A faulty flapper means your toilet tank will empty and fill up repeatedly. This constant filling and refilling of the tank over days or weeks can result in a lot of wasted water—and wasted money.
Toilet flappers usually last for about 3 to 5 years, but the lifespan can vary depending on factors such as the quality of the flapper, the water quality, and the frequency of use.
Your toilet tank keeps running water: This is usually due to a faulty flapper or fill valve inside the tank. When these parts don't seal properly, water leaks into the bowl, causing the fill valve to continuously run to fill the tank.
When you flush the toilet, the flapper opens to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl. The flapper, over time, can become loose or damaged, and it will need to be replaced. The total average cost of this repair is also between $70 and $200.
Note: Occasionally a new flapper doesn't solve the problem. If you've tried replacing the toilet flapper but the toilet still runs, the flush valve seat is probably rough or pitted. You can replace the entire flush toilet flapper valve, but it's a big job.
Check that the flapper is correctly aligned with the flush valve seat. Ensure the flapper's ears or pegs are securely attached to the overflow tube or flush valve. Verify that the flapper moves freely and sits flat against the valve seat when closed.
There are universal designs like the Fluidmaster flappers that replace most other flappers and there are specialty flappers for specific flushing systems.
Flappers can begin to fail from age, through mildew or mold, or through the growth of bacteria. These factors can cause the flapper to crack or to no longer fit perfectly around the flush valve. Some drop-in bowl cleaners are also hard on the rubber component of a flapper. As the flapper deteriorates it allows leakage.
Take the lid off the toilet bowl and see what kind of float you have. If it's a ball with a metal arm, then check the ball to see if it's corroded or cracked. If so, you'll need to replace it.
Toilet leaks can waste hundreds of gallons per day and often times are silent. Even a small leak can add up to a lot of wasted water and money over time.
But there's hope for our poor little flapper in the form of Vaseline, which can partially restore its youth and suppleness. Drain the toilet tank. Dry off the toilet flapper. Rub Vaseline on the flapper and its connecting washer until they soften.
Ghost flushing, or phantom flushing, occurs when your toilet tank refills independently without anyone pressing the handle. Water leaks from the tank into the bowl, causing the fill valve to activate periodically to refill the tank. It's similar to your toilet flushing itself, but it's just refilling.
Water leaking around the base of your toilet is the most obvious sign of a bad toilet seal.
A worn fill valve means the seal is not entirely secure, and water can leak through. Water pressure. If your water pressure is too high, the water quickly passing through the narrow supply line to your toilet can cause vibrations or what may sound like a hissing noise.
The most common toilet leak is caused by a deteriorated flush valve (flapper) at the bottom of the toilet tank. If the flapper does not seat properly, water will leak into the toilet bowl. Often this leak will occur without being heard.
A leaky flapper doesn't reseal properly after the toilet has been flushed. If your flapper is worn, broken or damaged, replacing the unit should help your toilet function normally. If the flapper looks to be in good shape, check to see if it is aligned with the opening.
Several things could cause a toilet to wobble — loose bolts, an uneven or rotting floor, or a damaged toilet flange. Some people assume they need to replace the toilet, when it usually requires a quick fix any DIYer can handle.
The easiest way to test for a bad flapper is to drop some dye tablets into the tank and then check to see if the dye moves into the bowl.
A toilet constantly running can be a noisy and irritating problem, and it is important to fix this issue as soon as possible, otherwise, it will lead to a lot of wasted water and also may cause damage to your pipes and toilet system.
This should come as no surprise, but turning your water supply off while replacing a toilet flapper is important for a few reasons. Having room to work in the tank without running water is the most obvious, while another benefit would be for water conservation.