Is your toilet handle a little hard to flush? Don’t worry if it won’t flush at all or it’s getting harder to do it. There are many reasons for a toilet handle getting too hard to flush. But, there’s no need to get alarmed.
There are things you can do to ensure you get it back to excellent working condition without high plumbing costs and repairs- even though a professional plumber is the best person to rely on.
Let’s learn.
Why Does the Toilet Handle Get Stiff?
There are many reasons why your toilet handle is so stiff. But, you will find all the reasons inside your tank because that’s what your toilet handle is connected to. To check what’s going on with your toilet handle, lift the lid of your toilet tank.
The Chain is Snagging
The chain connected to the ball could be snagging against something inside your tank. If it’s stuck, the handle will be harder to push.
The Chain is The Wrong Length
The seal or flapper of your toilet should be able to rise to about 90°. If the chain is too long, the flapper won’t rise or will only rise a little bit.
Worn-out Flapper
Flappers get stuck when they’re worn out. If it’s hard to pull, make sure you replace it.
The Handle Itself
If you’ve checked the inside of your tank and everything seems to be ok, take a look at the handle. It could be cracked, or the nuts that hold it in place inside the tank could be loose.\
Blockages in the Rim Holes
One commonly overlooked reason for a toilet being hard to flush is clogged rim holes. The rim holes are small openings located around the upper edge of the toilet bowl, where water flows out during a flush. Over time, these holes can become clogged with mineral deposits, dirt, or debris, reducing water flow and making it more difficult for the toilet to flush effectively.
How to Check for Clogged Rim Holes
To check if this is the issue, you can use a small mirror to look under the rim of the toilet bowl and inspect the holes. If you see any buildup or gunk around the openings, it’s a good indication that they’re clogged.
Cleaning the Rim Holes
Cleaning the rim holes can be done by using a tool like a small wire or a straightened paperclip to carefully poke into each hole and dislodge any buildup. You can also use a vinegar and water solution to further break down the mineral deposits. Simply pour the solution into the overflow tube inside the toilet tank and let it sit for a few hours. Afterward, flush the toilet to rinse out any remaining debris. Keeping the rim holes clear will ensure a stronger, more efficient flush.
Issues with the Flush Valve Seat
Another factor that could make your toilet hard to flush is a damaged or worn flush valve seat. The flush valve seat is the surface that the flapper rests against, creating a seal to prevent water from constantly running into the bowl. Over time, the valve seat can corrode or become pitted, which affects the seal. This can lead to poor flushing performance, as the toilet struggles to release enough water during the flush.
Identifying a Worn Flush Valve Seat
To determine if the flush valve seat is the problem, you’ll need to inspect it closely. After turning off the water supply and draining the tank, remove the flapper and examine the surface of the valve seat. If it looks corroded, pitted, or uneven, then it’s likely contributing to your flushing issues.
How to Fix the Flush Valve Seat
In some cases, you can use a flush valve repair kit that includes a special tool to smooth the surface of the valve seat. Alternatively, you may need to replace the flush valve entirely. While replacing a flush valve requires a bit more plumbing know-how, it’s a straightforward task that can greatly improve your toilet’s performance if the valve seat is significantly damaged.
Problems with the Toilet Flange
The toilet flange is the fitting that connects the toilet to the drainpipe in the floor. If the flange is damaged or improperly installed, it can lead to issues with flushing. A broken or improperly sealed flange can affect the overall pressure of the toilet’s flush, making it more difficult for waste to be cleared from the bowl effectively.
Signs of a Flange Issue
If you’ve noticed that your toilet is both hard to flush and possibly leaking at the base, a flange issue might be the culprit. You may also detect a foul smell coming from the base of the toilet, indicating that the seal between the flange and the toilet is compromised.
Fixing or Replacing the Toilet Flange
Fixing a flange issue can be a bit more complex than some other toilet repairs. If the flange is cracked or broken, it will need to be replaced, which requires removing the toilet from the floor. If the flange is simply loose or out of alignment, tightening the bolts that secure the toilet to the floor might resolve the issue. In any case, addressing flange problems can restore proper flushing performance and prevent further damage to your plumbing.
Where is The Handle Attached to the Toilet Tank?
So, where does your toilet handle disappear inside the tank? Well, it’s attached to an arm inside your tank. A chain connects this arm to a toilet flapper or flush valve inside your toilet tank. The toilet handle is attached to the outside of the toilet tank.
You can find it in the right-hand corner. When you put some pressure on the toilet handle or push it down, the trip lever rises. The chain connected to the trip lever or arm will lift the flush ball, and water flows into the ball from the tank.
How Do You Flush the Toilet if the Handle is Broken?
If you are in a bind and the plumber is not coming by until later, you can still flush your toilet if your handle is missing or broken. All you need to do is lift the flapper to release water into the bowl to flush the toilet. You have to remove the toilet lid to lift the flapper. Next, you need to tug on the chain that connects the handle lever and the top of the flapper. If this chain is disconnected or broken, all you need to do is flip the flapper using your hand.
Here are some steps to guide you through:
- Take off the toilet tank lid and set it aside safely
- Find the flapper at the bottom of your tank
- Check if the chain connecting the flapper and handle lever is intact. If it is, gently pull it to lift the flapper and flush your toilet.
- If the chain isn’t intact, put your hand into the water and lift the flapper.
If you’ve got no running water, you can still flush your toilet by pouring water directly into the toilet bowl. It’s not the most sanitary method, but it’s handy when you have no choice.
- Get a 5-gallon bucket of water and fill it up to ¾
- Pour the water into the toilet bowl as quickly as you can but make sure you don’t splash any water or overfill the toilet bowl.
Pouring water directly into the toilet bowl will provide sufficient pressure to let the water get pulled down by gravity. You can also use this method to pour water into the toilet tank when there’s no running water.
- Take off the toilet lid and place it on a safe surface
- Fill a bucket of water
- Pour the water to within an inch of the top of the tank
- Pull the flapper and flush
How to Tighten a Loose Toilet Handle?
If your toilet handle is loose, you might find it hard to flush. Here’s how to tighten it:
Put down the toilet seat cover: this prevents small parts or tools from falling in while you’re working.
Take off the toilet cover: the toilet cover might be heavy so consider using two hands when removing it. Ensure you place it on a flat, safe surface.
Shut off the water supply: the shut-off valve is usually located near the base of your toilet at the back.
Empty the tank: press the tank lever, so you have easy access to the inside of the handle.
Find the nut: the toilet nut handle is inside the porcelain wall next to the handle. Your nut is probably the course of your loose handle.
Tighten the handle nut: use pliers or an adjustable wrench and rotate the nut clockwise to ensure it fits snugly. Don’t over-tighten it, or the porcelain tank could crack.
Test the toilet handle: depress the handle to test whether it feels better. If it doesn’t, or it creaks, you might have to replace it.
Turn the water supply valve back on: turn on the valve to refill your tank.
How to Replace My Hard to Flush Handle
If your toilet handle is cracked and making it hard for you to flush, you need to replace it. Here’s how:
Choose the hardware you need to replace your handle with. You can get a universal toilet handle but confirm with a plumber or the hardware store that you don’t need a specific variety.
- Put down the toilet seat cover, remove the toilet tank lid and empty the tank. Check previous steps for instructions on how to empty the tank.
- Unclasp the chain clip that connects to the lever. It looks like a small chain attached to the inside part of your toilet handle.
- Unscrew the mounting nut using pliers or a wrench.
- Take out the old handle and once its chain and nut are out, pull it out.
- Unscrew the mounting nut you see on the new handle. Make sure it doesn’t get too loose.
- Put the new lever into your toilet tank and ensure it matches the position the old one was in.
- Use the new mounting nut to secure the new handle from the inside of your tank.
- Put the chain through one of the lever holes and make sure you have the correct length.
- Turn the shut-off valve back on and test your new handle.
