The 10 Best Toilet Flappers
This wiki has been updated 13 times since it was first published in March of 2020. Failed flappers are often the culprits when it comes to leaky toilets. Generally made from rubber, plastic, or a combination of the two, they are almost always submerged in water where they inevitably degrade, losing their seal. While replacing them doesn’t require a licensed plumber, getting the right one is essential to a good installation, so we’ve compiled a list of the best to help you out. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Editor's Notes
March 30, 2020:
The wrong toilet flapper can lead to flooding, blockage, and high water bills, so be sure to take your time, do your research, and get the right one the first time to avoid a headache. While replacing a flapper might seem beyond your ability, just remember this is an everyday task that you don’t need a plumber to accomplish. Just make sure to turn off your toilet’s water at its intake source during installation and to turn it back on again when you’re finished. Beyond that, remember that you’re only working in the tank, so don’t be afraid to reach in since it’s only fresh, clean water you’re dealing with. That being said, things might get wet, so be sure to have towels on hand, and as ever, if you’re in any bathroom for protracted spans, thoroughly wash your hands with soap for a full twenty seconds before leaving. Toilet tank water might not be used, but bathrooms are crawling with microbes in general.
A 100% universal flapper with both short and long arms that would work on both 2-inch and 3-inch valves does not exist, so the list necessarily includes both sizes. Want to make it big? Be the person who invents the toilet flapper that fits all toilets. Models that allow you to control flow rates such as the Fluidmaster PerforMAX, Korky High Performance, and Fluidmaster Adjustable are given preference since water regulation matters when it comes to toilet flushing. Too little water in and out of your bowl will not move solid waste correctly, while too much flow wastes water and money and can potentially lead to overflow. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the Fluidmaster Chlorine Resistant and Fluidmaster Solid Frame are only intended for older toilet designs that use many gallons per flush.
Special Honors
Niagra Getting to the point where you never want to look at another toilet flapper again? It’s hard to believe we’re well past the year 2000 and most of our toilets still depend on rudimentary pulleys and levers to function. This is just one of several companies that make toilets that use air pressure rather than gravity to fill toilet bowls, completely eliminating the need for flappers at all. niagaracorp.com
Reddit Public forums can yield mixed results, but in the case of Reddit's Plumbing Repair for Homeowners subsection, you're likely to find the answers to a lot of the questions you might have. If they aren't already on there, you could find your new and original question answered in minutes, in which case you would be doing the world a favor by soliciting useful information in a public place where everyone can benefit. reddit.com