If your toilet handle is broken or missing, you can still flush your toilet. All that is required is for you to lift the “flapper” at the bottom of the toilet tank. This will release the water down into the bowl, flushing the toilet. Typically, the flapper can be lifted by removing the toilet tank cover and tugging on the chain that runs from the toilet handle lever down to the top of the flapper. If this chain is broken or disconnected, you can simply reach down and flip the flapper up with your hand.
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Can You Manually Flush a Toilet?
You can flush a toilet manually. A toilet is a simple and effective device. It flushes once a large amount of water is released into the bowl. Gravity and the weight of water then carry the water and waste down into pipes below. Because toilets are simple, gravity-fed appliances, you can use several methods to flush them manually, with no tools required.
3 Ways to Flush a Toilet That Has No Handle
A broken toilet handle is an inconvenience but it won’t stop you from using your toilet. You can still flush your toilet until you get the chance to repair or replace the handle. Try these methods in the meantime to keep your toilet usable.
Lift the Flapper
The first step to flushing a toilet with a broken handle is to remove the lid from the toilet tank (the water reservoir where the handle is located). From there, find the flapper. The flapper is a rubberized stopper (usually red in color) at the bottom of the tank. It hinges open to allow the water supply to flush down through an opening and into the bowl. There should be a chain running from the flapper to the handle lever on the inside of the tank. You can lift the flapper and flush the toilet by pulling this chain upward.
- Remove the toilet tank lid.
- Locate the flapper at the bottom of the tank.
- If there is a chain running from the flapper to the handle lever, pull the chain gently to lift the flapper and flush the toilet.
- If the chain is disconnected from the flapper, reach down into the water and lift the flapper.
- The water in the tank should be within 1 inch of the top of the tank. If the water level is low, use one of the methods below to flush the toilet.
If the chain is not connected to the flapper, you will have to reach down into the toilet tank and lift the flapper. You will get your hand wet doing this, but don’t worry. The water in your toilet tank is the same water that comes from your tap. It contains no waste. In the case of a toilet tank with little or no water supply, use one of the following methods to flush it manually.
Pour Water into the Toilet Bowl
Toilets are operated by gravity, remember? All your toilet handle does when you turn it is tug on the chain inside the tank and lift the flapper. This releases a large amount of water into the bowl at once. From there, gravity flushes everything down the pipes. You can skip straight to the punch by simply pouring a large volume of water directly into the bowl, flushing the toilet. To do so:
- Fill a 5-gallon bucket at least 3/4 full of water.
- Pour the bucket of water into the toilet bowl quickly, but without splashing or overfilling the bowl.
By pouring a few gallons of water into the toilet bowl over the course of 5–10 seconds, you will create enough pressure that the water will be pulled down by gravity, flushing your toilet. This method can be used even if there is no running water.
Pour Water into the Toilet Tank
Similar to pouring water directly into the bowl, you can use a bucket of water to fill the toilet tank. Then, follow the steps in method 1 to tug on the chain, lift the flapper, and flush. This may be preferable to pouring water directly into the bowl because it’s less messy, offers you control, and ensures you use the right amount of water your toilet requires.
- Remove the lid from the toilet tank.
- If there is little or no water present in the tank, fill the tank to within 1 inch of the top using a bucket.
- Tug on the chain or lift the flapper to flush the toilet.
Again, this method can be used in instances where there is no running water or if the flapper is not forming a tight seal during normal operation. You can use a nonfunctional toilet in this way until you have the opportunity for more complete repairs.
How Do You Flush a Toilet When the Chain Breaks?
A broken or detached chain in the toilet tank is a common problem. It renders your toilet handle useless. However, you can still flush a toilet with a broken chain. All you need to do is remove the toilet tank lid, reach down to the bottom of the water tank, and lift the flapper.
- Remove the toilet tank lid.
- Reach down into the tank water and flip the flapper up to flush the toilet.
- If possible, re-attach or repair the chain.
Chains can slip off their lever, break, or tear free from the flapper. If any of these is the case, either re-attach the chain or replace the broken component. Once you have a chain running from the interior lever down to the top of the flapper, your flush handle will function normally again. Just be sure to turn off the water to the toilet and flush it before making any repairs. It’s a lot easier to work on a toilet with a dry, empty tank.
How Do You Flush a Toilet Without a Handle?
Flushing a toilet without a handle is a simple task. The best way to flush a toilet manually is:
- Remove the lid from the toilet tank.
- Determine if the chain is hooked to the flapper.
- If the chain is still attached to the flapper, pull on the chain to lift the flapper and flush the toilet.
- If the chain is detached from the flapper, reach down into the water and lift the flapper to flush the toilet.
This method of manually flushing a toilet will work in all instances where you have running water and a working flapper. If your toilet doesn’t have water running to it, or if the water level in the tank is low due to a leaking flapper, you can flush your toilet manually by simply pouring a 5-gallon bucket of water into the toilet bowl.
