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shadow8ski · Jul 1, 2008, 05:19 PM

I have 3 toilets in my house and two of them have the same problem. You have to push the lever very hard to flush. The flapper is sticking in the closed position. I have adjusted the length of the chain to too tight and too loose and it doesn't make a difference. I have cleaned off the flapper and the mating pipe but this makes no difference. Once the flapper opens flushing works just fine. The tank water lever is correct. I have a clorox-type cleaning thingy in each tank but the problem was occurring before I put that in. I'm not sure what to try next. :confused:

massplumber2008 · Jul 1, 2008, 05:26 PM

Hi Mike:

Any chance you can get us a name/manufacturer on the toilet.

Also, about how old is the toilet?

Wondering if you have one of the newer 3" flappers like from TOTO toilets?

Let me know...

MARK

Stratmando · Jul 1, 2008, 06:06 PM

I would replace, I think they are less than $5.00 each I have seen rubber products get sticky.

shadow8ski · Jul 1, 2008, 07:37 PM

Massplumber: The house is 12 yrs old. I have replaced the float mechanism on all toilets but not the center tube or flapper. The flapper says "Certain Seal Coast Foundry and Mfg Co." It looks like about a 2" diameter at the seal but it's hard to get a ruler down there. Definately not 3".

Stratmando: Online I found a flapper from Ace Hardware that looks like mine for $5.79. Looks like it wouldn't hurt to try it and see if it works. Ace - Ace Tree: Plumbing: Toilets & Toilet Seats: Toliet Repair Parts: Flappers & Tank Balls: Lavelle Toilet Flapper (61bp)

Milo Dolezal · Jul 1, 2008, 07:49 PM

The flopper in the photo appears to be one that has rigid plastic body. There is a replaceable blue round seal underneath. Body itself should be fine. Get the replacement seal from Home Depot. ( Advice: remove that flopper and take it with you. It will save you a trip... or two... or three... )

afaroo · Jul 2, 2008, 03:55 AM

Please click on the link below it may help you it telling you step by step what ever is inside the tank, Thanks.

John

Replace The Toilet Fill Valve, Flush Valve Or Flapper

shadow8ski · Jul 2, 2008, 08:22 PM

Thank you all for your help. So, here is what I finally did. I took the flapper off and found that the seal was sticky to the touch. About as sticky as a strong post-it. I brought the flapper to Home Depot and bought three replacement flappers. (I have three toilets and two are sticky so I figured the 3rd was nie unto decay.) (I could not find replacement seals - I guess there's not much of a business case for selling a flapper seal when one can sell the whole flapper.)

I took off the old flapper 2008 Toilet Flapper 1 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

And replaced it with the new flapper 2008 Toilet Flapper 3 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

BUT... The new flapper had that bottom floating bulb thingy and would not drop back down into the closed position until the entire tank was emptied.

So, I just took the seal off the new flapper and replaced the bad seal on the old flapper. 2008 Toilet Flapper 4 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Worked just great! I repeated this with both toilets that have the sticky flapper seal and I have the third new flapper ready to replace the other one when/if it gets sticky.

Cost me more than it should have but the job is done and the fam is happy again.