Running, Leaking or Clogged Toilet
A toilet that runs, leaks at the base or will not flush wastes water and risks the floor. Call, and a plumber serving your area will find the cause and fix or swap the toilet as needed.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
Sort Out What the Toilet Is Doing
Toilet problems fall into a few groups.
| Symptom | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Runs after flushing | Worn flapper, fill valve or chain | Replace the part |
| Phantom refill | Flapper leaking slowly | Replace the flapper |
| Weak flush | Clogged rim holes or low water level | Clean the ports and adjust the level |
| Water at the base | Wax ring, bolts or supply line | Reset or replace |
| Rocks on the floor | Loose bolts or an uneven floor | Secure and shim |
| Clogs repeatedly | Partial blockage or a vent problem | Auger or camera |
The Tank: Flapper, Fill Valve and Chain
Most running toilets are tank problems. Lift the lid and watch. If water trickles into the overflow tube, the fill valve or the water level is wrong. If water leaks past the flapper, the bowl keeps losing and refilling water. Replacing a flapper or a fill valve is a small repair, and a plumber can do it quickly. If the tank itself is cracked or the bolts leak, the tank or the toilet is replaced.
Toilet overflowing?
Lift the tank lid and close the flapper, or turn the supply valve at the wall. Then call.
Leaks at the Base
Water on the floor around a toilet is worth taking seriously, because it can soak the subfloor. A wax ring seals the toilet to the drain flange, and if it fails, water leaks out with each flush. A plumber pulls the toilet, replaces the ring, checks the flange and sets it back. If the flange is broken or sits low, it is repaired first. Repeated moisture can rot the subfloor, and leaks that came from a pipe under the floor are covered on the water leak detection page.
Clogs and When to Call
A single clog responds to a plunger or a toilet auger. When it does not, or when other drains slow too, the blockage is further down the line. Stop flushing. For a failed main line, start from the slow drain and clog removal page and then read about sewer line repair and replacement. Wipes sold as flushable, excess paper and small objects are the usual cause.
Choosing and Installing a New Toilet
The choice involves a few measurements: the distance from the wall to the drain, called the rough in, the bowl shape and the height. Dual flush models offer a choice of water use per flush. A plumber confirms the rough in, removes the old toilet, checks the flange and the floor, sets the new one on a new seal, connects the supply and tests for leaks. Raised or comfort height models suit people who prefer a higher seat.
Toilets in older homes sometimes have a flange or a drain that needs work before a new one can be installed correctly.
Toilet Relocation and Bathroom Work
Moving a toilet changes the drain, the vent and often the floor framing. It is plumbing work that needs a permit in Fauquier County, and it belongs to a bigger project. The remodel plumbing page covers that kind of job.
Toilet trouble?
Say whether it runs, leaks or clogs. You will hear what to try and when a visit is needed.
Signs a Toilet Has Reached Its End
Not every toilet is worth repairing. A crack in the bowl or tank, a rocking base that will not stay tight, a finish that is stained through and a flush that stays weak after cleaning all point to replacement. A toilet that needs a new part every year wastes more in repairs and water than a new one.
Water Use and Dual Flush Models
A running toilet wastes water without anyone noticing, and a leak at the flapper can add to a water bill. Dual flush toilets give a lighter flush for liquids and a fuller flush for solids. Check the flush rating on the label when you compare models, and ask the plumber whether your drain suits a newer low flow design.
Before You Call About a Toilet
A few quick checks speed things along. Note whether the problem happens after every flush or only some. Check the shutoff valve at the wall and see whether it turns. Look at the floor around the base for soft spots and at the ceiling below for stains. Take a photo of the tank lid or the stamp inside the tank, which shows the model and year. Those details help the plumber bring the right parts.
Specialty Installations
Some toilet work belongs to a larger job: a toilet in an accessory dwelling unit, a new bathroom beside a wet bar or a laundry room, a toilet relocation or a tub to shower conversion that changes the layout. Those involve new drains and vents, and the plumbing for a remodel page covers them, while a straight dual flush swap is a toilet installation.
Toilet Repair Questions
Why does my toilet keep running?
Most often the flapper does not seal, the fill valve does not shut off or the chain is the wrong length. Water leaks from the tank into the bowl and the fill valve keeps refilling.
Why is there water around the base of the toilet?
A failed wax ring or a loose closet bolt, a leaking supply line or condensation. If the floor around it is soft, call soon.
When is a clog more than a plunger can fix?
If several fixtures back up, or the toilet clogs again after clearing, the blockage may be beyond the toilet. Stop flushing and call.
How do I test for a silent leak?
Add dye to the tank and wait without flushing. Color in the bowl after ten minutes means the flapper leaks.
Can a toilet be moved or replaced with a different style?
Replacement is routine. Moving one means changing the drain position, which is a larger job that may need a permit.
Toilet still acting up?
Reach dispatch and describe what it does. A plumber serving your area can handle the repair or the replacement.