It depends on the actual … Close the toilet's water supply valve on the wall by turning its handle clockwise until it stops. If everything in the tank is working, you may need to turn off the water and plunge the toilet. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. The water also needs to be off when you remove the flush and fill valves. After removing the nut, pull away the supply line and lift the fill valve out of the tank. There are many reasons why your toilet is not flushing, but two of the most common problems are a broken cistern inlet valve or a broken flush handle. If you’re talking about a regular domestic toilet (the kind with a rectangular tank on the back) then you do the following : Remove the lid from the tank behind the bowl, and lift the flapper at the bottom of the tank. Place old towels around the floor under the toilet, as a bit of water will drain from the supply line when you remove it. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 29,477 times. For some models, you’ll also have to unhook a flexible refill tube or arm that connects the flush and fill valves. Otherwise, it might be tough to track down the right part, and you’re better off replacing the entire valve. Chain Or The Lever Is Disconnected. How to Fix or Replace a Toilet Handle / Flush Lever - YouTube Keep turning it clockwise to clear and hook the obstruction, then pull the snake out of the drain. In a traditional toilet, the flushing mechanism is visible in the cistern. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, Kitchen makeover: How to transform your kitchen for next to nothing, How to build a bird bath - fun crafts to try this weekend, Bathroom decor ideas: How to spruce up your bathroom for free, A replacement flushing mechanism or diaphragm. References. Regardless of whether your toilet has a standard or water-saving flushing mechanism, replacing the faulty button works the same way. Once the cistern is empty, unclip the connection between the handle arm and the flush unit. Drain the water tank. If you run into trouble, call a professional plumber. Learn more... Usually, flushing a toilet is simple matter of pressing a handle or button. Other Ways to Flush a Toilet without Water. It can be tricky as it’s reverse threaded, meaning you need to turn it clockwise to undo it. Sometimes, it can be fixed by simply tightening the mounting nut at the back of the handle. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8c\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-1.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a> License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-2.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-3.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-4.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-5.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-6.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b4\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b4\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-7.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-8.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-9.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5c\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5c\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-10.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-11.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-12.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3e\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-13.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-14.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-15.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-16.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-17.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-17.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c7\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-18.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-19.jpg\/v4-460px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-19.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Flush-a-Toilet-Step-19.jpg\/aid6540242-v4-728px-Flush-a-Toilet-Step-19.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"