Here’s How You Can Fix Your Leaking Toilet Flapper In Just Four Steps!

Step 1: Determine If The Toilet Flapper Valve Is Easy

This step seems obvious, but it is a very important one to establish. The first thing you need to do to fix your toilet flapper is to determine if it is actually leaking.

Step 1: Determine If The Toilet Flapper Valve Is Easy

So, the first thing you will need to do is place some food coloring in the toilet tank. Leave it a few minutes, it is important not to flush the toilet just yet.

Step 2: Turn Off The Water Supply

For small repairs such as this one, the best way to turn off the water supply is to turn the supply valve so it faces the toilet or faucet.

Step 2: Turn Off The Water Supply

If the repairs are bigger and necessitate the water being switched off for the entire home, then it is best not to do this part yourself, but to involve a plumber to ensure that the job is done correctly and you do not face further problems in the future.

Step 2: Turn Off The Water Supply

However, for leaking toilet flappers, you can simply turn off the toilet’s water supply via the valve without having to turn the water off anywhere else.

Step 3: Replace Or Clean The Toilet Flapper

The next step can look a little different, depending on how badly damaged your toilet flapper is. So, the first mini step of this third step is to check over the flapper valve. It needs to be smooth and clean.

Step 3, Option 1: Replacing The Leaking Toilet Flapper

If you notice that the flapper valve is warped, pitted, cracked, or dried out, then it cannot be cleaned or fixed and needs to be replaced.

Step 3, Option 1: Replacing The Leaking Toilet Flapper

Here, you will also need to check for any cracks that may be in the flush valve. The flush valve is what the toilet flapper will seal against.

Step 3, Option 1: Replacing The Leaking Toilet Flapper

It is rare that cracks will appear in the flush valve, but if you find this to be the case, then you may need to replace the entire toilet. This is especially true if the toilet is old and you cannot find the parts to replace the toilet.

Step 3, Option 2: Cleaning The Leaking Toilet Flapper

If your toilet flapper valve is simply dirty, such as having a buildup of algae or minerals, then it can be cleaned and does not need to be replaced!

Step 3, Option 2: Cleaning The Leaking Toilet Flapper

It is important to clean it because this is what is causing the toilet flapper to leak – it cannot close properly due to the dirt!

Step 3, Option 2: Cleaning The Leaking Toilet Flapper

So, you will need to take an old rag and clean away all of the dirt build-ups. Sometimes, you may find that the dirt is difficult to clean and if this is the case, you will need a liquid specially designed to remove minerals.

Step 3, Option 2: Cleaning The Leaking Toilet Flapper

If using one of these substances, you should always follow the instructions of the manufacturer. And, while you’re at it, you may as well clean the entire toilet tank, too!

Step 4: Checking The Toilet Flapper Chain

The last step in cleaning the leaking toilet flapper is to check the flapper chain. So, before you change the tank lid, you will need to check over the chain that links the arm of the toilet tank and toilet flapper together.

Step 4: Checking The Toilet Flapper Chain

It is best if there is a certain amount of slack to the chain. This is because if the chain is too tight, then the flapper can sometimes remain open and this will allow leaks to continue, solving no problems.

Step 4: Checking The Toilet Flapper Chain

However, if the chain has too much slack, then it can get caught between the drain and the toilet flapper, which will again cause a lot of different problems.

Here’s How You Can Fix Your Leaking Toilet Flapper In Just Four Steps!