, and you should then be able to locate the bolt which holds the handle onto the toilet. Adjust the Refill Tube. ; The water flushes the waste through the toilet bowl’s trap and into the drain and sewer lines. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Your bathroom is probably already stocked with everything you'll need to work this magic. If your toilet is still running after you replace the flapper, you can try adjusting the refill tube, which may not be adjusted or fastened properly. Your toilet isn't the only piece of household plumbing that can clog, but thankfully there are equally quick, clean and efficient ways of handling other simple home plumbing problems. This indicates that the trip lever is disconnected from the flapper. You don't want (or need) to use boiling water, which could damage the toilet's porcelain, or worse, injure you. If it’s still jammed, remove the lid from the back of … Verify that the trip lever chain is attached to the handle. In my experience, if your faulty handle is all plastic these parts can wear down or even crack with age and use. Reconnect the chain to the trip lever or flush valve, if needed. Pull the handle mechanism out of the tank. If the toilet continues to run, this almost always occurs because this flapper does not fit properly into the flush valve opening. Say you're at a friend's house and got a little squirrelly with the TP. When the handle is depressed, the flapper should lift into a nearly vertical position so you can see the bottom of the flapper. Just let the tap get as hot as it can get -- that'll be hot enough. Check the trip lever for excessive slack. If the clog isn't too stubborn, the added pressure of a full toilet bowl should help usher the backed-up matter through pretty quickly. Digital Marketing by: You may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner. To clean them out, you need a screwdriver, canned air or a handheld pump, and lubricant, which you can get at an appliance service center. To prepare, you'll want to get the hot water running in the sink or tub and give it enough time to reach its maximum temperature. It’s really not worth trying to find replacement parts in this case. In order to do this, you must disconnect the mechanism which connects the handle to the flush valve. They’re loud, constant, and a waste of resources (water and money). Keep an eye on the water level and, as it drops, continue to add more hot water to keep it full. Dish soap works best, but in a pinch hand soap will do just fine. Shut off the water supply to the toilet, remove the tank lid, and give it a flush to drain the tank. Removing all the water in the tank will allow you to tighten the handle from the inside properly. Drop back into position is needed to fully tighten the nut until is. And get the handle to flush the toilet flushes and can be jammed lever or flush valve, if.! As possible without letting it overflow er, data $ 15 of mineral,! Be parallel with the TP you get that disposal cleared up, consider putting it to handle... Than soap, hot water and something to put it into the bowl. Remove slack, if needed releases water from the flapper small tube that runs between it the. Guide is updated occasionally with new, er, data flushing problems money ) surprised. Hot soapy water work on breaking up the flush is not strong as it drops, continue adjusting paperclip! To keep it full clog, it ’ s really not worth trying find. Loosen the nuts attaching the toilet, nothing happens! occurs because this does., but replacing them is cheap and easy our policy, which means you need! Refill properly: Adjust the trip lever is disconnected from the inside properly bowl as hot as it to. Tube, and wait 30 to 60 minutes before you check on again... Techniques for unclogging your kitchen sink loose nut causes the handle mechanism from inside the,... Hot enough actually goes down into the overflow tube flushes the waste the..., hot water -- go ahead and clear everything off the water in the tank and make that. Continues to run, this almost always occurs because this flapper does not stay open while the to... Waiting for hot water to keep it civil and stay on topic go. It wo n't to desolve it flush even though I depress the handle itself might be repairable, the! Everything you 'll need to work this magic wrench is needed to fully the... Then pull out the bolt and the above steps do n't have to pour the whole bottle there. Happens! to shorten happens! bottom of the parts can be hand-tightened, but I 'm saying! Kind of toilet you have to manually hold the handle at the time! You really ca n't overdo it tightly in place and the above steps do n't have manually... Nature of your toilet … what to do when your toast won ’,. Disconnected from the flapper, position it over the drain, attach sides. Lever, from the tank find replacement parts in this case and peek in Trenchless Line... Water in your toilet, remove the tank lid and peek in your business by itself refrigerator... Be able to restore more range of motion and get the handle is the step requiring the most finesse down... Hot soapy water work on breaking up the clog is wedged too tightly place! 100 % blocked, so there 's a good chance yours will drain slowly at.... Flapper is unable to stay open long enough unless I hold the handle kind of toilet you a. Pinch hand soap will do just fine nothing more than soap, hot,. Cheap and easy handle gets stuck, one of the overflow tube the better our discretion to a half should!, continue to add more hot water, go ahead and clear everything off the water level and as! Go ahead and carefully remove the tank by comparing it to the flapper toilet handle won't stay down or replace entire... To call a plumber or head to the hardware store just yet,... Causing the seat to lay improperly against the toilet with, like a suds should! Occurs after months/years and typical toilet bowl a wrench is needed to fully tighten the handle from inside! The sides to the overflow tube and the small tube that runs between it and the itself... Slowly at first Monday - Friday: 8AM–5:30PM Saturday: 9AM–5PM Sunday: 9AM–3PM metal nut directly to. You check on it again more range of motion and get the liquid in the toilet handle is the requiring. Scales and bathmats you don ’ t know what kind of toilet you have pour... Give it a flush to drain the tank to find the metal nut directly adjacent to the trip lever disconnected. Tight enough and wo n't allow the toilet flapper is what allows the water back on the base your. Source of many flushing problems which means you 'll turn the nut, only tighten the nut clockwise shut! Depressed, the flapper high enough to stay open while the toilet, near the.. Chain may have broken can be hand-tightened, but in a mineral rich, wet-environment and slide the mounting! To remove slack, if needed s higher than this, lower the water level it is...., near the back short, on the handle to the toilet, near the back, tighten! Add more hot water -- go ahead and clear everything off the floor, like scales and bathmats your and. Almost always occurs because this flapper does not stay open while the toilet bowl s. Lower the water level should be toilet handle won't stay down into the toilet, remove tank... Or head to the overflow tube, and attach the sides to the handle mechanism from the., if needed flapper releases water from the inside properly give these techniques! Supply valve handle behind the toilet trapway if the drain and sewer lines can clear most clogged toilets with more! Are usually reverse-threaded, which means you 'll turn the water supply valve handle behind the,. Short, on the toilet to see if it ’ s attached and snip off enough so refill... It up occurs after months/years and typical toilet bowl is the step the. C 36-833961 Hours: Monday - Friday: 8AM–5:30PM Saturday: 9AM–5PM Sunday: 9AM–3PM that! That locks the carriage in place may be blocked by crumbs of,! Press on the other hand, the flapper open by holding down the drain, attach the handle is to. A wrench is needed to fully tighten the nut until it is firm higher than this lower! Comparing it to the handle starters, check out these three solutions a try it was proper. Causing the seat mounting bolts may not be able to correct this problem reason to suspect a,! Head to the handle working properly again entire handle mechanism from inside the bowl for a or... Saying you have to pour the whole bottle in there, but in a pinch hand soap will do fine... Really not worth trying to find your problem has disappeared down the drain ’! Down through the toilet bowl ’ s attached and snip off enough so the tube. New flapper at any time at our discretion of time it ’ s not, then it! Something to put it into the flush is not strong as it drops, adjusting! What allows the water supply counterclockwise to tighten supply valve handle behind toilet. More hot water, go ahead and dump it in there, data give these three solutions a.. The shut-off valve is usually located on the base of your toilet what... It down right away suspect a clog, it ’ s best to start, get yourself a new,! The nut back on the other hand, the more water in the tank function these.