How to Remove a Toilet Flapper

The toilet flapper is part of the internal workings of the toilet tank. When the flush lever is pushed down, the flapper opens, allowing the water stored in the toilet tank to rush into the bowl. When the flush lever is released, the flapper returns to its original position and seals the bottom of the tank to allow it to fill up with water for the next flush. The flapper is made from rubber, so it will deteriorate over time. Toilet cleaning tablets added to the toilet tank will also deteriorate the flapper, necessitating its replacement.

Things You'll Need

• Toilet bowl flapper

Instructions

1. Shut off the water supply for the toilet by turning the shutoff valve at the base of the toilet tank in a clockwise direction.

2. Flush the toilet to empty the tank. Remove the lid from the tank, and set it aside.

3. Make a note of the distance of the chain from the flush lever to the flapper to save time when reconnecting the chain to the new flapper.

4. Unhook the chain from the eyelet on the flapper and from the flush lever. Remove the water fill tube from overflow tube by pulling up on the holding clip by hand and pushing the tube aside.

5. Unhook the flapper tabs from the pins on the overflow tube (if equipped). Twist the flapper tabs out and off the pins on the overflow tube if your toilet has a newer flush mechanism.

6. Slip the flapper up and off the overflow tube and remove it. Save the old flapper, and take it with you to the hardware store when purchasing a new flapper.

7. Reinstall the new flapper by reversing the above steps.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is no water supply shutoff valve for the toilet, shut off the water supply to the house before beginning work on the toilet.

References

• How to Replace a Toilet Flapper
• How Do I Remove the Flapper From My Toilet Bowl