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Toilet Flapper Repair

Toilet flapper repair and/or replacement is a very common maintenance item for homeowners. We are commonly asked how often a toilet flapper should be repaired and truthfully, it really depends on the flapper and your water. I have replaced toilets that have the original flapper still in them and I have had other flappers that have had to be replaced yearly. A lot of it depends on the brand of the flapper and the toilet, the incoming water for your home and flush frequency in the home.

What Does the Toilet Flapper Do?

The toilet flapper, while a seemingly simple part, has several important functions in the operation of your toilet. Before we cover what it does, we should make sure that you what it is. If you remove the tank lid from the back of your toilet and down to the bottom, you should see a (usually red or black) rubber piece at the very bottom with a chain connected to it. That is the flapper way down there.

When you push down on your toilet handle, it lifts that chain which in turn lifts the flapper allowing water to escape into the bowl and flushing. Aside from flushing, the flapper also prevents the toilet from running continuously by creating a seal the prevents water from running into the bowl when not in use. If you hear your toilet running frequently, most likely a faulty flapper is the cause and it should be replaced.

How to Repair or Replace a Toilet Flapper

Now that we have gone over what the flapper is and what functions it serves, we can get into the repair and replacement portion of this article. I will be writing these in steps that are easier to follow along with, if you have any questions you are welcome to send us an email. So, here are the steps for toilet flapper repair:

1. Before we get started you should turn off the water to your toilet. This can usually be done by closing the valve located on the wall behind your toilet.

2. Now that the water has been turned off, give the toilet a good flush to clear out most of the water in the tank, making it easier to work. There will most likely be some water remaining in the toilet and that is fine. If the toilet tank is filling with water you probably did not shut the water off completely.

3. Disconnect the chain from the flush handle bar. You should see a metal bar that is connected to your toilets flush handle, on the end of this is a small chain, simply unhook the chain from the bar, if the hook is bent closed you may need to open it with a pair of pliers before removing it.

4. Most flappers have an arm on both sides that connects to a post or hook on the overflow pipe in the middle of the tank. You should be able to just pull those arms off of the pipe and take the flapper out. If your flapper is different you may need to consult your toilets manufacturer or send us an email to find out how to remove it.

5. Attach your new toilet flapper is the same manner that the old one was. It should go on exactly the same and make sure that the flapper is sitting securely in place.

6. Attach the flapper chain to the flush handle bar. There should be very little slack in the chain. If the chain is too loose it will not allow the flapper to open wide enough for a good flush and if the chain is too tight it may not create a seal as needed.

7. Turn back on the water and allow the tank to fill completely. Make sure that water is not running into the toilet and give the toilet a flush. This should be a normal flush cycle, if the flush is not very strong or ends to soon the chain is probably to tight, try loosening it a notch and see how that does.

Congratulations! You have successfully changed out the flapper on your toilet. Its a pretty simple fix but can save money on your water bill if you have had a running toilet. This repair may also greatly increase your flush efficiency.

Anything Else About Toilet Flapper Repair?

Really, we have covered just about everything you could ever want to know about toilet flapper repair and replacement. They are very simple parts that require little maintenance but can really determine the efficiency of your toilet. If you are replacing your toilet flapper I highly recommend that you spend a little extra and get a good one. They are not very expensive and it can save you a little work and some money on your water bill down the road.

Please let us us know if you have any other questions about toilet flapper repair or toilet repair in general.

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