American Standard Toilet Leaking Flapper? – Ultimate Fix Guide

Dealing with an American Standard toilet leaking flapper can be quite tricky in some cases.

Depending on what causes the problem, you may or may not be able to fix it by yourself.

That is the reason why it makes sense to learn what leads to an American Standard toilet flapper leaking issue.

Once you know the cause, you can certainly get it fixed.

American Standard Toilet flapper may leak due to wear and tear, or a damaged seal, so you may need to replace it to fix it. 

The Wonderful World of American Standard Products

American Standard is a household name in the bathroom fixture sector. Its products are often considered to be the highest quality and deliver superb reliability.

After more than 140 years in business, this company has solidified its position as an industry leader in the production and distribution of plumbing fixtures and fittings.

Typically, American Standard loos are built to last, work effectively, and require minimal upkeep.  

And interestingly, there is a wide range of sizes and designs available to accommodate a wide range of home decor preferences and budgets.

In addition, several American Standard toilets have earned the WaterSense label, indicating that they consume less water with each flush than competing models. 

Getting American Standard Toilet Fixed

Homeowners searching for a durable, efficient, and long-lasting toilet often choose American Standard products.

While the products are of good quality, you just cannot avoid certain issues from time to time. One of the most common issues is related to a leaking flapper. 

What is the Function of a Toilet Flapper?

The function of the toilet flapper is to control the flow of water between the tank and the flush pipe.

• The flapper seal has an arm with a chain that is attached to the flush handle. 
• As the handle is pressed down to flush, the flapper is pulled open by the chain.
• As a result, the water is free to drain rapidly down the flush pipe.
• This works with force to take the waste from the bowl and past the U-bend.
• Once the tank is empty, the flapper closes making the tank watertight.
• The tank refills and a floating ballcock or fill valve closes the water siphon.
• This cuts off the water when there is enough in the tank for the next flush.

Usually, it is a faulty flapper that causes a toilet to run on with its fill. 

Fact: American Standard toilets are among the most popular because of their exceptional suction, which clears any waste in no time. 

How to Fix American Standard Toilet Leaking Flapper?

Learning how to fix a leaking flapper on an American standard toilet will not be top of your DIY list but it is still a useful thing to know.

Like seals tend to do, a toilet flapper works until suddenly it doesn’t which could leave you without a flushing toilet and an expensive water bill.

It’s an easy fix, a plumbing novice can handle it and not too expensive, just a few dollars for the flapper and you’ll need a pair of gloves.

To help you get an idea of where to start, here’s what you need to know about toilet flappers and how to fix one that is leaking – hopefully before you need the toilet again. 

The Three Common Types of American Standard Toilet Flapper

Different makes and models of toilets use different flapper designs, but in general, there are three types.

These include:

Most used in modern toilets, including the American standard, is the rubber, which is a rubber or silicon cap on a chain positioned to top the flush pipe.

Older toilets might have a seat disc flapper that has a small disc that covers the pipe opening.

Fact: Many older makes and models used a tank ball, that sits on the overflow pipe and is lifted and lowered by a chain. 

More about Different Toilet Flapper Sizes

Learning about the different sizes is important to understand how to fix a leaking flapper.

The most frequently used size in the American standard toilet is the 2-inch flapper, but some modern toilet designs can be 3 or 4.

If in doubt, measure the diameter of the flush pipe opening, which is easy to reach.

To judge by eye, think orange, grapefruit, or softball size but bear in mind, that for the seal to work, it must fit tight. This is vital.

New models often have a serial number stamped on them somewhere that you can use to check specifications and order replacement parts online.

What Leads to a Leaking American Standard Toilet Flapper?

Mostly, leaky flappers are due to a mix of wear and tear and reactions with chemicals in the water.

Some flappers are made from tough, durable plastic with a silicon seal at its base; others are made from silicon or rubber.

But it is accepted in the industry that whatever the flapper is made from, to avoid leaks, it will need replacing from time to time. 

Check the Condition of the Flapper

It is recommended to check how well the flapper is working at least once a year by adding a food dye to the water in the tank and then waiting to see if the color appears in the bowl.  

As a watertight seal, a flapper relies on the weight of the water above it to press it tightly against the mouth of the flush pipe. This is needed to stop water from passing through.

When the seal becomes a bad fit and leaks, the lower water level means the tank tries to refill continually.

There is never sufficient water to close the siphon leaving the water to run down the flush pipe and into the bowl unhindered.

Fact: Not fixing a leaking flapper on time is literally like leaving a tap running and can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. 

How Do You Fix Toilet Flapper Leaking?

The first thing to do is switch off the water supply to the toilet and let the tank drain.

This can be done via a stopcock to the toilet itself, which is usually located near it, or by turning off the supply to the whole bathroom. 

If neither can be found, the main supply to the house may have to be stopped, which will leave you without water for a while.

The next thing to decide is what kind of flapper you need as a replacement which means lifting the top of the reservoir tank and having a look.

Although all flushing toilets have a flapper of some sort, the design and size of the parts are universal. 

The Fix for an American Standard Toilet

Assuming the toilet is an American standard and needs a 2-inch replacement rubber flapper the rest of the fix should be easy:

1. Carefully remove the old flapper and the chain from the flush valve by gently rotating first one side and then the other. 
2. Use warm soapy water and a sponge to thoroughly clean the seal area and the flush valve.
3. Take care to leave around half an inch of slack on the chain, Install the new flapper by attaching it to the flush valve and reattaching the chain.
4. Open the stopcock and allow the tank to refill, then repeat the dye test.
5. After a short while if there is no color in the bowl, replace the tank lid – if there is, there could be another problem. 

What Else Can Go Wrong with an American Standard Toilet Flapper?

Although it is almost certain that the cause of a toilet running on will be deteriorated seals, there are one or two other things that can upset the flush and fill mechanism and create leaks.

For instance:

• The length of the chain is too long and the flush is weak, too short and the seal won’t close.
• The mounting bolts at the base of the tank have corroded.
• The tank and pipework are dirty and blocked with algae, limescale, or debris.

Fact: Besides a leaking flapper, your toilet may be running on because of a seal called the tank-to-bowl gasket, failing for some reason. 

Takeaway

How do you fix your American Standard toilet leaking flapper? The truth is that it does not have to be very difficult, as in most cases, the main cause is a faulty seal.

It is usually a rubber seal, which deteriorates after some time. Simply replacing it in time can save you from dealing with costly repairs later.