When to Call Your Plumber for a Toilet Repair

Here at Plumbing One we get a lot of calls for toilet repairs. It’s what plumbing companies exist for, of course. We’re always happy to help out with any sort of plumbing repair. In some cases, however, a simple DIY solution can fix the problem. A little know-how can save you a lot of time and money on toilet repairs. With that in mind, let’s compare some common issues you can probably fix yourself with the ones that require calling the local plumber in your area.

THE 3 MOST COMMON TOILET REPAIR QUESTIONS

What should I do if my toilet won’t stop running?

Everyone encounters this at some point. Generally the issue will lie with a poor flush valve seal. If you’ve opened up the tank and can’t seem to get that seal to sit right, replacing the flapper will almost certainly solve the problem.

Replacing a toilet flapper is inexpensive, quick, and straightforward.DIY Difficulty: Very Easy

DIY Difficulty: Very Easy

Compare prices, sizes, and options at any hardware store or online. I’ve included a few such links below, but you can find plenty of other sellers to buy from too. Wherever you go, the part should run you in the neighborhood of $5-10.

• Amazon Toilet Tank Flappers

What should I do if my toilet is leaking?

Depending on where you have a leak, there may be a quick DIY fix. However, when a toilet starts to leak, there’s also a chance that what you find will require professional toilet repair services. It depends on where the leak is coming from.

From the toilet base

If you find a leak at the base of your toilet, it’s probably a faulty wax ring. As this video by The Plumbing Gurus shows, it’s possible to make this repair yourself, but you’d better be pretty confident removing your unit from the wall. If you’re not sure about doing this one yourself, we definitely recommend getting a plumbing contractor out to do an inspection, verify that your wax ring is the true problem, and replace it. It won’t cost too terribly much and it just goes back to the value of “knowing when to say when” with toilet repairs.

If you’re motivated, you can replace a wax ring. However, the process is a bit more involved than swapping out a toilet flapper.

DIY Difficulty: Medium

From the toilet tank

There are a couple of possible causes for toilet tank leaks. If you don’t notice a big crack, here’s the first thing to try: simply tighten your tank down. Hopefully, that will be enough. If you notice that your tank is cracked, however, that may be a bigger problem.

While cracks are often very obvious, they aren’t immediately visible in every case. As this breakdown from The Spruce explains, a giant crack in your toilet tank is not repairable. Your tank will probably need to be replaced. The good news is that in the instance of a hairline crack, you may be able to save the day with some porcelain epoxy.

If tightening down the toilet tank doesn’t stop the leak, you might need to give your local plumber a call or replace the tank.

DIY Difficulty: Variable

What should I do if my toilet won’t flush?

A flushing toilet is pretty important, right? We agree, BUT don’t call up your plumbing contractors for a toilet repair just yet! Chances are you can handle a DIY repair on this one.

The fix may be as simple as adjusting the handle. If that doesn’t do it, adjusting or possibly replacing the internal mechanism within the tank could be your answer. None of this should be expensive or overly difficult.

Getting an uncooperative toilet to flush right usually just takes a little trial and error.

DIY Difficulty: Easy

So there you have it! Knowing when to call your plumber is important. But knowing when to give toilet repairs a shot yourself is too. This can keep money in your pocket and even save you time in some cases. As always, if you have any questions or you’re worried about attempting a DIY repair on your own, give your local plumber a call.