What's Wrong With Your Toilet?
- It runs constantly. A worn flapper, a failed fill valve or a float that's out of adjustment. Usually fixed in under an hour.
- It leaks at the base. The wax ring seal has failed. It should be replaced the same day, before the subfloor is damaged.
- The flush is weak or doesn't finish. Clogged rim jets, a low water level in the tank or a partial blockage in the trap.
- It clogs again and again. A partial blockage in the trap, or a sign of a bigger drain problem if other fixtures are slow too.
- It rocks on the floor. Loose mounting bolts or a damaged wax ring, often paired with a base leak.
Two Quick Checks You Can Do
The dye test for a silent leak. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and don't flush for 15 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking and water is being wasted.
The base check. Press down gently on each side of the toilet. If it rocks, or the floor around it feels soft, there's likely a problem with the seal or the bolts.
Water bill still high after the toilet is fixed? The leak may be somewhere else. Our leak detection service finds hidden leaks in walls and floors.
Repair or Replace?
Most toilet problems are small, inexpensive repairs. Replacement makes more sense when the toilet is 15 to 20 years old or more, is cracked, or needs the same repair over and over.
Older toilets also use a lot more water per flush than today's models. So replacing an old one can lower your water bill over time.
Toilet Repair Cost
- Flapper or fill valve replacement: $95 to $175
- Wax ring replacement: $150 to $275
- Full toilet replacement, plumber-supplied toilet: $250 to $600 including the fixture
All costs are confirmed in writing before any work starts.
When It's More Than the Toilet
If the toilet keeps clogging and your sinks or tub are slow too, the problem is probably further down the line. That's a job for drain cleaning, not another plunger.
While the plumber is there, it's a good time to mention a dripping sink or shower. Our faucet repair service covers leaky handles, spouts and valves.
