Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

On 10/01/2015 10:43 PM, John Smith wrote:
Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.



Maybe you did not ruin it...possible it was just deformed a bit and not
seated properly.

philo wrote:
On 10/01/2015 10:43 PM, John Smith wrote:
Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.



Maybe you did not ruin it...possible it was just deformed a bit and not
seated properly.
I don.t remember ever clng a flapper but tank seat for it. We have
pretty hard water. Flapper is made of pretty springy rubber like fish
fins. Rough handling it may render it no good. For slow leak check use
some dye drops.

John Smith wrote:
....
Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

did you also clean the rim that the flapper
sits upon to seal?

our water tank builds up gunk that i need to
clean out once a year or so. also clean the
rim so that is is smooth once again, but along
with that i take the flapper off and clean it
and put a very thin layer of vaseline on it
which keeps it going for another year.


songbird

In alt.home.repair, on Fri, 2 Oct 2015 10:13:32 +0630, John Smith
wrote:

Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was

Flappers seem to wear out consistently, in the same amount of time, so
if one wears out, one the same age might not be far behind.

informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

The rubber was ready to crumble and brushing it made it crumble?

On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 10:13:32 +0630, John Smith wrote:

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

Did you also clean the seat (the part it rests on when it's shut). Clean
that too! Of that seat is worn or corroded, you may need to replace
that too. That requires removal of the toilet tank. Not a hard job, but
time consuming, and will probably require new tank to bowl bolts and
rubber seals as well.

I assume you checked to make sure the chain is not holding it up a
little, or some other object in the way....

In alt.home.repair, on Fri, 2 Oct 2015 00:41:01 -0400, songbird
wrote:

John Smith wrote:
...
Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

did you also clean the rim that the flapper
sits upon to seal?

our water tank builds up gunk that i need to
clean out once a year or so. also clean the
rim so that is is smooth once again, but along
with that i take the flapper off and clean it
and put a very thin layer of vaseline on it
which keeps it going for another year.

Doesn't vaseline itself rot rubber and latex?

I know that I read not to use it latex condoms.

songbird

On 02/10/2015 11:20, micky wrote:
In alt.home.repair, on Fri, 2 Oct 2015 10:13:32 +0630, John Smith
wrote:

Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was

Flappers seem to wear out consistently, in the same amount of time, so
if one wears out, one the same age might not be far behind.

informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

The rubber was ready to crumble and brushing it made it crumble?


Both toilets are more than 10 years old. I understand that the flapper
probably has passed its useful life. I just don't understand why it did
not leak before cleaning but did so after cleaning.

Toothbrush is quite soft. The other brush is a bit harder. Yet, there is
no scratch marks on the rubber. The rubber has some "goose bumps". I can
only guess that gunk filled up the gap between "goose bumps". After
cleaning, the gunk is gone and the flapper starts to leak.

On 02/10/2015 11:36, wrote:
On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 10:13:32 +0630, John Smith wrote:

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

Did you also clean the seat (the part it rests on when it's shut). Clean
that too! Of that seat is worn or corroded, you may need to replace
that too. That requires removal of the toilet tank. Not a hard job, but
time consuming, and will probably require new tank to bowl bolts and
rubber seals as well.

I assume you checked to make sure the chain is not holding it up a
little, or some other object in the way....

I cleaned the rim with my hand.

No. It is not the chain. Once the toilet is flushed, water starts to
fill up the tank. When the tank is full, water is cut off. After one or
two minutes, water starts to fill slowly, definite a sign of leaking.

On 02/10/2015 11:11, songbird wrote:
John Smith wrote:
...
Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

did you also clean the rim that the flapper
sits upon to seal?

our water tank builds up gunk that i need to
clean out once a year or so. also clean the
rim so that is is smooth once again, but along
with that i take the flapper off and clean it
and put a very thin layer of vaseline on it
which keeps it going for another year.


songbird

Yes. I cleaned the rim also. It did not help.

On 02/10/2015 10:53, Tony Hwang wrote:
philo wrote:
On 10/01/2015 10:43 PM, John Smith wrote:
Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.



Maybe you did not ruin it...possible it was just deformed a bit and not
seated properly.
I don.t remember ever clng a flapper but tank seat for it. We have
pretty hard water. Flapper is made of pretty springy rubber like fish
fins. Rough handling it may render it no good. For slow leak check use
some dye drops.

The water tank is coated with a layer of black gunk, up to the water
line mark. The chain, inlet valve, flapper, everything is coated with
the black gunk. It is not difficult to remove. It just take time.

The reason the flapper stayed up and refused to come down is because the
drain hole on the flapper was plugged with the black gunk.

There is no need to use dye to check for leaking. Two minutes after the
water tank is full and water is cut off (no hissing sound) water starts
to slowly fill again. This is definite a sign of leaking.

On Friday, October 2, 2015 at 5:26:52 AM UTC-4, John Smith wrote:
Both toilets are more than 10 years old. I understand that the flapper
probably has passed its useful life. I just don't understand why it did
not leak before cleaning but did so after cleaning.


You got 10 years on a flapper? I'm lucky to get 2. I think it depends on your water.

micky wrote:
....
Doesn't vaseline itself rot rubber and latex?

haven't noticed a problem with it so far
(17 years).


songbird

On 10/1/2015 11:43 PM, John Smith wrote:

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

Maybe the gunk you cleaned made the seal. Is the toilet itself clean?
Could be some mineral buildup on it.

John Smith wrote:
....
Both toilets are more than 10 years old. I understand that the flapper
probably has passed its useful life. I just don't understand why it did
not leak before cleaning but did so after cleaning.

Toothbrush is quite soft. The other brush is a bit harder. Yet, there is
no scratch marks on the rubber. The rubber has some "goose bumps". I can
only guess that gunk filled up the gap between "goose bumps". After
cleaning, the gunk is gone and the flapper starts to leak.

if it isn't smooth then that will cause a leak.
using a thin layer of vaseline (or some other water-
proof grease) might smooth it out enough to seal
completely.


songbird

On 10/1/2015 8:43 PM, John Smith wrote:
Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.


It's what you get for buying that Chink scrap at Home Cheapo. Nearly
everything there is made in Chinkland. Buy American, asshole!
LOL

On 10/2/2015 1:22 AM, micky wrote:
In alt.home.repair, on Fri, 2 Oct 2015 00:41:01 -0400, songbird
our water tank builds up gunk that i need to
clean out once a year or so. also clean the
rim so that is is smooth once again, but along
with that i take the flapper off and clean it
and put a very thin layer of vaseline on it
which keeps it going for another year.

Doesn't vaseline itself rot rubber and latex?

[Why it lasts only a year?]
I know that I read not to use it latex condoms.

songbird


Center posted as a courtesy.
-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 16:10:56 +0630, John Smith wrote:

There is no need to use dye to check for leaking. Two minutes after the
water tank is full and water is cut off (no hissing sound) water starts
to slowly fill again. This is definite a sign of leaking.

It may just need a little finessing -- it may be a little offset in
one direction of the other. Try rotating it one direction or the other
until it stops leaking. BTDT

In article ,
says...



On 10/1/2015 8:43 PM, John Smith wrote:
Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.


It's what you get for buying that Chink scrap at Home Cheapo. Nearly
everything there is made in Chinkland. Buy American, asshole!
LOL

Who bothers to clean their flapper?

--
Checkmate, AUK DoW #1
Official AUK Award Giver-Outer
Copyright © 2015
all rights reserved

John Smith wrote:


On 02/10/2015 11:11, songbird wrote:
John Smith wrote:
...
Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.

did you also clean the rim that the flapper
sits upon to seal?

our water tank builds up gunk that i need to
clean out once a year or so. also clean the
rim so that is is smooth once again, but along
with that i take the flapper off and clean it
and put a very thin layer of vaseline on it
which keeps it going for another year.


songbird

Yes. I cleaned the rim also. It did not help.

Checking the rough spot?

songbird wrote:
John Smith wrote:
...
Both toilets are more than 10 years old. I understand that the flapper
probably has passed its useful life. I just don't understand why it did
not leak before cleaning but did so after cleaning.

Toothbrush is quite soft. The other brush is a bit harder. Yet, there is
no scratch marks on the rubber. The rubber has some "goose bumps". I can
only guess that gunk filled up the gap between "goose bumps". After
cleaning, the gunk is gone and the flapper starts to leak.

if it isn't smooth then that will cause a leak.
using a thin layer of vaseline (or some other water-
proof grease) might smooth it out enough to seal
completely.


songbird

Worst, time to replace toilet. Replcing flap is not even a rocket
science. I like red colored flap by Korky. Costs little more, good stuff.

On 10/2/2015 11:14 AM, Checkmate, DoW #1 wrote:


Who bothers to clean their flapper?


All the women I know do.

On Friday, October 2, 2015 at 2:26:52 AM UTC-7, John Smith wrote:
On 02/10/2015 11:20, micky wrote:

Both toilets are more than 10 years old. I understand that the flapper
probably has passed its useful life. I just don't understand why it did
not leak before cleaning but did so after cleaning.

Toothbrush is quite soft. The other brush is a bit harder. Yet, there is
no scratch marks on the rubber. The rubber has some "goose bumps". I can
only guess that gunk filled up the gap between "goose bumps". After
cleaning, the gunk is gone and the flapper starts to leak.

A toothbrush isn't enough. You need to scrub both the flapper and
the seat with a wet cloth or paper towel.

Goose bumps indicate the flapper was made of vinyl, or maybe a blend
of vinyl and rubber. They'll disappear after the flapper dries out
for a few weeks, and some vinyl flappers will also change from grey
back to black. But a vinyl flapper can develop a permanent set,
like a ring indentation where it pressed against the seat of the
drain, or even a warp, and it's common for them to not seal any
more.

What is causing the black gunk? Our main toilets are 50 years old and the insides of the tanks are barely coated with a light film of stuff. You can see right thru whatever has built up and read the original writing on the inside tank walls.

On 10/2/2015 11:14 AM, Checkmate, DoW #1 wrote:

In article ,
says...



On 10/1/2015 8:43 PM, John Smith wrote:
Two of my toilets are of the same model. Both are made by American
Standard and both use the flapper as shown in the following link:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_236807-143-P...ductId=3375098

Lowe's sells this flapper for around $9. Here, I need to pay more than
$30 for it.

About three months ago, one flapper would not come down after flushing.
I thoroughly cleaned it and then put it back. It started to leak. I
tried many things but ended up buying a new one.

Now, the other toilet has the exact same problem. Yesterday, I was
informed that the flapper would not come down. I went to check it. It
was not leaking at that time. I removed the flapper and cleaned it.
After I put it back, it started to leak, just like the other one. I used
a toothbrush and a plastic brush to clean. They should not damage the
flapper.

Can anyone explain why a flapper which was not leaking leaks after
cleaning? Much appreciated.


It's what you get for buying that Chink scrap at Home Cheapo. Nearly
everything there is made in Chinkland. Buy American, asshole!
LOL

Who bothers to clean their flapper?

Yeah, guys stopped doing that in the 1920s.



--
- 2015 DoW #5
- 2015; Official overseer of lobster stuffers in AUK
(mac and cheese division)
- 2015; Official recipient of the Everybody Is Everybody Award
- 2015; Winner of the Janithor Has More Awards Than Me Award
- 2015; Winner of the Multiplex Award (whatever the hell that is)
- 2015; Winner of the You Lose All Your Awards Award

On 10/2/2015 8:59 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 10/2/2015 11:14 AM, Checkmate, DoW #1 wrote:


Who bothers to clean their flapper?


All the women I know do.

OMGAWD! LOL

wrote:

What is causing the black gunk? Our main toilets are 50 years old and the insides of the tanks are barely coated with a light film of stuff. You can see right thru whatever has built up and read the original writing on the inside tank walls.

lucky you! here it is iron in the water that feeds
harmless bacteria.

if we take the faucet off or do any other kind of
work on the pipes the water that comes out of the
pipes is black for a few minutes until it will run
clear again. i think that is also iron fed bacteria
lining the pipes a little. as it doesn't plug the
pipes it's not a problem i worry about.

as to why to do it once a year instead of buying
a new flapper each time? seems rather silly to me
to pay money for a new flapper when a few minutes of
time and a bit of vaseline and it's done. but to
each their own i guess...


songbird

On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 09:14:12 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

What is causing the black gunk?

Rubber failure.

On 02/10/2015 21:34, Oren wrote:
On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 16:10:56 +0630, John Smith wrote:

There is no need to use dye to check for leaking. Two minutes after the
water tank is full and water is cut off (no hissing sound) water starts
to slowly fill again. This is definite a sign of leaking.

It may just need a little finessing -- it may be a little offset in
one direction of the other. Try rotating it one direction or the other
until it stops leaking. BTDT

Thanks for the advice. I tried it. Didn't help.

On Sat, 3 Oct 2015 06:00:41 +0630, John Smith wrote:



On 02/10/2015 21:34, Oren wrote:
On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 16:10:56 +0630, John Smith wrote:

There is no need to use dye to check for leaking. Two minutes after the
water tank is full and water is cut off (no hissing sound) water starts
to slowly fill again. This is definite a sign of leaking.

It may just need a little finessing -- it may be a little offset in
one direction of the other. Try rotating it one direction or the other
until it stops leaking. BTDT

Thanks for the advice. I tried it. Didn't help.

Can you sllide it up or down a tad and see if that helps?

On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 11:59:34 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Who bothers to clean their flapper?

All the women I know do.

Exactly the reason they wash their mud flaps.

Oren posted for all of us...



On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 11:59:34 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Who bothers to clean their flapper?

All the women I know do.

Exactly the reason they wash their mud flaps.

Do they have Yosemite Sam on them?

--
Tekkie

On Mon, 5 Oct 2015 20:36:10 -0400, Tekkie® wrote:

Who bothers to clean their flapper?

All the women I know do.

Exactly the reason they wash their mud flaps.

Do they have Yosemite Sam on them?

https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulSzottDMD/videos