Common toilet faults
- Ghost refills: a worn flapper lets water seep into the bowl
- Constant hissing: fill valve not shutting off, or water spilling into the overflow tube
- Weak or double flush: chain slack, low tank level or scale in rim holes
- Water at the base: failed wax ring or cracked bowl
- Wobble: slack floor bolts or a cracked flange
How we work on it
- Shut off the stop valve and check it actually closes; many older ones do not.
- Drain the tank and inspect the flapper, flush valve seat and fill valve.
- Replace worn parts with ones matched to your model; dual-flush and pressure-assisted tanks have specific parts.
- For base leaks, lift the toilet, inspect the flange and set it on a new seal with new bolts.
- Adjust the water level and test several flushes.
When the flange is the problem
A cracked or sunken closet flange will not hold a toilet firmly no matter how tight the bolts are. We can install a repair ring or replace the flange. If the subfloor is soft around it, we will show you before going further, as that may need carpentry.
Drip some food colouring into the tank, skip flushing for twenty minutes, and look: tinted bowl water means a leaky flapper.
Fix it or swap it?
Cracked china always means a new toilet. Very old high-volume models are often worth replacing for water savings. See toilet installation or our guide to choosing one.
Tank & bowl
What we open up on this job
| Part | Where we find it | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Fill valve | Float-cup style in most homes | Clean the seal or swap the valve |
| Flapper or flush seal | Brand-specific sizes, 2 or 3 in. | Match the part, set the chain slack |
| Wax ring | Seals the horn to the 3 in. flange | Pull the toilet, scrape, reset on a new ring |
| Closet flange | ABS or cast iron in the floor | Repair ring or replace if cracked |
Signs it is time to call
- Tank hisses and tops itself up between flushes
- Water at the base after a flush
- Bowl shifts under your weight
- Flush swirls weakly and leaves a ring
- Stain on the ceiling below the bathroom
On the truck for this one
- Flange plunger and closet auger
- Wax and wax-free seals
- Brass closet bolts
- Supply line and ¼-turn stop
- Shims and a level
Quick answers
Can I just tighten the bolts on a rocking toilet?
Gently, yes, but overtightening cracks porcelain. If it still rocks, the seal is likely already broken.
Why does my toilet run every few minutes?
That is almost always a leaking flapper or flush valve seat.