On Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:32:10 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 1/9/2015 11:09 PM, Kate wrote:

He installed another new flapper and I am happy to report it has been
working ever since. It will be a week tomorrow, and I have used it
heavily. I even instructed my company to use it. LOL

I find it hard to believe that it could have been three faulty flappers.

Thanks for the update. Did he put in some off brand cheap flappers?
Unusual that three would be bad that fast.

Some years ago, I bought a flapper from an old rural hardware store, and
paid too much for it, but it saved driving 50 miles to the city. It was
a name brand (cant remember the name). It refused to seal. I returned
it, got another one, and that one leaked too. I carefully drained the
water and polished the seat with a fine emory cloth. It still leaked.
I got a 3rd one, same problem. Yes, I did adjust the chain properly
each time.

I had to go to the city anyhow, so I bought another from a home repair
center. Problem solved.

I did compare the one from that old hardware store and noticed the
rubber was much more stiff. I came to the conclusion they were on the
shelf too long and became brittle. The guy gave me a refund after I
explained the problem, but they are still on the shelf (probably even
the ones I returned).

I should mention that I have bought both JB-Weld and some Epoxy from
that store, and both of them were hardened in the tubes. I also bought
a bag of hose washers that crumbled when I pushed them into the hose
end.

Apparently the stuff stays on the shelf forever or until someone buys
it. Needless to say, I no longer buy stuff there, unless it's something
that dont go bad from sitting on a shelf, like a piece of steel pipe,
box of nails, bolts, steel hardware, or a metal tool. And I only do
that to save driving a long distance, because it's still over priced.

The last time I needed JB-Weld, and did not want to drive to the city, I
bought it at the local auto-parts store and it was fine. (thats the
only other local place that sells it).

It's likely you had the same problem. OLD RUBBER.... too stiff to seal.