Repair when Not in Use
How to Replace a Toilet Flapper
Toilet flappers are the leading cause of leaking or running toilets – they provide the seal for the flush valve and control the volume of water released to the bowl. Flappers wear out more often if you use drop-in bleach tablets. Instead use Flush ‘n Sparkle™ Self-Cleaning Toilet System and protect your flapper.
Installing Toilet Flapper Using Mounting Pins
Most toilet flappers are attached to the overflow pipe by snapping the flapper clips over two mounting posts on each side of the overflow pipe (see diagrams)
- To remove the existing flapper, first turn off the water to the toilet and flush toilet tank emptying most of the water.
- Undo chain clip from tank lever arm at top of tank.
Gently pull flapper arms up until the flapper clips have unclamped from mounting posts.
- To install new flapper, align new flapper clips over mounting pins and gently push down until they snap into place.
- Draw chain up to tank lever and using chain clip, attach to tank lever arm, threading clip into one of the lever arm holes. Tip-attach chain lip to tank lever directly above flapper and leave 1/2 inch of slack in chain.
- Turn water back on to toilet. Once filled, flush the tank to check flapper is operating correctly.
Installing Toilet Flapper Using Pipe Adaptor Ring
When the flush valve does not have mounting posts a pipe adaptor must be used. Fluidmaster has “Flexible Frame” flappers that have a pipe adaptor molded onto the frame.
• To remove existing flapper first turn off the water to the toilet and flush toilet tank emptying most of the water.
• Undo chain clip from tank lever arm at top of tank
- To remove existing flapper, gently pull flapper up sliding it off the overflow pipe.
1A) Installing a flapper to an overflow pipe without Mounting Posts
1B) Insert ring around the overflow pipe and push the flapper all the way down the pipe so that it sits flush on the seat.
• Draw chain up to tank lever and using chain clip attach to tank lever arm threading clip into one of the tank lever arm holes. Tip – Attach chain clip to tank lever directly above flapper and leave ½ inch of slack in chain.
- Turn water back on to the toilet, once filled, flush the tank to check if the flapper is operating correctly.
If you are unsure if your toilet needs a 2″ or 3″ flapper, please click here: Determine size of toilet flapper
Here is the installation video of our 502 toilet flapper that will help you see visually how easy it can be to replace your flapper:
To download our free guide to fix common toilet problems please click here: Fluidmaster Toilet Repair Guide