Not all plumbing difficulties can be resolved quickly and independently, but repairing a loose toilet handle is simple. The best part about the modest project is that you won’t have to deal with any of your house’s actual plumbing or pipes, but you will get your hands dirty. You just need proper tools and a rudimentary understanding of plumbing. If this is too complicated for you or you don’t have the time, you can always call your plumber Morgan Hill expert, to assist you.

Turn Off The Water

Most toilets have a shutdown valve on the wall behind them, just above the floor-to-wall joint. Use a monkey wrench or channel lock pliers to turn off the water supply valve. You may need to use some force to twist it all of the ways, but don’t push too hard as it could break completely.

Empty The Tank

To work on the handle, you’ll need to empty the tank by turning off the shutoff valve and flushing the toilet. You can then soak up any remaining water with paper towels or an old rag.

Disconnect the Flush Chain

The chain connects to the flapper and flush lever. When you pull the chain, it lifts the flapper from the flush valve, allowing water to flow from the tank into the bowl. To start, remove the nut or clip that holds it in place.

Unscrew the Toilet Handle

Using an adjustable wrench, unscrew both nuts holding down the handle on opposite sides of its base. Be careful not to lose these nuts, as they can be easy to drop while working on them.

Replace the Toilet Flapper Valve

After removing the handle, you’ll notice a chain running through the flush valve and connecting to a flapper valve below. The flapper valve allows water from the tank to drain into the bowl. In the tank, water pressure builds until it is released during flushing, depending on the chain length. With a too-long chain, you won’t obtain enough pressure when flushing your toilet, so you’ll have to keep pushing the lever. This can easily wear out and loosen your handle.

Put Everything Back Together

Clean off any rust or debris on the valve shank that may be preventing your new toilet handle from fitting properly. Place your new lever arm onto the valve shank, then reattach your lock nut. Connect your new flush chain and screw in both parts of your new handle assembly together — one part goes into place on top while another goes under a small metal bar inside your toilet tank.

Reach Out To Us Today

Fortunately, replacing or tightening a loose toilet handle is one of the simplest repairs that homeowners can perform themselves. Not all plumbing repairs, however, are as quick and painless. If you’re concerned about your plumbing system, call Bueno Plumbing at (408) 440-2728. We’ll figure out what’s wrong and ensure your toilet works properly. We take pleasure in being honest and forthright with our customers and endeavor to deliver the best service possible.