FIX FOR: Having To Hold Toilet Handle To Flush Properly

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Shannon from House-Improvements.com shows you how to fix a toilet that doesn't flush right. If your toilet does not flush unless you hold the handle down, watch this video!
If you have questions about your home improvement projects, stop by the forum on our website, where Shannon will answer your questions in detail for free.
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Video © 2021 SKS Media. Videos produced by SKS Media (House-Improvements.com) are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in the videos is intended to give general guidance to simplify DIY (do it yourself) projects. Because tools, products, materials, equipment, techniques, building codes and local regulations are constantly changing, SKS Media cannot and does not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained therein. Further, SKS Media will not accept any claim for liability related to, but not limited to, omissions, errors, injury, damage or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project. If there are any questions or doubt in regards to the element of a project, please consult with a licensed professional. SKS Media conducts all matters in accordance with the laws of Saskatchewan, Canada.

[@claudiacanales2662]

Wow I searched high and low to find this info. Very clear and to the point video.

[@danervin2530]

Whoever tiled that shower behind you did a phenomenal job with the til layout. From the height, to the niche size and location, to the wraps. Excellent job.

[@HouseImprovements]

Me!

[@armandhammer2235]

Where have you been? I've sat backwards on hundreds of toilets since I've been a plumber for 34 years. Now you taught me how to install siding, how to build a shed, how to Install crown molding and how to wire a 3 way switch.

[@HouseImprovements]

Subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications. You will then see every time I release anything new.

[@armandhammer2235]

@@HouseImprovements I all ready did. Good to see you again.

[@davidwoolard4046]

I was having this same issue only to pull up your video to find you were installing the exact flapper. Problem solved thanks to your video. Thank you!

[@tjmmcd1]

Great to hear that this works for some people and it's WONDERFUL to see others, like yourself, take their own valuable time to help those in need. Unfortunately, my flapper has no adjustment and varying the chain length makes no difference. You MUST hold the handle down to flush the entire tank. Maybe my flapper bulb has a pinhole and is filled with water, making it slam down immediately? Not a big deal for me, but IT IS for my girlfriend. Needless to say, I'm gonna' replace the entire tank assembly to keep her happy.

[@HouseImprovements]

You can just replace the flapper.

[@vinnygoodstuff6198]

Thank you. I had fiddled with the toilet chain to try to fix this problem. Would not have guessed in a million years that the flapper was actually adjustable!!!!!!! Perfect fix! Only thing, on mine, I could not get the bulb to move by hand. Looks like flimsy plastic, but it would not move my hand. Vice grip kept slipping off. Had to use a channel wrench!! Thanks again.

[@albertotosto3647]

Thank you for helping me fix the problem. On my toilet being a different model, with a black color flapper the clear plastic bulb does not turn. You need to disconnect it completely from the flapper , by pressing down two little buttons , they are located on the bulb 180 degrees apart ( and are very hard to find ) Once you remove the bulb, you can then snap it back into a desired setting. Thanks.

[@shutup526]

THANK YOU!!! Been fiddling with mine for awhile and saw the buttons you were talking about!!!

[@heatherperigo5148]

I just watched your video and went and fixed all 3 of our toilets in the house afterwards. THANK YOU!!! We have had to hold down the handle on all 3 since we moved in 5 years ago. It was an easy 5 minute fix on each 😊

[@50hellkat2]

Please disregard my question on previous post. Everything you told me on this video worked and the only other thing i had to do was shorten the chain on the handle since it was a new one that came with the flapper and needed adjustment so when i flipped the handle to flush it was not wobbly due to too long of a chain. Thank you so much. You are very good at instructional videos. Very straighforward and no extraneous details that just confuse people.

[@RoseMichels]

After searching all over KZbin, your video is the only one that actually addressed the problem. IT WORKS!! Ours was exactly as yours in the video and my husband turned it to 10 and on the 2nd flush it now works perfectly! THANK YOU!!!

[@audreymadsen5210]

I cannot tell you how happy I am that I found this video! Solved my problem right away. Thank you so much!

[@jas_elizabeth]

Wow, thank you. This worked perfectly and saved me the cost and hassle of having to get a plumber. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[@juliehenderson1672]

Thank you! My toilet has been trickling water the past 6 months and it doubled my water bill! Thank you!

[@HouseImprovements]

You defiantly need to replace the flapper in your toilet but you could first just try removing it and cleaning it as well as the lip it seals to.

[@aaron74]

Yeah my utility sends me urgent letters indicating the meter is detecting a leak. They send with the letter toilet testing dye tablets to toss into the water tank. If you see the dye in the bowl without flushing, you know it's leaking. You don't need these tablets, you could just use food coloring too.

[@dannagordon9618]

@@aaron74 wow. that's a great water company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have to call and ask why the heck has my water bill almost tripled? Then have to ask for the test kits to be dropped off the following day! I'm too confused now about what's going on with the color or no color! i have to call and ask them what the heck am I looking for! but they NEVER EVER have sent out notices detecting a leak in advance!!!!! i Always know that I need a new flapper ! But have to pay a plumber or handyman $220 to come out and change it! My most recent handyman charged what a big fancy plumbing company quoted!!!!! Can you believe it? And this time I had my "guts" of the flapper unit removed and a new one installed. Because I also constantly had clogs! Not a way to live so I went with this suggestion from the big fancy plumbers. But the handyman said yes he could do this, but he never had before! Which is probably why it took so long and cost so high. But he charged me for time driving, gas, and mileage! 'People will steal you blind! And he came recommended by a good old town manager, my neighbors! Shoot. Not again. Handymen are crazy expensive. Next time I will be asking for quotes first!

[@allesuma3513]

Thank you so much...I have had problems with this for months. I researched a while back and found nothing. I was so thankful to find your video!!! It was so easy!

[@jamieclark4681]

Thank you for your video I was having problems having to hold my flusher handle down to get a good strong flush for several seconds but now I know how to fix the problem and this was exactly the kind of video I was searching for. Thank you so much! 😁

[@DoverBoy20]

After jacking with the chain for an hour, I finally decided to turn to KZbin. Not disappointed! Thanks for the handy tip.

[@islamae29]

Very detailed and easy to follow! Thanks for the tutorial!

[@feliciachoate410]

I am so thankful to find your podcast. I went through your videos and they are the most helpful videos. Thank you so much.

[@skinnydee1886]

Very good instructions, so I'm going right now to fix that problem! You're a gem! Thank you so much, and God bless 🙏🌹 I've edited to tell you that I've tried what you said, but I still had to hold down the flush lever so that the toilet would completely flush. MY problem wasn't fixed but I do appreciate learning this, as I can still pass on the information to others that I know. Thanks again🙏

[@tfavors28]

Thank you for this video help me fix my problem. I appreciate it because I was about to call a plumber for a relatively easy fix so thank you again you save me a couple hundred bucks

[@makenziewing7737]

This was very helpful. I had to actually remove the clear dome piece on my model to reset to another number but still worked once I figured that out. Thanks!

[@onchaiyasith9225]

Thank you for posting this video, it was really helpful. We had no idea what was causing this issue. Thanks again!

[@russellschonmeier9437]

THANK YOU. I also have the 540. My flapper had worked for years and then suddenly stopped. It was doing the exact same as what you were experiencing. I had seen that it looked like it could be adjusted, but when I tried, it would not move. Now I know that it does. Thank you

[@winstonwonderland5841]

I have watched several videos trying to figure this out in your video just explained it. Thank you so much

[@soltero5605]

Best video ever, very easy to understand and i solved my problem on the first try. Very excited thanks guy.

[@shaynegudmundson3200]

Thanks for sharing this, have same flapper was also set to #1. Would have never known without your help.

[@henryj8965]

Hi Shannon, thanks for your tips in adjusting the flap control. It’s totally new for me

[@HouseImprovements]

You are so welcome!

[@kentmagruder390]

Many thx. I have fought this exact issue for quite some time. Your video did the trick.👍

[@musiclives6772]

Thank you for this. Unfortunately my fluidmaster wouldn’t turn, despite being only a few months old, so it was a whole additional KZbin search to be able to get it to move as I was not the only one with THAT problem! Finally working. Thanks again.

[@cathylaycock5598]

Thanks for this info. Bought new flapper yesterday and couldn’t figure why it wouldn’t flush right. Works perfectly now. 😊❤️🇨🇦

[@dinasones3914]

Help

[@nobodyisprfct]

i really like your video's. So very glad you made all your how to clip's. Very grateful and thank you

[@BoyWithUke_Fan32141]

Thanks for your help your are a very good teacher. Excellent!!

[@blainemeyer]

My filler valve would randomly come on and off due to loosing water because of a bad seal from my flapper and the flapper that was replaced was a universal one that didn’t have to be adjusted and whenever I went to the hardware store to by another one all they had were the adjustable ones and I will have to admit it was a booger trying to adjust it properly but trying a few different settings I was able to get it it flush properly. This video will be really helpful to future diy people trying to replace one.

[@kaboom362]

Great troubleshooting Shannon. I wonder if the good folks over at the assembly plant, realize just what that centerpiece is for

[@princessag584]

Perfect! I really needed this 👍🏽

[@BrianLe-yg3ug]

This video helped a lot! Thank you.

[@valnehls]

This was absolutely new information and I had no idea.

[@JRPLawyeress1]

Thank you. Ours is driving us crazy. Will fix it today.

[@Preppy429]

Problem solved right before thanksgiving 💪🏾💪🏾

[@wellsww]

Thank you very much for posting this, it fixed my issue in minutes 😃

[@MrWhitelightning73]

Outstanding, attention to details…..

[@CraneInTheField]

Worked great! Mine was set to 1 and worked great when set to 10. Worked consistently after 2nd flush. Had to struggle a bit to change setting, was afraid it would break so tried different ways of holding it and just wiggled it until it turned.

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Nice tip Shannon

[@MrCell333]

Thank you 🙏🏽 this ready helped me out!!

[@fwiebe1729]

This idea worked great!!!!!!!! Thank you.

[@shawnpa]

There's a little dial on the bottom of my flapper. Discovered it from this. Twisted and fixed. Thank you.

[@tracy6076]

Thank you very much! That worked like a charm.. My flapper wasn't the same brand but I could adjust it.

[@ukedaman]

Thank you, so much. This fixed the problem.

[@metyk3360]

Great advise. Fixed my problem, first flush. 👍

[@vivasonoma]

Worked for me! Thank you.

[@leaho5811]

Thanks so much, this was exactly my problem.

[@CorgiHatGuy]

My stopper is a different model but the setup is quite similar with a dial system you can turn clockwise or counter for more or less. Now my toilet flushes on a single press, thanks man!

[@bowlmeoverva]

Thanks for sharing!

[@chrisdonahue529]

My exact problem! Thank you! Thank you youTube!

[@conniemisch1164]

Thank you. Thank you, thank you! God bless you!!! Triple thumbs up!!!

[@apothecarycustom376]

Wow! 😮 Thank you!

[@bobscammell439]

Thank you it worked for me!😊

[@armandhammer2235]

Gone are the days of the universal flapper. It's a plumber's nightmare having to carry a dozen different flappers. A homeowner must remove the old flapper and take it with them to the box store to ensure getting the correct flapper or get the part # and order online.

[@anthonystout7374]

Although all the packages say "universal". I just took 2 "universal" toilet kits back to Lowe's to get the correct "universal" size!

[@KIKI4444]

Wish I knew this yesterday before I threw the old box out 😢

[@claudiacanales2662]

Great tip!

[@orlandorosado2157]

Toilet wouldn't flush properly and I spent an hour adjusting the chain in a dozen different lengths without avail. This video showed me the way of the flapper. Thank You! Not sure why the American Standard Cadet 3 toilet manual doesn't mention this.

[@RoryVanucchi]

Good stuff. Thanks

[@barryfrazier4281]

Thanks, great video

[@Simplytanner]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[@snach9700]

hhey thx i spent hours trying other fixes your 2 min fix works!!!

[@alexanderstokes9225]

All this time and you just help me figure this out! Mazel's a little different where it didn't have the big plastic bulb but it still was a knob to adjust!

[@WarmMyHeart]

Genius. Thanks !

[@jeffgTrialsBikes]

Your Awesome! Thank You!

[@J_bui]

Appreciate the walkthrough! How many people actually lift the cover to check inside lol.

[@MB1Billion]

Great Video 👍

[@chelseypalmer980]

AHHHH THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

[@sparkle9482]

Good Content🙏❤

[@cody3482]

Thanks, the one I have fluidmaster, just has three holes in the float, not sure how to fix the flapper closing too fast. Almost like it is not being lifted high enough

[@rminitials]

Thank you!

[@HouseImprovements]

You bet!

[@shazboticon]

I had this same issue and in my case turned out to be too much slack in the chain and wasn't lifting the flapper high enough, even though there was very little slack. I was only able to reduce the slack by one more link but that was enough to fix the issue for me. I had already made the adjustment you described.

[@djpapachris]

You are the MAN...... I had forgotten about the adjustable float on the bottom....... If I had seen this a few weeks ago, it would have save me several trips to confession and 13 Hail Marys.......lol ...Seriouslly Thank You...

[@HouseImprovements]

LOL! Always check here first !

[@johnmckenna8989]

Great to know, ...thanks.....We have a problem in my area of too much chlorine in the water and it destroys the material used in flapper valves...About 2 years before they start to deteriorate.....

[@alan4sure]

A friend used chlorine cakes in her toilet tank to keep bowl clean and it ate rubber tank to bowl seal and the flapper too.

[@chriscrusader5412]

Excellent! ty! These new technical flappers WTH lol!

[@djef6028]

I have this exact flapper on new toilet, it would not turn, had to pry it apart and stick it back together in the correct position for a maximum flush. Very annoying because there is a built in shelf above the tank and my arm barely fits in the tank to work on it. I had no idea flappers were adjustable, or would have done before install.

[@tungle01]

Thanks man

[@HouseImprovements]

You're welcome!

[@cidlight1]

Thank u work for me

[@tripper7894u]

Had to adjust the arm in handle too ..👍

[@armandhammer2235]

I'll add one more thing: Glacier Bay is a Home Depot toilet and Aquasource is a Lowe's brand toilet you won't find replacement parts for a Glacier Bay at Lowes and vice versa.

[@aaron74]

Yeah, I think it's good to stick with solid brands like American Standard. In my bathroom I have Eljer, and I've replaced all its components with Fluidmaster and it's been rock solid.

[@superduperboyx]

I have the same issue but my flapper isn't adjustable like in your video. I've already adjusted the chain link in several different ways and it still doesn't stay up unless I hold the flush lever down about 3-4 seconds. Any help? Is my flapper faulty?

[@michelleluther1135]

Oh my gosh, THANK YOU!! I just bought a small house, so many little non-catastrophic (but annoying) things going wrong. I've been going crazy trying to DIY to save money. Thanks to you, Got the toilet fixed! Any ideas regarding a leaking rain gutter right over my front door?? Looks like it was cracked and previously "repaired". Still leaks. I'm thinking Flex Seal or Gorilla Seal before the next rain 😊

[@HouseImprovements]

I would try the flex seal spray or tape.

[@precbsfender]

Is the Fluid Master 540 compatible with all toilets..?

[@Maxid1]

I didn't know those existed but the flapper was saying it was water logged. And it was, by design and the setting it was on.

[@notajeep4x4]

Thank you! I thought the new toilet I bought was a dud, I never knew this adjustment existed

[@MrGeoffois]

How does the chain connect to the flapper? Mine came off and I put it back on but it doesn't seem like a good system so maybe I didn't do something right. I do like that I discovered this video, thank you.

[@HouseImprovements]

Normally there is just a metal ring attached to the flapper and a chain attached to that.

[@Sean-Aviation]

excellent video. in my case though the flapper doesn't have this adjustment. its just a rubber. any idea what can be done?

[@johnknight375]

Make an adjustment to the CHAIN which connects the flapper to the flush lever - You can give the chain MORE slack or LESS slack - experiment ...

[@Erated78]

Had no idea certain flapper were adjustable. When installing new toilets, do you ever put a little amount of silicone to the rubber washers between tank and bowl? Thanks Shannon!

[@HouseImprovements]

I have never added silicone.

[@paulthomas2337]

The CENTER pipe where black hose floes water into _ pull out the hose. Install a ONE inch PVC pipe connector on top of the pipe using a flat small board or tool to keep PVC flat on top of the other pipe - TAP Down on the 1 inch PVC connector (2 inches long) with a hammer until the pipe is taller. Now screw the adjuster screw way down and raise the water tank level up ONE INCH. Place black hose loose inside of the drain tube again. WOW !! POWERFUL FLUSH EVERY TIME - YOU WILL LOVE IT !!

[@rickypollock9100]

I had to put a foot on my chain for a full flush. I need to check out this flapper

[@johnknight375]

I have never seen this type of flapper before. What brand is it?

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Something new in toilet tank water management. Never saw that before. What brand is that flapper and is it part of a kit? Definitely keeping this video.

[@HouseImprovements]

This is a Fluidmaster flapper and it was original to this toilet ,which i believe was an American Standard toilet

[@suzukikawasaki5165]

Mine slams shut. Trying to slow it down or soften it's closing. Thanks

[@andreafelton689]

Is the pencil in the ear part of the uniform?

[@virginiamarzano9961]

Do not have the flapper you show in video. The toilet is American Standard. I replaced the flapper disk . However the toilet will not flush as the flapper closes too fast. I adjusted the chain, but no luck.

[@barbarajackson4143]

Video was helpful but my flapper has no way to adjust. It’s solid rubber. Toilet does exactly what video shows, flapper isn’t up long enough, just pops up and back down. Any suggestions?

[@HouseImprovements]

remove and replace that style, they get water logged after a few years and do not work as good anymore

[@keekdkelly]

We have the same flapper but it won't turn?! Edit - We just took it completely off and used a screwdriver to pull down the dome. It WORKED! Thank you! Now my toilet downstairs has a cylinder thing??? No clue how to deal with that!

[@HouseImprovements]

That's a whole different beast, lol. You can install an adjustable one if you want

[@Jack-ey6ry]

Thanks for the help, what’s the reason for the styrofoam liner in the toilet?

[@HouseImprovements]

Keeps the toilet tank from sweating.

[@danjoe22]

What is that liner in the toilet tank? Does that reduce the size for lower volume flushes? Never seen anything like that before.

[@HouseImprovements]

keeps the tank from sweating when cold water is inside and the house is warm. Could be a Canadian thing for winter?