**Title: How to Replace Your Toilet Flapper Valve: A Step-by-Step Guide**
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**Introduction to the Problem**
Have you ever encountered the frustration of a toilet that won't stop running or leaking water from the bowl? If so, you're not alone. Jeff from Home Repair Tutor understands this issue all too well and is here to help with expert advice. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of replacing your toilet flapper valve, ensuring your toilet functions smoothly once again.
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**Choosing the Right Flapper Valve**
The first step in resolving the issue is selecting the correct flapper valve. Jeff recommends using one with Microban technology, which helps prevent bacterial breakdown and extends the flapper's life. For older toilets that use 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF), the Fluidmaster 501 is ideal. However, if your toilet was made after 1994 and uses 1.6 or 1.28 GPF, you should opt for the Fluidmaster 502. This flapper is adjustable, allowing you to fine-tune the flush capacity from minimum to maximum by rotating a dial.
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**Preparing for the Repair**
Before beginning the repair, it's essential to prepare properly. Locate the shut-off valve, typically found on the wall behind or near your toilet. Turn it clockwise to shut off the water supply. Flush the toilet to drain most of the water in the tank, making the job easier and safer.
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**Removing the Old Flapper**
With the water turned off and flushed, remove the tank lid carefully. Place a towel underneath to catch any residual water. Gently lift the old flapper by detaching it from the overflow tube's right tab on one side and the left tab on the other. Once removed, take note of how the flapper is connected so you can install the new one correctly.
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**Cleaning the Seat**
Inspect the seat where the flapper rests. If there's visible bacteria growth or residue, especially common with hard water, clean it thoroughly. A smooth surface ensures a proper seal, preventing leaks and maintaining efficiency. Use your finger to check for any irregularities; if the seat feels rough or uneven, clean it until it's smooth.
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**Installing the New Flapper**
Take the new flapper and position it over the flush valve seat. Press down gently on both sides to secure it in place. Ensure the flapper is centered and lies flat against the seat for a good seal. Reconnect the chain to the toilet handle arm, adjusting its length as needed.
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**Adjusting the Flapper Setting**
For optimal performance, adjust the flapper setting based on your household needs. Jeff recommends setting his 502 flapper to maximum flush capacity by turning it fully to the right (labeled "9"). This maximizes water flow without waste. However, you can adjust this setting according to your preference.
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**Final Tips and Considerations**
Before concluding, ensure the chain is properly adjusted so there's no excess slack, which could cause the flapper to malfunction or not close correctly. Test the toilet by flushing a few times to observe its performance. Regularly inspecting your flapper for wear and tear can prevent future issues.
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**Conclusion**
Replacing your toilet flapper valve is an easy DIY project that can save water and money. By following these steps, you'll ensure your toilet functions efficiently and effectively. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can tackle this repair confidently. Happy fixing!
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enIs water leaking from your toilet bowl oryour toilet tank? You have to jiggle the handleon your toilet to make the water stop.Hi there! I'm Jeff with Home Repair Tutor.And if your toilet keeps running, you probablyhave to replace the toilet flapper valve.So stay tuned, I've got a ton of tricks foryou. This isn't a hard repair, but there aresome things that you should consider, andI'm going to show you those tips right now.Let's get to it.The first thing you want to do is pick a flapperthat has Microban technology. Microban helpsprevent bacteria from breaking down the flapper.This is a 501 flapper by Fluidmaster. Andit's for toilet's that have 3.5 gallons perflush. It's for older toilets. Now if youhave a newer toilet, you want to use the Fluidmaster502. And newer toilets have 1.6 or 1.28 gallonsper flush. And these are toilets that weremade since 1994. What makes this flapper socool is you can adjust it to adjust the minor max of the flush. Now you can also findhow many gallons per flush your toilet hasby looking on the toilet bowl.Turn the shut off valve clockwise to turnoff the water to the toilet. Flush the toiletby holding down on the lever and most of thewater will be gone after doing this, whichis great. Now in this case, I'm going to bechoosing the Fluidmaster 502 flapper becauseI have a 1.6 GPF toilet, so it's a newer toilet.I'm going to take off the top of the tank.And as you can see here, again, most of thewater's gone which is awesome.Now all you have to do is remove the flapperfrom the right tab of the overflow tube, andthen remove the left portion of the flapperfrom the left tab of the overflow tube. You'llhave to remove the chain from the toilet handlearm. And that's it.As you can see here, there is some bacteriagrowth on this flapper. And that can causethe flapper to distort and create a bad sealwith the seat of the flush valve. So you'llwant to clean that seat really good in caseyou have hard water because if that seat isn'tsmooth—and you'll want to feel it with yourfinger—the flapper won't seal properly.As you can see here, there's Microban in thisflapper which will help prevent the breakdownof the flapper due to bacteria. And you canadjust the 502 flapper from min to max. SoI want a maximum flush capacity, and that'swhy I turned it the whole way to 9. Take thatflapper. Put it on the flush valve seat. Pressdown on the left side to get it on the lefttab. And then press down on the right sideto put it on the right tab.Now you want to adjust the chain to have about½\" of slack. Attach the chain to the arm.Then all you need to do is trim off any excesschain so that it doesn't get caught betweenthe flapper and the flush valve.Turn the shut off valve on and allow the toilettank to fill with water. And a good rule ofthumb is to have the water level about 1\"below the overflow tube. Flush the toiletand make sure that the flapper goes up anddown smoothly, that the chain doesn't getcaught between the flapper and the flush valve.And that there's a good seal between the flapperand the flush valve. That good seal will makethe water stop eventually in your toilet tank.Now at this point, I decided to clean thetoilet. Fun times... fun times...The soap suds in the toilet bowl allow meto see whether or not there's a good flush.And as you can see here, all the water isremoved from the bowl. So that flapper valveis good. And all you have to do is put thetop of the toilet tank on and you're done.Well that's it. That's how you replace a toiletflapper valve on a toilet that keeps running.Pretty easy, right? Can I get a high five...?You're leaving me hanging...See if I can do it, you can do it, too. You'llbe able to save a lot of money on your monthlywater bill by buying just a $5 piece of equipmentknown as the toilet flapper.So that's it for today. Thank you so muchfor joining me.Remember, if you haven't already done so,you can click on the subscribe button at YouTube.That way you'll see all my videos that comeout every single Friday. And you can headout on over to HomeRepairTutor.com and signup for the email newsletter. That way you'llbe updated on my weekly tips that come out,again—you guessed it—every single Friday.So take care. Have a great day. And I'll seeyou in the next video.Can I use the toilet now? Yes.\n"
