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How To Fix a Toilet Handle

If your toilet won't flush, don't fret—fixing the toilet handle is simple and affordable. This guide covers how to fix a loose, broken, or sticking toilet handle. 

by Tom ScalisiUpdated 08/21/2024
Looking into a classic bathroom with a toilet and cabinet.
Anthony Tieuli

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A broken toilet handle seems like a minor issue on the surface but, left untreated, can lead to water waste and higher utility bills. Most modern toilet handles are plastic, meaning they are prone to stripping, dry rotting, or snapping. Fortunately, fixing a toilet handle is a simple DIY task that most homeowners can tackle with hand tools and some basic knowledge. This guide will help you diagnose and fix common toilet handle problems to get your bathroom back in working shape. 

Common Toilet Handle Problems

Toilet handles can fail in many ways, and each requires a slightly different repair method. Here are some common issues that you may encounter with your toilet.

Broken Handles

A broken toilet handle is usually the result of wear and tear or accidental damage. Your handle is broken if you see visible cracks, the piece falls off when touched, or the toilet doesn’t flush when you fully press the handle down. In most cases, with a broken handle, you’ll probably have to replace the entire assembly.

Loose Handles

Your toilet handle may become loose over time as the nut that secures the handle to the tank loosens. This can cause the handle to wiggle or feel unstable when pressed. A loose handle may still function but can lead to worse damage or a broken unit if left alone.

Sticking Handles

After flushing, a sticking toilet handle will remain in the up position, causing the toilet to run continuously. A misaligned chain, a problem with the flapper, or issues with the handle mechanism itself can cause this problem. Another possibility is that the chain or arm is hitting something in the tank. While this is unlikely to happen out of nowhere, it’s still worth looking for. Fixing a sticking handle often requires adjusting or replacing internal components.

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What You’ll Need for Toilet Handle Repair

Before beginning any toilet handle repair, make sure you have all of the equipment and materials you’ll need to complete the job without interruptions:

What’s Wrong With Your Toilet Handle?

Here’s how to accurately diagnose your broken toilet handle to make sure you repair it correctly:

  1. Remove the tank lid and set it aside carefully.
  2. Flush the toilet and observe the handle’s movement and the internal mechanisms.
  3. Check for visible damage to the handle, arm, or chain.
  4. Test the handle’s resistance and stability when pressed.
  5. Inspect the chain connection between the handle arm and the flapper to determine the problem.

Depending on the issue, you may also need a replacement toilet chain or toilet handle. Before you buy a new one, it’s important to note which type of toilet handle you have:

  • Front-mount right
  • Front-mount left
  • Front-mount universal
  • Side mount

Some have plastic filler valves, which have loops designed to receive the arm of the toilet handle, instead of a chain. These plastic filler valves can break, too, and in this situation, you’ll have to replace the entire filler valve.

How To Replace Your Broken Toilet Handle

If you’ve figured out your handle assembly is broken and needs replacing, here’s what to do:

Remove the Old Handle

  1. Lift the lift off the toilet tank.
  2. Turn off the water supply to the toilet and lift the flapper in the tank to drain the sink.
  3. Disconnect the chain from the handle arm using needle-nose pliers. Open the hook slightly and lift it off the arm, taking care not to hook or bend it too much.
  4. Locate the nut that secures the handle inside the tank and loosen it with water pump pliers. Slide the nut and the plastic washer off the arm and remove the handle.

Install the New Handle

  1. Remove the nut and washer from the new toilet handle and feed the arm of the new handle through the tank hole.
  2. Insert the new handle assembly through the hole in the tank.
  3. Position the handle so the arm is parallel to the tank bottom when at rest. If the handle is hanging down on its own, it’s either the wrong type of handle or it’s installed incorrectly.
  4. Secure the handle by tightening the nut inside the tank, being careful not to overtighten it, which could crack the porcelain.
  5. Attach the chain to the new handle arm so the handle lifts the flapper when pressed, but not so loosely that the handle hits the top of the tank lid. 

Adjust and Test

  1. Turn the water supply back on and allow the tank to fill.
  2. Flush the toilet several times to check that your new handle works.
  3. Adjust the chain length or handle position as needed.
  4. Make sure the handle returns to its resting position after each flush.

How To Repair a Loose Toilet Handle

Follow the steps below to fix a loose handle without replacing the flushing unit:

Tighten the Nut

  1. Open the tank lid and check for any broken parts. If you find any, replace the entire handle.
  2. Locate the nut inside the tank that secures the handle.
  3. Use water pump pliers to tighten the nut, being careful not to overtighten and crack the porcelain.
  4. Test the handle so it’s secure and operates smoothly.

Using Plumber’s Tape for Extra Security

If tightening the nut doesn’t solve the problem, the nut may be stripped and you’ll need to replace the handle. You can buy your handle a little more time until your new one arrives:

  1. Remove the nut completely.
  2. Wrap the threaded portion of the handle with plumber’s tape.
  3. Reattach the nut and tighten it securely.
  4. Test the handle again to confirm it’s stable.

How To Fix a Sticking Toilet Handle

Keep your toilet from running continuously and lower your water bill with these easy fixes for a sticking handle.

If the issue is the nut:

  1. Lift the tank lid and inspect the handle arm or the nut for damage (if so, you will need to buy a new handle to replace it). If either one is not damaged, in most cases, the plastic nut holding the arm in place is probably too tight.
  2. Use the pliers to loosen the nut slightly. Test the handle to see if it operates properly.
  3. If the nut or threads on the toilet handle are stripped, remove the nut completely and wrap the threads with the plumber’s tape.
  4. Retighten the nut enough so that the handle doesn’t wiggle in the hole but not so much that the nut pops loose.

If the issue is the flapper:

  1. Shut off the water at the supply valve and drain as much water out of the toilet tank as possible.
  2. Open the lid of the tank.
  3. Reach into the toilet tank and remove the two rubber tabs that hold the flapper onto the filler tube.
  4. Use the needle nose pliers to remove the chain from the flapper.
  5. Attach the chain to the new flapper.
  6. Center the flapper over the filler tube and reattach the rubber tabs to the toilet tanks.

If the issue is the arm or the chain:

  1. Open the tank lid and watch the arm as you flush several times. Look for anything that might be getting in the way of the arm or that the chain might be hanging on.
  2. If the arm is metal, bend it so it doesn’t hit anything.
  3. If the chain is too long, use the needle nose pliers to shorten it so there is less slack in the line.
  4. If the excess chain is hanging up on the filler tube, use the cutting edge of the needle nose pliers to cut and remove the excess chain.

Troubleshooting Toilet Chain Issues

The chain connecting the handle to the flapper is crucial for proper flushing. Here’s how to address common chain problems to keep your toilet working correctly:

Reattach a Disconnected Chain

If the chain is intact and not rusted, you may just need to reattach it:

  1. Lift the lid and locate the disconnected end of the chain.
  2. Use needle nose pliers to open the hook at the end of the chain slightly.
  3. Reattach the chain to either the handle arm or the flapper, as needed.
  4. Close the hook securely with the pliers.
  5. Check the chain slack and tension.

Replacing a Broken Chain

If the chain is damaged or rusty, you’ll need to replace it:

  1. Remove the chain from the flapper at the bottom of the tank. This may require using the needle nose pliers to bend open the metal ring at the end of the chain.
  2. Remove the chain from the toilet handle, using pliers, if necessary, to open the hook and remove it.
  3. Install the new chain on the toilet flapper by opening the small metal ring at the end with the pliers and inserting it into the hole in the flapper. There should not be any excess links on the flapper side of the chain, so be sure to use the last link on the chain. Make sure to bend the small metal ring back so that it will not come loose.
  4. With the handle in the down position, hold the opposite end of the chain up to the handle arm to judge how long the chain should be. There should be some slight slack, but no looping in the chain. Find the chain link that allows for the just right amount of slight slack.
  5. Open the appropriate link with pliers, then attach the link to the hole in the arm of the toilet handle and close the linkAllow the excess chain to hang down.
  6. Turn the water valve on and flush the toilet to test that the flapper can close and that the toilet handle doesn’t slap the tank lid.

Enjoy Your Newly Operational Toilet

With these steps, your toilet handle should now be fully operational. If there’s any doubt about the condition of the toilet handle, simply replace it. This is an easy, affordable repair, and it ensures you won’t be left with an unexpected mess to deal with down the road.

When To Call a Professional 

A professional plumber can quickly diagnose and fix more complicated issues, saving time and avoiding further damage. While many toilet handle issues can be handled with DIY repairs, there are times when it’s best to call a professional:

  • If you’re uncomfortable working with plumbing
  • If you suspect more severe issues with your toilet
  • When multiple repair attempts have failed to resolve the problem

Preventive Maintenance Tips for Toilet Handles

Here are some ways to take care of your toilet and prevent damage:

  • Address any issues promptly to prevent more serious problems.
  • Check the handle often for looseness and tighten the nuts as needed.
  • Inspect the chain and flapper for signs of wear or damage.
  • Clean the handle and surrounding areas regularly to prevent buildup.
  • Don’t use excessive force when flushing.

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