I tried to flush my toilet this morning and heard a snapping noise. Now the outside handle is just swinging loosely. I opened the cistern but I have no idea what the hook is supposed to hook to. I found two screws lying at the bottom of the cistern, one really rusty with what looks like a little bit of wire sticking from it, and the other a very short, new-looking screw. I really need this fixed because I have only one toilet in the house. What has broken? And can I fix it?

Gloria, March 2009

See the picture...

http://www.partridges.uk.com/catalog/images/CLC_Cistern_Handle.jpg

The handle turns a square shaft - a nylon bar with holes in it fixes to the shaft - a hook passes through one of the holes in the nylon bar. As you turn the handle the hook pulls up on the syphon mechanism.

Use a bucket to flush the toilet until it's fixed.

Go to your local DIY / Hardware store and buy a replacement Flush Handle - The fancy ones like the one in the picture are not very robust and soon break - plain chromium plated ones are much better and cheaper.

It is easy to fit the new handle - honest.

Good luck...

Peccavi, March 2009