How to Replace a Toilet Flapper Valve — by Home Repair Tutor
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/toilet-keeps-running
Hi Friends,
If your toilet keeps running or you have to jiggle the handle to get it to stop, chances are good that you need to replace the toilet flapper valve.
This is Jeff from Home Repair Tutor and today I’m going to show you how to choose the right toilet flapper valve for your toilet. Then I’ll guide you through the installation.
Sure, this is a super easy fix. But there are some nifty tips that’ll ensure you do this the right way. Trust me here, you don’t want to buy the wrong flapper valve and discover that your toilet runs AGAIN!!!
If you have an older toilet that uses 3.5 gallons per flush you’ll need a different kind of flapper valve than a toilet that uses 1.6 or 1.28 gallons per flush. Usually the gallons per flush is stamped on the top of the toilet bowl.
Use this information to buy the right flapper and choose one that has Microban in it. Microban will stop your flapper from being degraded by bacteria. Pretty cool stuff.
Check out my video for more details.
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For tips on home repair & improvement make sure you check out more Home Repair Tutor videos on YouTube
For more tips on how to fix a running toilet check out this other video I made
I share some tips on how to adjust the fill valve, you know, the thingy majiggy that fills the toilet tank, haha.
Have a great day!
Jeff
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http://youtu.be/U1Gv2bnsPVQ
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I have a toilet of the brand Universal-Rundle, and the Flapper has hard plastic at the hinges, so I can't remove the Flapper easily. It seems like I have to use cutting pliers to cut the hard plastic to remove the Flapper, but what if the Universal Flapper doesn't fit? I need to replace the Flapper only because the flush lever connects to the Flapper by hard plastic also (instead of a metal chain), but over time, the hard plastic "fatigue" and broke at the point where hard plastic connects at the top of the Flapper. I could use some Gorilla glue to glue it back but the Gorilla glue swelled under water, and the glue can fail to attach to the surface of the hard plastic and the top of the Flapper. Maybe using a plier to cut the hinge of the old Flapper is a better way (just hope that new Universal Flapper will fit). I wonder why the Universal Rundle brand is not made to be easily repaired. Many plumbers suggest just replacing the whole toilet… would cost about $200 for the new toilet and $300 for the labor.
P.S. I watched https://youtu.be/KiwbbSYwVMA?t=186 and it turned out that semi-hard Flapper can be removed in that video, and it worked to remove the Universal Rundle one (this one is 360 degree surrounding the hinge)… and fortunately, the universal Flapper also fits. I just had to cut the hard plastic dangling and hook the extra chain to the top hook so it is not dangling which otherwise could block the 2 inch flushing hole.
Ok I found the flapper 502….1.6….. BUT there is another measurement Im not sure about…2'' flapper? 3"…3.5''? is that the flush value seat measurement? Or the total flapper size?
Thanks for the info. You saved me from messing up and buying the wrong thing. Much appreciated.
Someone tried to charge me $20 to do this….Ha! I'm glad I saw this video… I'll do it myself
Thank you. My wife gave me the look yesterday because 2 of 3 of our toilets are making noise and wasting water. Time for me to be a plumber I guess. I always have to check and make sure I'm insured well before that happens!
Ima do this tomorrow. I can hear my toilet dripping water and it keeps refilling. I put a little pressure on the flapper and the dripping noise stopped. Thanks.
Great tutorial! I took the steps and wrote them down on paper. I did exactly what you said and successfully stopped my leak. First fix as a homeowner — check. Thank you!
What I don't understand is what makes the flapper stay up for a second or two. Mine doesn't, and so I have to hold the handle for a second or two to get a good flush. My toilet doesn't run or leak as far as I can tell.
How did you remove the old flapper, and how did you cut the chain. Isn't that one of the whole point of how to change the flapper.