Lift bars are part of a toilet.
A lift bar is a piece of a plumbing fixture that allows a drain or flapper to open or close. Lift rods are most commonly found as part of a toilet or faucet. A broken or improperly installed lift rod can interfere with the function of the plumbing fixture, but the problems are usually easy to identify and repair.
A toilet lift bar is a vertical piece inside the toilet tank. It is connected to the discharge lever on the outside of the tank by a horizontal arm that raises and lowers the rod. When the lever is pressed, the lift rod lifts the flapper or stops in the tank, allowing water in the tank to move into the bowl. In some toilets, the rod can be replaced by a chain or wire that does the same job.
When a toilet lift rod is broken or misaligned, the toilet may not work at all. As the flush lever is depressed, there may be no resistance or a scraping noise may be heard along the side of the tank. This problem is easily identified visually by removing the tank cap and examining the tank parts. If the rod is broken, replacements are usually available at plumbing or hardware stores. If the rod is out of alignment, it may be possible to manually move it back into place by pressing or bending the rod to align it and then pressing the toilet tank lever to check toilet operation.
On sinks, the faucet lift rod is usually present behind the spout. It is an exposed piece that will usually have a knob or finial on the end that matches the style of the faucet. The rod connects to a bar, called a pivot rod, below the faucet that closes the pop-up drain in the sink when the rod is raised, or opens when the rod is pushed down.
If the faucet lift rod is not connected properly, the pop-up drain in the sink can get stuck in place. If this happens, it can be fixed by inspecting under the faucet. Most of the time, the dipstick may have slipped out of place. On some faucets, the lift rod may be secured with a nut that may need to be repaired or replaced. Repair kits and replacement faucet lifter rods are available at many hardware stores.
