What is a toilet chain?
The toilet chain is an essential part of the toilet tank attached to the trip lever and the toilet’s flapper. If the chain is poorly hampered, then it will not activate the flapper. As a result, it will not initiate successful flushing. If the chain seems so tight or too shattered, the entire interior toilet system will not function according to merit. The toilet chain is usually made of metal or steel, which looks like a shackle.
How does the toilet chain work?
The toilet chain is a very part of the tank used in most toilet designs to lift up the flapper, giving the water a solid force for the rush from the tank into the toilet bowl. After you flush the contents of the toilet bowl into the sewer, it flows away from all the waste materials. In most toilets, the flushing mechanism is done by pressing the handle, which upsurges the chain inside the tank. The chain typically uses a lever system to initiate a strong flush. The chain seems long and sturdy, locked outside the toilet where it’s used in place of a handle.
Toilets that have push buttons do not follow this thumb rule of working. The controlling parts are attached to the flapper with a cable system. It generally depends on the gravitational force. After the toilet lever is depressed, it pulls the toilet chain, which in turn lifts the toilet flapper.
What happens if the chain doesn’t work correctly?
A damaged chain means a damaged toilet, literally as if it gets out of order, and then the toilet becomes nothing but a showpiece. What happens if the chain gets damaged,
The chain is connected with the trip lever on one end, and the other end is associated with the flapper at the bottom of the tank. So if it gets loosened or rigid, the flushing fails and doesn’t uplift the flapper. As a result, the flushing mechanism gets hampered, and water will not pass into the bowl from the tank.
How to adjust the toilet chain?
Sometimes the chain of the toilet gets loose or becomes too tight. Then it needs a readjustment to make the chain workable again. For that, you have to take off the lid of the tank. Then with the help of the needle-nose pliers, you can readjust the chain and revert it to its actual position. Don’t forget to check the connection between the chain and flapper. After you adjust the chain, it will start to work again.
How to fix the broken chain on the toilet?
Repairing a broken chain is as simple as reconnecting it to its actual position. For the convenience of reading, I will try to depict the complete process of fixing a broken chain.
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Step-1
First, you need to turn off the water supply line. Then carefully pull off the tank’s lid and ensure it is kept in a safe and secured place. You can arrange a soft foam or soft place to store the lid as it is a very sensitive part of the toilet, which is made of ceramic or porcelain.
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Step-2
Then flush or remove the water manually from the tank of the toilet. All the water can not be thrown away, so soak the remaining water with the help of a sponge. After that, identify what the problem is? If you see something damaged in the chain portion, then you should replace the chain. The chain could be damaged by excessive mineral content in water, or it may rust or be. Try to replace it with a new one.
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Step-3
To replace the chain, you need to unhook the chain first. You can use an Adjustable plier to detach the old rusty chain from the lever handle or the trip lever. Apply the plier to unhook the chain from its actual position.
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Step-4
After unhooking the damaged chain, you must also check the rubber flapper, which is situated at the bottom base of the tank. The rubber flapper may be worn out due to excessive iron and foreign particles in water. No matter what the reason is, check the flapper’s condition. If it gets shattered, then replace it with a new one.
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Step-5
Again use the plier to reconnect the brand new flapper and chain. Use the compact needle-nose pliers to detach the shattered chain from the tank. The flapper valve and the tiny clip must be connected to the flush lever bar. Then apply the metal ring into the minuscule hole at the upper point of the flapper valve.
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Step-6
After connecting the new chain with the trip lever and putting the new flapper into the tank’s base, you need to take the lid and put that on the tank. Then turn on the water hose by rotating the tap anti-clockwise. Then flush and check if the chain is working or not. That’s how you can successfully repair the chain.
Hi, this is Robert Crossan, the owner of this website, has 17 years of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of toilets and plumbing systems. After completing the Level 2 Basic Plumbing course in 2005, I started working in both domestic and commercial buildings as a professional plumber. So I can figure out the core difference between different toilet models and brands. It also helped me monitor their work performance and setbacks.