Do You Have a Silent Leak? Maybe It’s Time to Flip Your Flapper

Posted Monday, March 6, 2023

Do you know what a toilet flapper is? This simple rubber device holds water in the tank and then releases water into the bowl when the toilet is flushed. But the rubber can wear out, so the flapper should be replaced at least every five years to ensure a good seal and avoid leaks.

Do You Have a Silent Leak?
If you’re not sure that your flapper needs replacing but want to ensure your toilet is not wasting water, testing for a toilet leak is simple. Drop a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the water in the toilet’s tank and wait 10 minutes. If the dye shows up in the bowl, you have a leak. Don’t forget to flush afterward to remove any leftover dye and avoid staining the bowl. A new flapper or seal could fix that leak!

What’s in Your Tank?
Before you get started, it’s important to look in the tank at the back of your toilet to ensure you get the right flapper. Not all flappers are created equal! If you’re not sure what size or shape flapper to get, or if your toilet even has a flapper, take a photo of the inside of the tank, and bring it to your local hardware store. You can also measure the diameter of the drainpipe inside the tank — if the drain diameter measures 1 7/8 inches or 2 3/8 inches, then you need a 2-inch flapper, but if it measures in the 3-inch range, you need a 3-inch one.

Make Note of the Float
If your toilet has an elongated tank, there’s a chance it has a special flapper mechanism with a foam float that attaches to the flapper chain. Before removing the old flapper from the toilet tank, check if it has a float, which can also wear out and need to be replaced. Make sure you buy a flapper with a float that comes in the package if it does or check the website of your toilet manufacturer to see if they have replacement parts or information on
how to replace it.

Check the Chain
Every new flapper should come with a chain that hooks the flush arm and lifts the flapper to release water into the bowl. It’s important that the chain isn’t too tight when attached, or it might not allow the flapper to fully drop and seal after flushing. Likewise, if the chain is too loose, it could prevent the flapper from properly sealing and covering the drainpipe hole. Test it by flushing with the tank lid off and make sure the flapper drops and seals the pipe hole completely without too much slack in the chain.

Need More Help?
If you need more information on how to solve your toilet problems or deciding what type of flapper you need, you have options. Visit the manufacturer website for your toilet, because they may have information on the type of flapper that can be used with your toilet model and information on how to purchase it.

Two major manufacturers of flappers also have websites to help you diagnose problems and find the right flapper to fit your needs.

• Korky’s Toilet Troubleshooting Guide    
• Fluidmaster’s Toilet Repair Guide