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anmueller19 · Jan 9, 2006, 06:51 PM

Hello-
We just bought a house, and we are having problems with our toilet flushing. When pushing the handle down, it begins the flushing process, but the second you let it go it stops. So we have to hold the handle down until the flushing part is over then we can let go & the toilet fills. What do we have to do to fix this? Thank You!
Andrew

letmetellu · Jan 9, 2006, 07:16 PM

If your commode is a new water saver that uses 1.6 gallons per flush it has to have a special flapper, it should be marked on the carton.

I have, in the past solved this problem by cutting a piece of packing foam into a cube about two and one have inches square. Then is some manner put the chain or whatever lifts the flapper through the center of the cube and slid it down to the top of the flapper. Then you will have to put some kind of stop around the chain just above the foam cube, it could be a copper wire or a big wad of hot glue, anything to keep the cube from sliding up the chain.

The purpose of the foam is when you flush the commode the cube will float up and hold the flapper up longer and maybe complete the flush without holding the handle.

If this helps please lit me know.

klmgb · Jan 15, 2006, 12:04 AM

I'm having the same problem and found this on a website. If you did something else to fix it let me know

Thanks

Another cause of the flapper closing too soon is that the length of chain between the lever arm and
Flapper is too loose or too tight.
• The rule of thumb for setting up the chain length is to pull the chain straight to the lever arm with out lifting the flapper and then loosen the chain by 3 or 4 links. Attach the chain to the hook and lever
Arm and try the flush. Make incremental changes in the chain length from there until the flapper opens and goes back to allow the water to leave the tank.

speedball1 · Jan 15, 2006, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by anmueller19

Hello-
We just bought a house, and we are having problems with our toilet flushing. When pushing the handle down, it begins the flushing process, but the second you let it go it stops. So we have to hold the handle down until the flushing part is over then we can let go & the toilet fills. What do we have to do to fix this? Thank You!
Andrew

Good morning Andrew,

BINGO! klmgb hit the nail on the head with, "Another cause of the flapper closing too soon is that the length of chain between the lever arm and
flapper is too loose or too tight.
• The rule of thumb for setting up the chain length is to pull the chain straight to the lever arm with out lifting the flapper and then loosen the chain by 3 or 4 links. Attach the chain to the hook and lever
arm and try the flush. Make incremental changes in the chain length from there until the flapper opens and goes back to allow the water to leave the tank."

Great informanitive post kimgb, allow me to add to it.
The linkage between the flush arm and the flapper should have a 1/4" of play when the flapper's seated. Too much linkage play and the flapper isn't raised high enough and the suction draws it back down cutting off the flkush. Too little linkage and the flapper will not be allowed to go past the vertical and will drop back to the seat stopping the flush as soon as you let go of the handle. Cheers, Tom

lbwest · Jun 20, 2011, 09:57 AM

Try changing your stopper