The common faults
| What you notice | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Tank hisses or tops itself up | Tired flapper, or a fill valve past its best |
| Puddle around the foot of the bowl | Failed wax ring or cracked bowl |
| Bowl rocks when you sit | Loose closet bolts or uneven floor |
| Drip from under the tank | Tank-to-bowl gasket or bolt washers |
| Weak or double flush | Low tank level, mineral-clogged rim holes |
What we replace
Flappers and fill valves are the bulk of toilet calls. The plumber shuts the stop valve, drains the tank, and swaps in the part that matches the flush valve size. Many toilets use a 2 inch flapper; plenty of newer ones use 3 inch. The wrong size will keep leaking.
A wet floor at the bowl means lifting the toilet. We scrape the old wax, check the flange underneath and set the bowl back on a fresh ring with new brass bolts. If the flange is cracked or rusted, we repair or replace it first, since a new ring on a broken flange will just fail again.
- Flapper and chain replacement
- Fill valve and refill tube
- Wax ring and closet bolts
- Tank-to-bowl gasket kit
- Supply line and stop valve
Flappers and fill valves are the bulk of toilet calls. The plumber shuts the stop valve, drains the tank, and swaps in the part that matches the flush valve size.
From the counter
Leaks below the floor
A slow leak at the wax ring can rot the subfloor for months before anyone sees it. In older North York bungalows with plank subfloors, the first clue is often a brown stain on the basement ceiling under the bathroom. If you see that, call before the floor softens further.
Repair or replace?
Cracked china, a toilet that clogs constantly, or one that uses more than 13 litres a flush is usually worth replacing. Otherwise a repair is cheaper and quick.
Questions
Is a running toilet really that wasteful?
It varies, but a steady leak can waste a large amount every day and shows up as a higher water bill.
Is a flapper a do-it-yourself part?
Usually. Bring the old flapper to the hardware counter so you match its size and make. If it still runs after, the fill valve or overflow tube may be the cause.
How the job runs
- You callDescribe what is dripping, backing up or cold, and the cross streets.
- We ask questionsAge of the building, pipe type if you know it, where the shut-off is.
- We open it upTrap off, clean-out open or wall cut: find the actual fault before quoting the fix.
- We test itOpen each tap on that run, watch the joints dry and show you what came out.