Flapper replaced, still ghost flushes occasionally

[Howwit]

My old flapper was definitely not forming a tight seal, so I got it replaced. I've put a new flapper on the toilet (a Toto 3-inch), but occasionally when I flush it still won't form a tight seal so it'll leak. If I flush it again it usually fixes itself and seals properly.

This only happens 30% of the time so is there anything I could be doing to make the flapper seal properly all the time? Maybe the flapper chain is not at the right length or I need to put a weight on the flapper or any other suggestions?

Thanks for all of your help on this!

 

[Reach4]

How about a photo in the tank after the water has settled?

Show the flapper, chain, end of rod.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

A picture of the inside of the tank, 800 pixels or less.

 

[WorthFlorida]

One thing you can try, back off on the water shut off valve to allow a slower fill. If you have a lot of water pressure there could be enough turbulence going on at the bottom of the tank and the water is causing the flapper to move around and not seat at the right position. May take a few days to know if it was the cause.
Be sure that the drain tube is clean where the flapper rest on. Rub your finger along the edge that it is smooth and clean.

 

[Howwit]

Here's a few photos of the flapper and chain. The drain tube appears to be clear and clean. Do I have everything at the right length?

 

[Howwit]

One thing you can try, back off on the water shut off valve to allow a slower fill. If you have a lot of water pressure there could be enough turbulence going on at the bottom of the tank and the water is causing the flapper to move around and not seat at the right position. May take a few days to know if it was the cause.
Be sure that the drain tube is clean where the flapper rest on. Rub your finger along the edge that it is smooth and clean.

Interesting. I do notice that when I push the flush lever quickly and then release, the chances of the flapper becoming loose increase. If I hold onto the flush lever a second longer, the chances lower. But if I hold onto TOO long, then the flapper becomes loose again

 

[WorthFlorida]

There is too much extra chain and in the picture you can see that it is right on the edge of the flapper perhaps preventing it from fully closing. The chain to the flapper is too short. The handle is a loose fitting contraption and each time the handle is used it moves a little preventing the flapper from fully closing Excess chain only needs to about an 1-2 inches. Added one or two links to the chain to the flapper.

These kind of things can drive you nuts. Just this week I tossed out a Briggs toilet doing a bathroom remodel. No matter what I did, every once in a while the flapper would get hung up. Once I didn't hear the water running until the next day. It was a lot of water that went down the drain. The amazing part was my wife didn't hear the water running either and her hearing is about 100 times better than mine.

 

[Reach4]

It looks like your flush rod is so long that it could reach the overflow. Is that an aftermarket flush lever?

I think you might improve things by bending the rod to make the lift more straight-up instead of pulling the flapper away from the wall.

Yes, as WorthFlorida says, make sure there is not a piece of chain that can sit under the flapper.