What is a Flapper Valve? Why do I need to know about it?
With such a strange name it’s really impossible for the un-informed to guess this item, however some people may already be knowledgeable on the subject of the flapper valve. Those who don’t know what a flapper valve is, it’s vital part of your toilet. A flapper valve functions to ensure that water can flow in and out of the tank. Plumbing can be a confusing and troublesome topic for many, which is why it’s important to slowly build your knowledge of the simpler aspects that you can understand.
With this image you may now know what a flapper valve is and maybe even why it’s so important. With a chain attached to the top of the rubber valve cover it works to open and close when the toilet is flushed. If your valve is broken or worn then you can have a constantly running water into the bowl. You can test this by finding a specialised dye at your local hardware store which you can place in the tank and if the bowl ends up with colour in it then you know there is a leak.
Luckily its quite easy to fix a problem with a flapper valve once you’ve detected the issues. If the flapper is the wrong size then you need to re-fit a replacement, you can find this out immediately by checking whether the valve is covering the entire hole (which creates the seal). Alternatively you may find that the flapper valve has eroded or deteriorated over time, in which case you’ll also need to replace it.
Basics of Replacement:
- First you must find the appropriate size flapper valve from a hardware or plumbing store. ( there are many different models also so make sure you choose the right one)
- You must turn of the water before you even begin any dismantling.
- Remove the old flapper by unhooking the chain that’s connected to the toilet, then unhinge the rest of the flapper valve.
- With the new valve you simply connect it in reverse to how you disconnected it. Hook up the chain from where you took it off and push the rest of valve into place (you should feel it connect if done correctly).
- Make sure the chain isn’t too long, it should hang straight in connection with the valve, allowing it pull open easily after a flush. You should also ensure that when closed the valve seals the hole where the water flows through.
- Test the functionality by flushing and then reconnect water if you’re satisfied.
If you don’t replace a flapper valve when it’s faulty then you can be wasting a lot of water and end up with further issues in the future.
