Repair when Flushing

Selecting the right flapper for your toilet is very important since the flapper valve is what regulates the water to the bowl. Fluidmaster has developed a universal design set of flappers to help stop the confusion and select the right flapper. The flapper valves we offer are categorized by Frame, Size and Type.

If you are unsure what size of flapper you will need for your toilet, please click here: Determine size of flapper

Read below to learn more about:

1. Frame: Two styles of flappers

2. Size: The actual size of the flapper ball and which size of drain it will seal properly.

3. Type: The flushing capacity, which is the amount of water used to flush the toilet bowl, that the toilet was designed to use.

4. Keys to selecting a flapper

5. Fluidmaster flappers available

1. Frames: Fluidmaster currently has two styles of flappers

1. Flexible Frame (All- Rubber): These flappers will fit most Flush Valve Drains and the all rubber-style flappers can stretch to fit oddly sized flush valves, angled seated flush valves and flush valves that do not have mounting posts for a fixed attachment.
2. Solid Frame (Hard Plastic Frame): The plastic frame forces the flapper ball to consistently center onto the drain to seal every time. Solid Framed Flappers are designed to stop toilets from leaking for longer periods of time. This flapper style does not work with all Flush Valve Drains; however, the key to using this one is to know what you are currently using. There is a good chance that if you are using a plastic framed flapper already, the Solid Frame can be used as a replacement.

2. Size: Currently Fluidmaster offers two sizes of flappers for the two most common size Flush Valve Drains, 2-inch drains and 3-inch drains.

1. 2-inch flappers are available in both styles: Flexible and Solid Frame.
2. 3-inch flappers are only available in the Solid Frame style.
3. Super Flapper 2- and 3-inch size in Solid Frame style.

3. Types: There are two types of flappers, Adjustable Flappers and Non-Adjustable Flappers, and these flappers are designed for specific flushing capacities of toilets. There are 4 main toilet flushing capacities that are commonly used in the United States today; 5 gallon per flush and larger; 3.5 gallon per flush; 1.6 gallon per flush and 1.28 gallon per flush toilets.

1. Toilets that are manufactured from 1994 to present come in both styles and in both size categories; Adjustable flappers are designed to flush toilets that flush 1.28 and 1.6 gallon per flush (GPF) toilets.
2. Toilets that were manufactured before 1994 are all considered to be the larger gallon per flush toilets and are still in use. Non-Adjustable Flappers are designed to flush toilets that flush 3.5, 5 and larger gallon per flush (GPF) toilets. Non Adjustable Flappers come in both Styles but only in 1 size category, 2-inch.

To learn more about your toilet’s flush volume, please click here:

Determining your toilet type

4. Keys to understanding how to select a flapper can be as easy as:

1. Know the age of your toilet (if you don’t know, guess the age of the home).
2. Know if the flapper has a Solid Frame or if it’s a Flexible Frame.
3. Know the size of your flapper, 2- or 3-inch (measuring the drain hole your flapper covers will tell you the size you need).

5. Fluidmaster flappers available:

1. Solid Frame 2 & 3-Inch Adjustable Flapper models 523A-009
2. Solid Frame 2-Inch Non-Adjustable flapper models: 500 , 501
3. Solid Frame 2-Inch Adjustable flapper models: 502
4. All Rubber 2-Inch Non-Adjustable flapper models 503 , 506 , 504
5. All Rubber 2-Inch Adjustable flapper models 5051
6. 3-Inch Flapper models 513A , 5403

To download our free guide to fix common toilet problems please click here: Fluidmaster Toilet Repair Guide