How to Shop for a New Toilet Flapper

Replacing a toilet flapper can save a lot of wasted water.

A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water every single day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The most likely cause of a toilet leak that keeps the water running almost constantly is an old or worn "flapper" valve, located at the bottom of the tank on the back of the toilet. Replacing this valve is a simple DIY task that takes only a few minutes, but you must replace your original flapper with one that matches the valve opening in your toilet -- an improperly fitting flapper, even if brand new, will be little better than the old one.

Things You'll Need

• Preferably your old toilet flapper.

Instructions

1. Determine the brand of toilet you have. The brand is usually printed on top of the toilet bowel just behind the seat. Remove the toilet tank lid and set it aside. Look inside the tank for any combination of numbers and letters. They are normally stamped into the tank when the porcelain is still soft. Write down both the toilet brand and any model numbers you find.

2. Shut off to the toilet at the water feed valve. This is usually located on the wall under the left side of the tank. Flush the toilet and hold the handle down to allow as much water as possible to drain from the tank.

3. Remove the chain from the old flapper (the other end will remain attached to the extended rod from the flush handle -- no need to remove this end). Remove the old flapper from the valve at the bottom of the fill tube. These flappers generally are snapped into place and can be removed with a gentle tug.

4. Clean the old flapper and take it, along with any brand and model information you have for your toilet, to the plumbing department of your local hardware store or home center and match it to a replacement. Don't worry if you can't find an exact brand-name replacement; as long as the flapper matches your old one, it will work fine.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't just guess at which toilet flapper will fit your toilet. Use name brand products if available to you. If it a brand A toilet, use a brand A toilet flapper. They will fit better and last longer.

• Be careful when removing and handling the toilet tank lid. The porcelain material is fragile and can break easily if dropped. Set it aside, out of the way, on a large bath towel or something soft.

References

• Lower-My-Energy-Bill.com: Toilet Flapper Leak -- Repair a Running Toilet
• United States Environmental Protection Agency: Water Sense -- Fix a Leak Week