Glamorous Toilet Repair

Oh yes-repairing toilets is glamorous. “What isn’t glamorous about a toilet?”, is what I ask myself on a daily basis.

Today, we will tackle the repair of a “Glamorously Running Toilet” and I give you a “No Nail Broken” Guarantee.

All you need is the right outfit, the right tools, a little know how and the right mind set. I will provide you with the little know-how. You are on your own for the outfit, the tools and the right mindset. Come on-this is going to be glamorous!

I received a concerned call from one of our tenant’s: their glamorous toilet was running constantly and their last water bill was in the triple digits.

Of course, I asked if they jiggled the handle. The tenant stated it was beyond jiggling.

Photo Source
I assessed the problem-the “vintage” handle on the toilet would get stuck in the “up” or the “down” position and not allow the rubber flapper (bottom right) to either seal or to release water from the tank.

The “vintage” handle was shot. Off to Lowe’s for my $3 part, which is much cheaper than a $79 house call from a licensed plumber.

I grabbed my glamourous tools-channel lock pliers (center) and two vice grips (left and right). The vice grips proved to be unnecessary, but I wasn’t sure how stubborn the vintage handle and years of mineral deposits might be.

First step, unhook the chain that connects the handle lever to the flapper.

Next, using the channel lock pliers, I gently loosened the nut that locked in the handle, on the inside of the toilet tank. *Tip-to loosen the nut, you turn it to the right. (NO righty-tighty, lefty loosy here.) After it’s easy to turn with the pliers, removed the rest of the way by hand.

Completely remove the old nut and the handle.

The toilet tank will now look like this-with a hole that needs fillin’.

Next, grab the glamorous new handle and remove the nut by hand.

Insert the new handle into the tank and tighten the nut by hand.

Next, tighten the nut using the channel lock pliers until it’s snug. Don’t get too crazy and crack the tank. Please. I beg of you-that is not glamorous.

Finally, attach the chain and test that everything is working correctly by flushing it several times. Adjust the placement or the length of the chain if necessary.

I told you-repairing a running toilet is very glamorous. And I delivered on the “No Nail Broken” Guarantee.

Flush away!

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