DIY Network

Getting a Handle on Things ... Finding a Flapper Flap

Ed Del Grande, host of Ed the Plumber, tells how to remove a faucet handle, and find the right flapper.

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If there are no visible clues as to how to remove the handles from your faucet, that is a sign of high-end styling to make the faucet more attractive. So after you get the make and model of your faucet, go to a good plumbing supply house.

Q: Hi, Ed. I have learned a lot about plumbing from your column, and you have helped me solve many plumbing problems in my old house. But I recently moved, and in keeping with your advice, I want to understand how all my new fixtures work, just in case I ever have to make any repairs. My question is about my bathroom faucet. It's beautiful and I am very happy with it, but I can't figure out how the handles come off! There are no visible caps, screws or clips. How would these handles come off in the event that I need to service the inside stems? -- Teresa, Washington, D.C.

A: Teresa, you're a very good student. I preach over and over that to avoid emergencies with plumbing, it's important that you know two things. First, you should know how to shut off the water in your home. Second, you should know what type of fixtures you have and how they operate. This will help you locate parts easily and eliminate guesswork when you need to get things up and running again quickly.

Your bathroom faucet sounds like a high-end faucet and that means it's of good quality and can last you a lifetime. Standard two-handle bathroom faucets usually have a cap in the middle of each handle, and by removing the cap, you will expose the screws to remove the handles. However, if there are no visible clues as to how to remove the handles, that often is a sign of high-end styling meant to make the faucet more attractive. Some high-end faucets have tiny flat screws hidden on the backside of the handle that require a special wrench to remove them. Some high-end faucets even have special handles that snap or screw into a specially designed faucet body and can be tricky for anyone to figure out.

My advice is that since you have time to figure things out, get the make and model of your faucet and go to a good plumbing supply house. You can usually get a copy of the original instructions and paperwork for your faucet, and all your questions will be answered. Matter of fact, I recommend practicing on how to remove you faucet handles once you get the information. This will not only help you understand your faucet, but it will also help keep your parts free of any water deposits that could seize up the components of the faucet handles.

Remember, a dress rehearsal isn't just for actors. A good plumber also needs to be ready and able to take center stage at anytime!

Q: Hello, Ed. Like many people I have trouble with my toilet. It just runs and runs and I hear it fill up again over and over all night long! My friend told me that I have a flapper problem, and he said he would replace it for me if I picked up the flapper. I went to the home center and there must have been a dozen types of flappers. Which one do I get? Should I call a plumber for this job? -- Louise, New Mexico

A: First off, Louise, you need to address this problem as soon as you can. A running toilet will waste hundreds of gallons of water, and we all need to do our part to save water. Second, it's always a good idea to call a licensed plumber whenever you don't feel comfortable doing your own repairs. It's nice of your friend to offer help, but as you can see, even simple jobs like changing a toilet flapper can get a little confusing.

Otherwise, you need to choose to ask your friend to come over your house, shut down the toilet, remove the old flapper and go to the home center to match up your type of flapper with a new one. Then your friend will have to return to your home to repair your toilet, and hopefully, it will work fine with no additional problems. Or go to plan B and call a licensed plumber.

It's great to have friends who will help, but in some cases I have seen good friendships go bad over simple plumbing problems. My advice is if you don't know how to replace the flapper yourself, call a professional or become friends with a master plumber!

(Ed Del Grande is a certified master plumber and hosts DIY's Ed the Plumber. Send plumbing questions to him at edtheplumber@diynetwork.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. For building-code concerns, always contact your local government office or a local licensed plumber.)

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