If your toilet is constantly running, the most common cause is a leaky flapper. You’re flushing money down the drain, and it’s usually an easy fix! A toilet flapper is a rubber seal that sits on top of your flush valve. You can find out what kind of flapper you need by looking up the model number found on your toilet, or you can just purchase a generic flapper at your local home improvement store! Once you have purchased it, it’s time to replace it.
Here is how you replace the toilet flapper:
Step 1. Turn off the water supply to your toilet by locating the shutoff valve behind the toilet and turning it to the right, or clockwise.
Step 2. It’s time to empty the tank. Lift off the toilet lid and set it aside. Hold the flush lever down until the water drains out from the toilet tank.
Step 3. Unhook the old flapper from the flush lever, and detach the chain. The flapper is usually connected by two tiny pegs on either side of the valve.
Step 4. Install your new flapper by attaching the flapper ears to the pegs on the sides of the flush valve.
Step 5. Attach the flapper chain to the flush lever with minimal slack. There should be at least ½ inch of slack for proper functioning.
Step 6. Turn the water supply on and let the tank refill. You did it!
If your toilet is still running after replacing the flapper, give us a call at (470) 205-2224 or submit a maintenance request to your resident portal. We’re here to help!