How to Fix a Broken Toilet Flusher
Toilets are hardy household items. In fact, a quality porcelain toilet will last up to 50 years with regular maintenance.
And that’s the key…
You need to fix toilet issues promptly to extend the product’s life.
A broken toilet flusher isn’t just an annoyance. It can result in a myriad of other issues, from pipe blockages and lengthy water bills due to a constantly running toilet to floor leaks.
Read on how to fix a toilet handle that has no chain and other flusher issues.
Adjust or Replace the Ballcock
Does your toilet continue to run when you press the flusher? Or perhaps you don’t get enough water cascading into the bowl when you flush? It could be an issue with your ballcock—especially if you have an older model toilet.
A ballcock is attached to the toilet flush lever arm and floats on the top of the water in your toilet tank. When you flush, the water is released, the ballcock drops to the bottom of the tank, and slowly rises again as it fills. It stops at a set level that determines where the tank fills to.
In some cases, you can simply adjust where the ballcock stops to fix the problem, but sometimes the entire mechanism needs to be replaced.
Check the Flapper Valve
A faulty ballcock isn’t the only reason your toilet constantly runs after hitting the flusher. If you’ve already tried toilet handle replacement, you’re likely dealing with a faulty refill valve. It may be that the flapper—which sits across the valve opening—is dislodged, or there’s too much water in the tank.
To fix a tank water level issue, see our advice above on ballcocks (for older toilets) or simply adjust or replace the flapper valve. It should be an easy DIY fix. This is an easy job for a plumber for those less handy.
The Toilet Handle Is Loose
Sometimes, you’re plagued with a jiggly toilet handle. This could result in your toilet flushing inadequately—leaving you with residue in the bowl or potentially serious pipe clogs.
Usually, this happens because the flush handle has dislocated from the tank body. Simply lift the lid off the tank and reconnect the handle chain to the lift arm or flapper. Altreatnviely, you may need to tighten the bolt that connects the handle to the tank.
If these two fixes don’t solve the problem, replacing the toilet handle and flapper entirely may be the next best fix. It’s certainly cheaper than replacing your entire toilet!
Dealing With a Broken Toilet Flusher: To DIY or Not?
Whether you’re dealing with an internal issue, such as a broken ballcock, or something more simple like a wiggly flusher handle, diagnosing your broken toilet flusher issue is the first step in fixing it. Most toilet problems are easy to fix DIY, but if you’re having trouble pinpointing what’s wrong or concerned about your skill level, don’t hesitate to call a plumber.
For more helpful homeowner advice, browse the other articles on our website.
