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A Toilet flapper plays a key role
in the proper functioning of your toilet. A warped or damaged toilet flapper
can cause your toilet to constantly run causing annoyance and higher water
bill costs. Toilet flapper repair or replacement is a simple do it yourself
project and a replacement toilet flapper will only set you back a few
dollars.
To understand how a toilet
flapper works, its best to remove the toilet tank lid. With the lid off, you
should notice that the toilet tank lever is connected to a chain.
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The other side of the chain
should be connected to the toilet flapper. When examining this assembly
check to make sure the chain is not in any way sitting underneath the toilet
flapper. Occasionally, if the chain is too long, the chain can become wedged
between the toilet flapper and toilet tank valve seat. If you see this is
the case your toilet flapper repair job is very simple. Simply pull the
chain out from underneath the toilet flapper and adjust the chain length so
that it cannot inadvertently get stuck underneath the toilet flapper.
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If the toilet lever and chain
assembly look like they are connected properly, push down on the toilet tank
lever as you normally would. You should observe that one end of the toilet
flapper lifts up. When this happens water rushes out of the toilet tank and
fills the toilet bowl, causing the flushing action. After a couple of
seconds the toilet flapper should close over the toilet tank valve seat and
water should begin to fill up again in the toilet tank.
If you hear or see water continuously draining into the toilet bowl, even
after the water has reached its maximum height in the toilet tank then most
likely the toilet flapper is damaged or deformed.
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The toilet flapper can become
damaged due to a variety of reasons including the use of toilet bowl
chemicals that are stored in the toilet tank. The chemicals can effectively
eat away at the rubber toilet flapper to the point that it does not sit
tightly over the toilet tank valve seat. Alternatively, the toilet flapper
can also become deformed in shape, so that again it does not seat well on
the toilet tank valve seat. In addition, minerals in the water can collect
on the toilet flapper and toilet tank valve seat so that the toilet flapper
does not close fully.
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If you do hear or see water
continuously draining into the toilet bowl, one simple toilet flapper repair
that you can try, is wiping off the toilet flapper and toilet tank valve
seat with a rag. To do this, first turn off the water supply inlet valve to
the toilet. Then flush the toilet to drain much of the water out of the
toilet tank. Finally use a rag to wipe down the surface areas of the toilet
flapper and toilet tank valve seat.
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Photo by Mark Donovan |
Turn the water supply inlet valve
to the toilet back on and let the toilet tank fill. If you no longer hear or
see water running into the toilet bowl after the tank fills, your toilet
flapper repair job is complete.
If, however, the toilet
continuous to run even after the toilet tank is full, then again turn off
the water supply inlet valve and flush the toilet.
Now remove the toilet flapper
from the overflow pipe and disconnect the chain from the toilet flapper.
Take the toilet flapper to a home improvement store and find a replacement
toilet flapper.
When you return home, install the
new toilet flapper, turn on the water to the toilet tank and let it fill.
Again, listen and look for any signs of the toilet still running after the
toilet tank has filled. With any luck, your running toilet problem should be
history and you will have completed your first toilet flapper repair
project.
Additional Home Plumbing Resources
Toilet Flappers and Other Toilet Accessories from Amazon.com
