Toilet Repair in Raleigh, NC

Find out if it's leaking before your bill does

A worn flapper can let water trickle into the bowl with no sound at all. EPA's WaterSense program says an old or worn flapper can silently leak thousands of gallons a year, and it suggests a quick check: add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and don't flush. If color appears in the bowl after 10 minutes, the tank is leaking. EPA also recommends replacing flappers at least every five years.

Common problems and their causes

• Refills on its own every so often: the flapper isn't sealing
• Water running into the overflow tube: the fill valve is set too high or not shutting off
• Weak flush: low tank level, a flapper that drops too soon, or mineral-clogged rim holes
• Puddle at the base: a failed wax ring or loose closet bolts
• Drips under the tank: tank-to-bowl bolts, the supply line or a hairline crack
• Wobbles: loose bolts, a broken flange or a soft floor

When the clog is farther down the line

If the plunger works for a day and then the toilet backs up again, or the tub gurgles and fills when you flush, the trouble is probably in the sewer service line, not the toilet. Stop flushing. The City of Raleigh says most backups happen between the house and the City's sewer main, and that the property owner is responsible for clearing a blockage in that stretch. The City suggests asking the plumber to clear it all the way to the main. If you suspect the City's side, Raleigh Water takes backup reports at 919-996-3245.

Pulling the toilet

Fixing a base leak means lifting the toilet off the flange. While it's off, a plumber should check the flange and the subfloor around it, since years of slow seepage can soften wood. That's less common in a city where the median house was built in 1997, but roughly 23% of Raleigh homes date from before 1980, and those are the ones most likely to have a corroded flange.

Repair or a new toilet?

Parts are inexpensive and widely available, so repair is the usual call. A cracked bowl or tank can't be fixed. If you're swapping in a new toilet, ask the plumber whether the job needs a City of Raleigh permit.

What changes the cost

The failed part, whether the toilet has to come up, the state of the flange and floor, whether you're buying a new fixture, and when the visit happens all play a part.