How to Fix A Running Toilet

The toilet flapper is circled in yellow.

Basic Toilet Maintenance 
One of the most common toilet parts to break is the toilet flapper. These rubber parts deteriorate and harden over time, resulting in the need to be replaced. By understanding how to replace this simple part your money can stay in your wallet rather than to be literally flushed down the drain as wasted water. You can make the repair in 10-15 minutes and $5 rather than $150+ for a professional plumber to make the repair.

What is needed:
All you need is one toilet flapper.

Flappers cost $3-$10 depending on the store and what kind you buy. There are a few differed styles depending on the type of toilet. Take a picture of the old one and then look for an identical one at the store. They are most commonly found in red. Red usually is chlorine resistant, and should last longer than the black version.



Instructions: 

First, shut of the water supply to the toilet. The shut off valve, as seen in the picture, is located behind the toilet. Twist in the indicated direction to turn off. Once the project his been completed, use the same knob to restore the water supply.


Once the water has been shut off the flapper now needs to be replaced.

If the flapper looks like the one pictured above, simply remove the chain from the flusher handle and unsnap the flapper.

Snap the new flapper into the same place as the old one and attach the chain to the flush handle.

Next, adjust the chain so that is is loose, but has just enough tension to lift the flapper when the toilet handle is pulled.

Note: Some of the flappers have a handle made of the same material as the flapper, itself. If this is the case the same steps should be followed for installation.  



In some cases he flapper will look like the picture to the left. To install, follow the steps above, but rather than snapping the prongs into place, the flapper ring should be slid around the bowl filling pipe.


Once the flapper has been properly installed, turn on the water supply and flush the toilet once or twice to ensure (1) the chain length is correct, (2) the flapper is positioned correctly, and (3) the toilet no longer runs once the tank is filled.

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Thanks for reading this "How To"! Remember to check out my other posts if you have not already. Check back later for more helpful home insights. 

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