Toilet repair

Toilet repair in Westminster, CO

Toilet repair in Westminster: running all day, clogged or leaking at the base? A small leak wastes water and can rot the floor. Call (720) 861-8125 now to see if an independent plumber can reach your address.

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Modern bathroom with a ceramic sink and toilet

Common problems

Common toilet problems

Most toilet problems come from a small number of parts inside the tank.

Running after you flush

Usually a worn flapper, a flapper chain that is too tight or too loose, or a fill valve that does not shut off.

Weak flush

Can come from a partial clog in the bowl, mineral buildup in the rim holes or a low water level in the tank.

A clog that won't clear

A plunger clears most clogs. One that keeps returning may be a deeper blockage in the drain.

Leak at the base

Water around the bottom can come from a failed wax ring or loose bolts. It can damage the floor, so do not leave it.

Phantom flushing

The toilet refills on its own without being flushed. It points to a slow flapper leak.

Rocking or wobbly toilet

A loose toilet can break its seal. The floor around it may already be damaged.

Safe checks before you call

Try the dye test. EPA WaterSense suggests adding a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank and waiting about 10 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means a leak, often a worn flapper.
Close the supply valve. The small valve behind or beside the toilet shuts water to just that toilet. Turn it clockwise if the toilet is overflowing or leaking.
Use a plunger. A flange plunger with a good seal clears most clogs. Do not use chemical drain cleaners in a toilet.

When to call a professional

Water is leaking at the base of the toilet.
The toilet clogs again after plunging.
More than one drain is slow or backing up.
The toilet rocks, or the floor feels soft around it.

Safety first: Turn off the supply valve before you open the tank or disconnect anything. Do not mix cleaning products when cleaning up an overflow, because the fumes can be harmful.

Recognize the problem? Call to ask whether an independent plumber can reach your address.

Call (720) 861-8125

How a plumber typically diagnoses toilet problems

Check the flapper, fill valve and water level in the tank, and test for a silent leak.
Check the bowl, trap and the drain for clogs, and the seal and bolts at the base.
Tell you whether a repair is simple parts or whether the toilet should be replaced.

What affects the cost of toilet work

Whether the repair is inside the tank, at the base or deeper in the drain.
Whether the floor has water damage that needs repair.
The age and design of the toilet, and whether replacement parts are available.

This website doesn't set prices. Ask the plumber for a written estimate before you approve any work.

Local conditions

Leaks, water use and older toilets

EPA WaterSense says that household leaks can waste thousands of gallons of water a year, and the toilet is one of the most common places for a silent leak. A running toilet adds to your water and sewer bills even when you do not see it.

Fixture swaps in the same place do not need a permit in Westminster, according to the city's Building Division. Moving a toilet or changing pipes behind it does, so ask the plumber if the job goes beyond a like-for-like swap.

Clogged toilet

Clogged toilet repair in Westminster: when to stop and call

A single clogged toilet that clears with a plunger is an everyday event. Stop and call a plumber when it clogs repeatedly, when water rises toward the rim, when other drains gurgle or back up as well, or when a child's toy or another object may be stuck. Do not use chemical drain cleaner in a toilet; it can splash and the liquid can remain hazardous for the plumber.

Repeat toilet clogs can come from flushed wipes, a partly blocked branch line, or a main-line problem. Westminster's wastewater pages list wipes among the common causes of sewer backups, so flush only toilet paper. If several fixtures are affected, read about drain cleaning.

Toilet installation

Toilet installation and replacement in Westminster

Replacing an old toilet is a common job, and it is one reason people choose a new one over another repair. A plumber removes the old toilet, checks the floor and the flange it bolts to, sets a new seal, connects the water supply and tests for leaks. Water-saving models are worth asking about, and EPA WaterSense notes how much water a household leak can waste.

Westminster's Building Division says replacing a fixture in the same location does not need a permit, while moving a toilet or changing pipes behind it does. If a toilet keeps leaking at the base or rocks on the floor, a plumber can tell you whether the seal, the flange or the toilet itself is the problem. For other fixtures see plumbing repair.

Decisions

Repair the toilet or replace it?

Flappers, fill valves and wax rings are inexpensive parts, and a repair is usually the better choice. A cracked bowl or tank, or an older toilet that needs repairs every year, is a candidate for replacement.

Ask the plumber what is failing and what each option costs in writing. Newer toilets use less water per flush, which is worth discussing if your toilet is old.

What to tell the plumber

What the toilet does: runs, leaks, clogs or flushes weakly.
How old it is, if you know, and whether it has been repaired before.
Whether the floor around it is damp or soft.

Discuss the diagnosis, pricing and timing directly with the plumber, and confirm their license and insurance before work begins.

Toilet overflowing or leaking at the base? Close the supply valve behind it, then call to ask whether an independent plumber can reach your address.

Call (720) 861-8125

Maintenance

Simple care that helps prevent repeat problems

Replace the flapper every few years. EPA WaterSense recommends at least every five years.
Flush only toilet paper.
Test for silent leaks with a dye tablet once or twice a year.

Questions

Toilet Repair questions

Why does my toilet keep running?

A worn flapper, a chain that is too tight or too loose, or a fill valve that does not shut off are the usual causes. The dye test tells you if the flapper is leaking.

How do I test a toilet for a leak?

Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank, wait about 10 minutes without flushing, and see if color reaches the bowl. EPA WaterSense describes the test.

Is a leak at the base serious?

Yes. Water at the base can come from a failed wax ring and can rot the floor over time. Close the supply valve and call a plumber.

Can I use a chemical drain cleaner in a toilet?

No. Chemical cleaners are caustic and can damage the toilet and injure you. Use a plunger, and call a plumber if it does not clear.

Why does my toilet keep clogging?

Common causes are too much paper, flushed wipes, a partial blockage in the branch line or a main-line problem. If it clogs again after plunging, or other drains are slow, call a plumber.

Does a toilet installation need a permit in Westminster?

According to Westminster's Building Division, replacing a fixture in the same location does not need a permit. Moving the toilet or changing pipes does. Ask the plumber to confirm for your job.

Where we take calls

Toilet Repair calls from across the north Denver metro area

Each local guide explains who handles permits and utilities there and what to check first.

Westminster area

North and east

West and north

Other services

Water dripping from the open end of a pipe

Sources and further reading

Home maintenance — U.S. EPA WaterSense. How to test a toilet for a leak with food coloring or a dye tablet.
Top tips for a safe spring cleaning — Poison Control. Drain cleaners are caustic, and cleaning products should never be mixed.
Residential building permit requirements (PDF) — City of Westminster. Which plumbing work needs a permit in Westminster.

Need toilet help? Call to get started.

One call tells you whether an independent local plumber can reach your address.

Call (720) 861-8125 Check your ZIP