The flapper is the rubber seal at the bottom of your toilet tank. When it warps or hardens, water leaks into the bowl and the tank keeps refilling. Here's how we fix it in Kensington.
Signs of a bad flapper
- You have to jiggle the handle to stop it running
- Weak or incomplete flush
- Higher water bill with no obvious leak
- Flapper feels slimy, stiff, or warped
- Toilet refills randomly without being flushed ('phantom flush')
- Constant trickle of water into the bowl
Why flappers fail
Flappers are rubber, and rubber breaks down. Chlorine and chloramine in treated water, in-tank tablet cleaners, and mineral buildup speed that up. Most flappers last a few years before they stop sealing.
Kensington homes: what we see
Older Kensington toilets may have discontinued flush valves. If a flapper won't seal, we can replace the flush valve or recommend a new toilet.
Most Kensington homes are on WSSC Water, which licenses plumbers in its service area and runs the cross-connection (backflow) program.
The right flapper matters
Toilets use 2" or 3" flush valves, and some brands (like Kohler, American Standard, and TOTO) use specific flapper designs. A "universal" flapper that doesn't match can cause a weak flush or keep leaking. We match the part to your toilet.
When it's not the flapper
If a new flapper doesn't stop the leak, the flush valve seat may be pitted or the fill valve may be overfilling into the overflow tube. We diagnose the whole tank, not just one part.
How HiTrend handles toilet flapper jobs in Kensington
- Tell us which toilet and what it's doing
- Diagnose flapper, flush valve, and fill valve
- Written price
- Replace with correct part
- Test for silent, leak-free operation
The dye test
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait 15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. Turn the shutoff valve off to stop the water waste until it's fixed.
Serving Kensington neighborhoods
We handle toilet flapper service throughout Kensington, including Kensington Historic District, Rock Creek Hills, Parkwood, Kensington Estates, and the area around Kensington Antique Row (ZIP 20895). Also nearby: Toilet Flapper in Wheaton, Toilet Flapper in Kemp Mill, Toilet Flapper in Takoma Park, Toilet Flapper in Glenmont.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my toilet run randomly?
A leaking flapper lets water seep from the tank into the bowl, so the fill valve kicks on to refill.
Do in-tank cleaning tablets damage flappers?
They can speed up rubber breakdown. We recommend avoiding them.
How often should flappers be replaced?
When they stop sealing — often every few years.
Are universal flappers okay?
Sometimes, but brand-matched flappers usually seal and flush better.