Replace a Flapper 01

Kitchen And Bathroom Renovation :  Replace a Flapper 01

If you hear your toilet running or suddenly refilling itself (“ghost” flushing), the first thing you should check is the flapper. A faulty flapper is an extremely common problem that causes toilets to waste thousands of gallons of water a year. A toilet flapper (or stopper) is part of the flush valve assembly in the tank that opens and closes, allowing water to pass from the tank to the bowl when you flush the toilet. If a flapper is worn or misaligned, it no longer seals the flush valve (valve seat) and will cause the toilet to keep refilling itself as the water level drops in the tank. To do a quick check on the flapper’s condition, just roll up your sleeve, stick your hand in the toilet
tank, and run your fingers around the flapper— chances are black rubber will get all over your fingers, indicating that it’s degraded and failing.

CONSIDER THIS

Toilet flappers vary as to how they attach in the tank. It’s always best to bring the old part with you to the store for a replacement. You may find an exact replacement or universal-fit flapper. I highly recommend replacing the old flapper with one that’s made of silicone-coated rubber and has a no-kink, no-rust chain, like the Hornet flapper. It won’t degrade over time the way a rubber flapper would, and it’ll last far longer than other flappers, especially in areas where hard water is an issue.

PREP WORK

• Before emptying the tank, turn off the water to the toilet at the shut-off valve, or at the water main if one isn’t designated to that toilet.
• Remove the lid and place it on a folded towel out of the way.
• Flush the toilet a couple of times.

• With a large sponge, soak up any remaining water in the tank. Squeeze out the sponge into a bucket
and repeat until the tank is water free.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Replacement flapper
Old towel
Bucket
Large man-made sponge
Scrubber pad, fine sandpaper, or steel
wool