Omar Khalid
Replacing a plastic toilet handle is a straightforward DIY task that can refresh the look of your bathroom without costing a fortune. It's important to know what you're doing to avoid causing any damage. This guide will teach you how to replace a toilet handle like a professional, including what tools you'll need and the steps to take. You'll learn how to drain your toilet tank safely, remove the old handle, and install the new one securely, improving the efficiency and lifespan of your toilet.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Common and easy DIY task |
| Preparation | Locate and shut off the water valve to your toilet, then flush it to drain the water in the tank. Remove the lid of the toilet tank. |
| Tools | Wrench |
| Replacement part | "Toilet trip lever" |
| Installation | Remove the nut from the new handle, slide the arm through the hole, and replace the nut by sliding it over the arm and screwing it onto the handle base |
| Notes | Be gentle with the porcelain toilet, screw counter-clockwise, and do not over-tighten |
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What You'll Learn
Shut off the water valve, flush, and remove the tank lid
Before beginning any work on your toilet, it is important to shut off its water supply. To do this, first locate the shutoff valve. In most cases, the shut-off valve is located within the toilet’s primary water supply and is typically football-shaped. It is connected to a pipe or hose attached to the bottom of the tank of your toilet. If you have an older toilet, it may not have a shutoff valve, in which case you will need to shut off the main water supply to your home or use the wooden board method.
The wooden board method involves sliding a small piece of wood underneath the float lever within the main tank to hold it up. The wood should be positioned so that its bottom is resting on the bottom of the tank. This will prevent the tank from refilling after a flush.
Once you have located the shutoff valve, turn the valve clockwise as far as it can go to shut off the water supply. Do not force the valve if it does not turn easily. If the valve looks rusty or is difficult to turn, try applying some WD-40. If you are still unable to turn it, you may need to replace it.
After turning off the water supply, flush your toilet to ensure that the water is indeed turned off. If the water supply is off, the water in the back tank will empty into the toilet bowl and will not refill. If your toilet is clogged, you can test if the water is off by lifting the float lever in the tank. The float lever is attached to the hollow, sealed float on top of the water in the tank. If the water is still on, more water will be added to the tank when you push this lever down. Remember to quickly push the float lever back up if the water is still on to prevent the tank from overflowing.
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Locate the nut and remove it
To replace a plastic toilet handle, you must first locate the nut that holds the handle in place. This will be inside the toilet tank. You may need to use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nut from the inside of the tank. Typically, this nut is left-handed or reverse-threaded, meaning you will need to turn the nut clockwise to loosen it. Be careful not to over-tighten the nut, as this can cause the porcelain to crack.
Once you have located the nut, the next step is to remove it. First, lift the lid from the toilet tank and set it aside carefully, placing it on a towel to prevent any unglazed porcelain from scratching the surface. Then, unhook the chain connecting the lift arm to the flush valve or toilet flapper. With the chain unhooked, you can now remove the nut. Slip the lift arm through the hole in the tank to remove the old handle. Be sure to note which hole the clasp is fastened into.
It is important to remember that not all handles are identical. The handle arbor and nut are likely left-hand threaded. In some cases, you may need to wrap the threads with pipe dope or Teflon tape to act as a locknut. You may also need to include a bushing or a lock ring. The general idea is to mount a threaded pipe to the toilet.
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Slide out the old handle
To slide out the old handle, you must first spread a towel on the floor next to the toilet. This is to protect the porcelain tank lid from breaking when you set it aside. Gently remove the lid and place it on the towel.
Inside the toilet tank, you will see a metal arm that extends from where the handle comes through the side or front of the tank. This arm is connected to a chain that attaches to the flush valve or flapper. When lifted, the flush valve allows water to flow out of the tank and into the bowl, flushing the toilet. Make a note of which hole on the lift arm the chain is hooked into—most lift arms will have at least three holes.
Now, you can slide out the old handle. To do this, simply remove the nut inside the toilet tank. The nut attaches the handle to the lift arm. Once the nut is removed, you can slide out the old handle. Be sure to choose a replacement handle that is compatible with your toilet tank's handle mounting position.
If you are unsure about which replacement handle to buy, you can take the old handle with you to the hardware store and ask an employee for help in finding a suitable replacement.
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Find a suitable replacement
Before purchasing a replacement toilet handle, it is important to check the location of the handle on your toilet tank. While some replacement handles have a universal fit, others are designed specifically for front- or side-mounted toilets. The angle of the handle in relation to the toilet tank is also important to consider, as some handles may not fit due to their angle.
You should also take into account the make and model of your toilet, as the length of lift arms and the position of their holes can vary between manufacturers. Knowing the specific details of your toilet will help you find a suitable replacement handle that fits properly and functions correctly.
To find a replacement handle that matches your toilet, you can try searching for the same make and model online or in hardware stores. If you cannot find the exact match, look for universal fit handles that are compatible with your toilet's mounting type (front- or side-mounted).
When purchasing a replacement, it is a good idea to bring the old handle with you to compare sizes and angles, ensuring that the new handle will fit properly. You can also take measurements of the old handle and compare them to the specifications of potential replacement handles to find the best match.
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$19.27
Install the new handle
Now that you've removed the old handle, it's time to install the new one. First, remove the nut from the new handle and gently slide the arm through the hole. You should feel it slide into position. Next, replace the nut by sliding it over the arm. Screw the nut onto the handle base, using your hand or a wrench. Remember, you'll likely need to screw it on counter-clockwise. Be careful not to over-tighten, as this may damage your toilet.
If you haven't already, now is a good time to take the lid off your toilet tank to access the inside. Be gentle when removing the lid, as porcelain can be surprisingly brittle and easy to break. With the old handle removed and the new one ready to install, line up the new handle with the hole in the tank and gently slide the arm through.
Once the arm is in place, secure the handle by screwing on the nut with your hand or a wrench. Ensure that you don't over-tighten the nut, as this can damage the handle or the tank. Now that the new handle is installed, you can test it out by flushing the toilet.
If your new handle came with additional parts or instructions, be sure to refer to the included manual for any model-specific installation steps or variations. It's important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure a proper fit and function. With these steps, you should now have a fully functional new toilet handle.
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Frequently asked questions
First, locate and shut off the water valve to your toilet and flush to drain the water in the tank. Remove the lid of your toilet tank and locate the nut holding the handle in place. Remove the nut, then carefully slide out the handle and arm attached to the toilet. Find a replacement handle, known as a "toilet trip lever", ensuring it is the right fit for your toilet. Once you are happy with the replacement, remove the nut from the new handle and slide the arm through the hole. Position the handle and replace the nut, screwing it on by hand or with a wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten the nut as this may damage your toilet.
Draining your toilet tank is not necessary, but it will make the process easier.
First, locate the nut holding the handle in place and remove it. Then, carefully slide the handle and arm out of the toilet.
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