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    parrothed36's Avatar
    parrothed36 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Sep 10, 2008, 06:28 PM
    Why does toilet flapper close too quickly
    I have a situation in a bathroom. When you flush the toilet, all the water in the bowl does not drain. I took the lid off the tank and flushed it again. I noticed that when I depress the handle the water in the tank begins to empty as the flapper opens but it closes too quickly to allow a full bowl of water to pass. If I hold the handle down for an extra two to three seconds, it works fine. The flapper just closes too quickly. My cousing did something to it over the weekend ( he adjusted the float a little lower to stop the water from running). I don't know if that had anything to do with it. Please help me!!

    Thanks,
    Parrothed36
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #2

    Sep 10, 2008, 06:39 PM
    Try removing some of the slack in the chain between the flush lever and the flapper. Should have about 1/2" slack when flapper closed.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #3

    Sep 10, 2008, 07:26 PM
    You should only adjust the float to achieve a tank depth 1" below the top of the overflow tube. Some flappers are designed to trap air in them so they float and can't close too quickly. Those things are so darn cheap I'd just go buy a new flapper and install it.
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
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    #4

    Sep 10, 2008, 07:56 PM
    There are different types of flush flappers. If you have a new style commode that flushes with 1.6 gallons of water per flush you need a flapper that fits a 1.6 gallon commode. It will say on the flapper carton which is which.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #5

    Sep 11, 2008, 11:44 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by letmetellu
    There are different types of flush flappers. If you have a new style commode that flushes with 1.6 gallons of water per flush you need a flapper that fits a 1.6 gallon commode. It will say on the flapper carton which is which.
    Let me add a bit more to letmetellus excellent post. If you've installed a regular flapper, (see image) did you cut the ring off with a pair of scissors brfore you slipped the hooks on? If not go back and do it. If you have the newer 1.6 flush toilet this red flapper,(see image) is the one you should install.
    Now lets adjust the tank parts.
    With the flapper seated the linkage wants to have 1/4" of play. Too much play and the flapper doesn't get pulled back enough giving you a short flush. Too tight and it lets water seep past the flapper. I adjust the chain by the link and if it needs fine tuning, I bend the flush lever rod a bit untill I have the desired play in the linkage. One more thing about a flapper. you will see where the old flapper hooks onto the base of the white overflow tube. On a older type with no hooks the flapper has a ring that slips down over the overflow tube to the seat. If your tank has hooks, take a sharp knife or scissors and cut the neoprene ring off on the marks provided and hook the flapper on the hooks. Leaving the ring on will interfere with the flush. The water level in your tank should be 3/8 to 1/2" below the top of the overflow tube when the tank's filled and the little tube wants to run from the ballcock and connect to the white overflow tube and not just run down inside below the water line. Good luck, Tom

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