If water is being turned on and off periodically in your toilet without it being used, some of the toilet tank parts are worn out. The flapper and the tank ball need to be replaced.
A worn out flapper or tank ball causes water to seep into the bowl without being flushed. When the water in the tank lowers, it causes the fill valve float to drop. This activates the fill valve and turns it on and then the tank fills with water, which causes a lot of water wastage.
How do Flappers Work?
Flappers are usually mounted on two posts that are near the base of the overflow tube. When the flapper pivots upward, the tank lever that is attached to the flapper is pushed, and releases water into the tank so that it flows inside the bowl. This is as a result of the flapper arms rotating on the posts.
Some flappers are made of hard plastic and they contain rubber or silicone seals at the bottom. Other flappers are made purely out of rubber or silicone. These materials become flexible when they are in new conditions.
Some toilets cannot use flappers that are not made specifically for them. As a result, you have to first determine the type of flapper that is compatible with your toilet before purchasing one.
How to Replace American Standard Toilet Flapper
Tools:
Latex gloves
Bucket
Small cup
Brand new flapper
A pair of pliers/scissors
Towel
1. Remove the lid off the tank. Put the lid in a secure place to prevent it from breaking.
2. Shut off the main supply. The water supply valve is usually located on the wall and when you face the toilet it is at the left side.
3. Remove all the water that is in the toilet tank. Even if you do not drain all the water from the tank, make sure that the water is below the flapper. Removing the flapper will not interfere with the water that is left inside the tank. To save the water that remains in the tank, you can use a cup to scoop it out and store it in a bucket. Or, you can avoid this process by simply flushing the toilet.
4. Remove the old flapper. For those flappers that are rubber or silicone, remove the chain from the lever arm of the tank. Move one of the arms of the flapper towards the post and the slide, over the “L” portion of the post, the hole that is at the end of the arm. Proceed to lift up and away from the post and do the exact same thing to the other side of the flapper arm.
Note: For those flappers that are hard plastic, remove the plastic first, followed by the flapper from the tank lever arm and then follow the instructions that are specific to your toilet’s flapper.
Lift one of the arms of the up while holding the post down, if the arms of your toilet’s flapper have an open loop where the flapper mounts to the post. After you have released the flapper from the post, repeat the action for the other side.
For those flappers whose arms have a closed loop where it mounts to the post, we recommend moving the arms to one side. If you pull to the left, pull the left arm and lift it off the peg. If you pull it to the right, pull the right arm off the peg gently. Do the same for the other side.
How to Clean the Seal Area
Wipe the dirt or residue with a towel or a piece of clean cloth that is on the flapper, and also at the point where the flapper drops from the seal.
How to Install the New American Standard Toilet Flapper
1. Slide the hole at the end of the flapper down to the L-shaped post in order for you to install the new flapper. Slide the arm of the flapper towards the overflow tube. Do the exact same thing on the other side as well.
For the hard plastic flapper that has open loop arms, align the arms with the posts while pushing the arms gently onto the posts and snap them.
For the new flappers with hard plastic and closed loop arms, slide one arm onto one of the pegs. For the opposite side, slide the flapper to it and pull the other arm of the flapper wide enough to align with the peg and then push it onto the peg.
2. Attach the chain back to the lever arm. The flapper chain should be connected to the hole in the trip lever arm that is the closest to the handle. Leave a little slack in the chain itself that is not too tight.
3. Turn the water supply back on. Make sure that the flapper is in the correct position as you allow the tank to fill all the way. Also check to make sure that the water does not leak into the bowl.
The flapper will not seal as it should if the chain is too tight and it will result in water leaking past the seal. On the other hand, if the chain is too loose, the flapper will drop and water will not be flushed properly. Adjust the chain as needed. If there is any left-over chain, cut it off.
4. Put back the tank lid.
Once you have checked and are sure that everything is all good, your work in replacing the flapper is done!