How to Repair Toilet Tank Components | Ask This Old House, by This Old House on YouTube. 4 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Lift the tank lid and set it somewhere safe. Look at the two main parts inside: the flush valve in the middle with the rubber flapper, and the fill valve on the side with the float.
Check the chain from the tank lever to the flapper. It should have a little slack so the flapper lifts fully to flush and then drops back to seal.
If the chain is too tight or too loose, move the clip to another link until the flapper opens fully and closes flat.
Inspect the rubber flapper for wear, stiffness or a bad seal. If the water keeps trickling into the bowl after a flush, the flapper is the likely cause.
Shut off the water at the valve behind or below the toilet. Flush once to empty the tank, then sponge out the rest.
Pull the old flapper off the two ears on the flush valve. Take it to the store to match the size and shape.
Fit the new flapper onto the same ears, hook the chain to the tank lever and set the slack as before.
Turn the water back on and let the tank fill. Flush a few times and watch that the flapper seals and the tank stops filling.
If water still runs into the overflow tube, adjust the float on the fill valve. The method depends on the valve type: turn a screw, slide a clip or bend the arm.
Set the tank water level about 1 inch below the top of the overflow tube. Flush and check again for leaks or constant running.
Tips and common mistakes
Turn off the water supply before removing any part so you do not flood the bathroom.
Bring the old flapper to the store, since sizes and mounting ears differ between toilets.
Do not set the tank lid on the toilet seat or edge of the tank, where it can slip and crack.
A hissing sound after the tank fills usually means the flapper seal is still leaking.
Questions
How do I know if the flapper or the fill valve is the problem?
If water trickles into the bowl long after a flush, the flapper is usually at fault. If the tank keeps filling and water spills into the overflow tube, adjust or replace the fill valve float.
Can I replace just the flapper instead of the whole flush valve?
Yes. The flapper is a cheap rubber part that clips onto the flush valve, so you rarely need to remove the whole valve.
What water level should the tank be at?
Set it about 1 inch below the top of the overflow tube. Higher than that wastes water, and lower can give a weak flush.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
