Telltale signs: toilet repair
A toilet that hisses all night quietly wastes a surprising amount of water, and Toronto water bills reflect it. Others give trouble in noisier ways: a weak flush that needs two tries, water creeping out from the base, or a bowl that wobbles when you sit. Each points to a particular part, and naming the symptom precisely saves time.
- Constant running or the tank refilling on its own
- Weak or incomplete flushes
- Water on the floor around the base
- A rocking bowl or a cracked tank
- A handle that sticks or needs jiggling
What we bring
- Closet auger and flange plunger
- Wax ring or foam seal, closet bolts, flange repair ring
- Fill valve, flapper and supply line
Tested before we leave
- Ten flushes with a paper load
- Base checked for rock and seepage
- Tank refill height set to the line
On the job: what we open, clear and test
First the cistern lid comes off and we watch one complete flush and refill, and check the water level against the overflow tube. A worn flapper, a misadjusted float or a tired fill valve is the culprit in most running toilets. A weak flush may come from a low water level, mineral-clogged rim jets or a partial blockage in the trapway, which we clear with a closet auger rather than a plunger that just pushes the obstruction around.
Leaks at the base mean the wax or foam seal between the toilet and the flange has failed. We lift the toilet, inspect the flange for cracks or rot in the subfloor, bed it down on a fresh ring and bolt it firm so the wobble is gone. Where the porcelain itself is cracked, replacement is the sensible route, and our toilet installation page describes how a swap is handled.
What can change the job
Older and less common toilets sometimes need specific parts, and a few vintage tanks have no off-the-shelf replacements at all. A corroded or seized shut-off valve beneath the tank is common in older bathrooms and is worth replacing while we are there. Flooring condition around the base matters if the seal has been leaking for a long time.
Etobicoke homes and this job
Many bathrooms in houses near the Humber, including older streets in Swansea and the Kingsway, have floors that have been tiled over more than once. That raises the finished height and can leave the flange sitting below the tile, which causes repeat seal failures. We use flange extenders or spacers where needed so the seal sits as it should.
A dripping basin tap can be sorted on the same trip; see faucet repair.
Before you call
If water is leaking, close the small valve behind the toilet clockwise. Note the brand name inside the tank if you can see it. Leaving for a trip soon? Our vacation plumbing prep guide suggests shutting toilet supplies off. Ring (365) 816-2905 to arrange a visit.