Your toilet flapper isn’t supposed to be hard. Like many other parts of your home, the flapper is there to act as a buffer between water in the toilet bowl and the outside world below it. Because made of rubber, this part can eventually dry out and become brittle — especially if you live in an area with low humidity. This is what causes your flapper to become hard — too brittle for easy use or removal. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide on how to remove a hard plastic toilet flapper and get yours replaced as soon as possible!
It’s an easy job that takes about 20 minutes, and you can do it with just a few basic tools. In this post, we’ll show you how to remove a hard plastic toilet flapper, which is probably the most common type of flapper find on toilets today. As well as how to replace it with an improved rubber one that will never leak again!
1. Remove the old toilet flapper
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably have no idea what a toilet flapper even is. If you’re not sure what to do when you see an old one, don’t worry because we’re here to tell you what to do. Closely related to butterfly flappers, toilet flappers look like the modern-day version of a hard-to-remove curtain on the wall hook under the sink in a bathroom. Basically, they’re quite cheap and new from plumbing supply stores or online nowadays.
The correct fitting is sometimes a disconnect or connector, although this term is also somewhat inaccurate since the flapper actually connects to the water main. However, this term is becoming less and less of an issue as nowadays most outlets that sell toilet flappers will know the difference. These days, more and more supply stores will carry a plug-like part. This plug functions essentially as a connector for the requested flush size and is usable to connect the toilet flapper to the water main.
There are two types of plug:
The outer flapper connector and the inner flapper connector. Take a look at the image below to differentiate them.
Removing the old flapper can often be a tedious process for a lot of homeowners. Not to worry; we have some tips and steps you can follow to make the job much easier for you.
There’s only one flapper in our entire series that we’ve ever personally removed, and we promise it won’t be the last…
The trick to accurately removing the old flapper isn’t too complicated, but instructions are scattered all over the internet for this very simple job.
A large flange connects to the connecting rod through a small hole, forming a square seal around the hole. To make cleanup very easy once you’ve successfully removed a flapper, you should first clean out the drainage hole that feeds into the flapper with a forklift or similar tool.
2. Replace it with a new one that will never leak
No matter how many times you’ve tried to stop the dripping from your faucet, nothing seems to work. The leaky faucet is probably the most annoying problem in your house and can cost you a lot of money on wasted water. If you own a shared house with others, someone will inevitably end up with a dripping toilet and nowhere to turn. Here you have several options to fix the problem without having to replace a damper.
Before we remove any of these devices, we need to make sure that our toilets are still working properly. Let’s take a look at how the toilet is connected to the water supply and we have talked in detail about the topic of how to remove a hard plastic toilet flapper.
Once it has been connected to the appropriate parts in the house, there are two places to look for leaks: the tank of water in the bathroom and the tank above the toilet. Make sure that these are both properly empty. You can do this by emptying the water tank above the toilet once per day, and drinking the water from the tank of the toilet.
Next, take a look at the water tank in the bathroom. Water leaks can be hard to find if the tank to fill with solid waste, so make sure that you can eye the tank from the side. If there’s any dripping from the tank, it’s probably occurring in the toilet.
As always, thanks for reading! Don’t forget to check out my other articles How To Make A Hole In A Light Bulb
Find the valve that seals off the toilet drain.
This is probably located in the wall opposite the toilet tank. It should be easy to locate with a good look. Replace this valve with a new one, and if there’s any leaking already, fix that as well. All you need to do is push a small hole in the old seal with a screwdriver, and the toilet will stop leaking.
At last, bring the inlet and outlet valve(s) to the same level and inspect them for damage. If they’re leaking or damage, remove them and start again with the fix.
3. Reattach the chain and flush
If you have a chain that’s stuck or “stuck at the bottom of the bowl,” it will need to be “reattached” to the flushing mechanism. This is done by flushing the toilet and then using a pair of pliers to turn the flushing mechanism counterclockwise. This serves to break the connection between the chain and the bowl, and when you re-seat the toilet you’ll be able to lower the water level significantly.
To remove the flapper completely, simply cut it off with a knife or scissors, and discard the tip. If you have more time, you can use a power drill to make it easier, but this is much more complicated than it sounds. You’ll need a countersink bit, a vice, propane torch or gas tank to heat the bit, and a knife or screwdriver to remove the old plastic piece, which is sitting flush with the inside of the bowl.
Here Are The Steps For How To Remove a Hard Plastic Toilet Flapper:
Once you’re done, leave it somewhere out of the way where someone can come by and replace it — or you can simply leave it as-is for your next flushing task.
Using a toothpick or some tweezers, gently remove the hard plastic piece that holds the flapper at the bowl’s bottom, and discard it.
As well as being pretty ugly, the leaky flapper is one of the most common reasons why toilets break, so it’s important to remove it sooner rather than later. You want to ensure that there is no water in the bowl when you re-seat it, so a flush service is ideal.
To perform a flush service, you need basic tools:
- A small to medium-size caliber screwdriver (you can get the standard from the hardware store for under $10).
- A very small screwdriver with specialized blades (usually you’ll find them on the toilets’ toilet paper placemat).
- Can of compressed air (minimum 500ml).
- A small can of compressed air (minimum 28.6 oz / 946 ml).
In Conclusion:
This guide will show you how to remove a hard plastic toilet flapper, and replace it with an improved rubber one that will never leak again! Flappers are the rubber stopper in a toilet that uses to seal the hole and keep the water in the tank. The flapper attaches to a chain that connects to the flush handle. When the handle is pulled, the chain causes the flapper to open, and water rushes into the bowl. Buying toilet flapper parts can be a little challenging, as there’s a limited supply on the market.
Suppliers often cut up used flappers and resell them at a discount, so it’s important to do your research ahead of time. I replace my toilet flapper only when they become worn or malfunction. You can buy used toilet flappers and buy your own replacement parts online. Installation of the new flapper can be a little tricky. You may need to rent or buy a plumber, or even do it yourself, but it’s not difficult.
Buy a used hard plastic toilet flapper and attach it to the chain. Make sure the chain is long enough so it reaches the back of the toilet and that the flapper is facing downwards.
Next Plan
Find a beer can or other container that will fit into the opening behind the flapper. This is where the flapper will stick out. Tearing it open will release more water, so you want more can in this area than the existing flapper.
Then, twist the chain clockwise a few times until the water in the can runs over the sandpaper that will clean the old clapper. Be careful not to rip it open too soon — it has to be soft or it won’t be easily removed. Let the can dry completely between twists.
Install the new flapper as shown here. The addition of the new flapper makes it easier to use the flush lever. Now you can pull up the handle without fear that water will gush out. This is an improvement over the more fragile flapper that’s attachment to the handle by a spring. Simply wipe down your toilet periodically to maintain the seal with the new flapper.
