Leaky toilet flappers. If you aren’t paying attention, they can go unnoticed for ages, all the while wasting upwards of a hundred gallons of water per day. Talk about money down the drain!
So, how do you check for a leaky flapper? Well, pay attention to signs such as a toilet refilling without being flushed, having to jiggle the handle to stop the toilet from running, or even rippling water in the bowl.
If you want to get even more hands-on to be sure you’re in the clear, you can place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and let it sit for thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl shows some of that color, it may be time for a new flapper.
Don’t worry though! Changing a toilet flapper is a super simple project! Continue reading to find out how you can do it yourself.
DIY: Fixing a Leaky Toilet Flapper
First, reach behind the toilet to turn off the water. This will ensure your tank will not refill when you
perform the next step. You won’t be able to access the toilet flapper if you don’t do this first.
Next, flush the toilet. Flushing the toilet while the water is off will empty the tank. This will allow you to get to the flapper.
Third, remove the tank lid and locate the flapper. In the tank, you’ll find a little flapper connected to a chain. That’s what we’re replacing.
Next, disconnect the lift chain and remove the flapper from the mount pegs. Discard your old flapper appropriately.
Finally, attach your new flapper. The new flapper will need to be attached to the mount pegs. You’ll also want to reattach the chain, leaving some slack in it. Push the lever to test the range of motion. Once you’re happy, turn the water back on and give it a test flush. If everything functions properly, go ahead and put the lid back on and you’re good to go!
So pull out that food dye and make sure you aren’t flushing money down the toilet!
Check out this DIY tutorial on YouTube.