Toilet Flapper Repair
How to Repair a Toilet Flapper that is Causing a Running Toilet
By Mark J. Donovan
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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
