The toilet is arguably one of the hardest working plumbing Toilet Flapper fixtures in a home. And when it’s not working as it should, it’s important to find and remedy the problem pronto.
One common issue is a constantly-flowing toilet caused by a faulty flapper. Fortunately, this is one plumbing problem that can be fixed with a fairly simple DIY repair.
Read on to find out how a toilet flapper works and how to replace one and put a stop to water waste.
What Does a Toilet Flapper Do?
A toilet flapper is a disk, ball, or rubber seal that closes the opening in the base of the toilet tank, preventing water from flowing into the toilet bowl. When the toilet is flushed, the flapper lifts up to allow the water from the tank to rush into the toilet bowl. However, over time a flapper can become damaged and not close properly, causing water to leak into the toilet bowl. As water drains from the tank, the water level decreases and triggers the fill valve to begin filling the tank, resulting in a constantly running toilet.
How to Replace a Toilet Flapper
With a handful of tools, a little time, and a little know-how, you can replace a faulty toilet flapper in under 30 minutes. All you’ll need is a pair of gloves, aviation snips, and a new flapper. Before you begin, take a measurement of the old flapper and find a suitable replacement to ensure a proper fit.
Shut off the water to the toilet
Locate the toilet valve, usually just behind the toilet, and turn it counterclockwise to prevent water from flowing into the toilet tank. While you can replace a flapper without shutting the water off, you may end up getting a little wet.
Drain the toilet tank
Flush the toilet to drain the tank of water. Flushing will cause the flapper to lift up and allow water from the tank to flow into the bowl.
Disconnect the flapper
First, disconnect the chain from the flush handle lever by undoing the clip on the end of the chain from where it hooks onto the handle lever. Then, slide the flapper off the overflow tube – the tall, cylindrical tube that extends up from the base of the tank. If the flapper is attached with a ring, simply lift the flapper up off the tube.
If the flapper attaches to pegs that extend from the sides of the overflow tube, slide the “ears” of the flapper off the pegs to remove it.
Install the new flapper
If the new flapper has a ring-style design, slide it down over the overflow tube, then connect the new chain to the flush handle lever. If the flapper connects with “ears”, simply slide each ear over the pegs on the sides of the overflow tube. Then connect the new chain to the flush handle lever. Once the new flapper is installed, check that the chain sits at a relaxed length with just a little slack when the flapper is closed. If the chain is too long, it could get caught under the flapper and prevent it from closing. And if too short, the flapper may not close securely.
Turn the water back on and test for leaks
Turn the water on to the toilet and allow the tank to fill. If the repair was successful, the toilet should stop running when the toilet tank is full. Flush the toilet once to make sure that the flapper opens and closes properly and wait for the tank to refill to ensure the issue is resolved completely.
While not every plumbing problem requires the help of a licensed plumber, For plumbing needs big and small, contact Anthony’s today for the top-notch service you can depend on.
