Common Toilet Issues We Fix
- Running toilet: Flapper, fill valve, or chain. Easy fix, big water savings.
- Weak or incomplete flush: Worn flapper, plugged jets, or low water level.
- Leak at the base: Wax ring failure or cracked closet flange. Wax ring replacement is standard. A bad flange may need a flange repair plate or replacement.
- Rocking or wobbling toilet: Loose mounting bolts, deteriorated wax ring, or floor damage. Sometimes the floor under the toilet has rotted from a slow leak.
- Phantom flushing: Tank refilling without anyone flushing. Almost always the flapper or flush valve seal.
- Sweating tank: Condensation issue, often livable. Anti-sweat valve or insulated tank kit if it's bothering you.
- Toilet won't flush at all: Could be the flush valve, a clog in the trapway, or a vent issue.
- Recurring clogs in one toilet: Often a low-flow toilet that doesn't move waste well, or a partial blockage in the line. Sometimes a replacement is the right call.
Repair or Replace
Toilet repairs are usually straightforward and inexpensive. Most running, weak-flush, or single-component issues are repair calls. We replace when:
- The bowl or tank is cracked
- The toilet is 25+ years old and uses 3.5+ gallons per flush (newer 1.28 GPF models cut your water bill)
- The trapway is permanently blocked or partially calcified shut (common in old toilets with hard water)
- You want a comfort-height (chair-height) replacement for accessibility
- You want a dual-flush or other feature upgrade
Installation Done Right
A toilet install isn't complicated, but it has to be done right or it leaks. Andy's installs include:
- Old toilet removal and disposal
- Closet flange inspection — if the flange is cracked, broken, or sitting at the wrong height (below finished floor), we repair or replace it before setting the new toilet
- New wax ring (or wax-free seal where appropriate)
- New supply line and shutoff (if existing is corroded or leaking)
- Set, level, and shim if needed
- Tank fill, flush test, leak check at base and supply
- Caulk to floor where required by code
Comfort Height & ADA Considerations
Standard toilet height is about 15". Comfort-height (or chair-height) is about 17"–19". For older homeowners, anyone with mobility issues, or anyone who just prefers it, comfort height is a small upgrade with a noticeable quality-of-life improvement. ADA-compliant toilets are 17"–19" with grab-bar mounting capability. We can install either.
Bring Your Own Toilet, or We Supply
You're welcome to buy your own toilet and have us install it. Or we can supply quality models from common brands (Toto, Kohler, American Standard). Either way works. We give you the install pricing up front so you know what you're paying for the labor.
Flange and Floor Scope
If the toilet flange is cracked, too low, loose, or rotted out, we quote the flange repair separately. If the subfloor is damaged or rotted under the toilet from a long-term leak, carpentry and flooring repair are by others unless specifically included in writing. We'll show you what we find before going further.
Clogged Toilet vs. Bigger Drain Problem
If the toilet is clogged but other drains in the house are also backing up, the issue may be the main line, not the toilet. In that case, we move from toilet repair to drain cleaning or sewer camera inspection — clearing the toilet won't solve the underlying problem.
What It Costs
Toilet repairs are flat-rate by job. Replacement pricing depends on whether you supply the toilet or we do, and whether the closet flange or floor needs work first. We tell you the total before any work starts. Free estimate. No trip charge.