Common Toilet Problems You Can Repair Yourself

Toilets are simple devices, so most toilet repairs are equally simple. After you push the handle, water in the tank rushes into the bowl, forcing waste into the sewer line. Except for pressure-assisted toilets, that's how nearly every toilet works.

The toilet tank and bowl are the two main parts of a toilet. Both contain only a few parts, all inexpensive and simple to repair or replace.

You can repair problems like a leaky toilet, running toilet, loose handle, and other common issues by yourself without the expense of calling a plumber.

toilet in bathroom — The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Before You Begin

Shut off the toilet's water supply before making any repairs. Find the handle at the base of the toilet. Turn it clockwise until it is tight. Do not turn with a wrench, as this may break the handle.

Whenever you remove a toilet, stop the open sewer pipe with an old rag to prevent small tools or bolts from falling into the sewer pipe.

01 of 05

Fix a Toilet Leaking at the Base

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

While most toilet problems originate in the tank, one involves the base of the toilet: water seeping around the base of the toilet bowl on the floor.

Some condensation is normal, but a puddle of water at the base of your toilet could mean that the wax ring is bad. The wax ring seals the toilet's base to the drain opening set into the floor.

Remove the toilet to access the wax ring. Scrape out the wax ring with a putty knife. Add the new wax ring and reset the toilet.
02 of 05

Repair a Running Toilet Due to a Poor Flapper

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

A toilet may be constantly running because the flapper at the bottom of the tank is not sealing correctly.

The best repair is to replace the flapper at the bottom of the toilet tank. Purchase a repair kit that includes a new flapper and related parts. Kits cost $10 to $20.

Tip

Another fix is to bend the float arm down. This will cause the float ball to shut off the water at a lower tank level.
03 of 05
Fix a Loose Flush Handle

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

When the flush handle becomes loose or disconnected from the rest of the tank, the repair is simple.
- Reconnect the lift wire or lift chain that connects the lift arm from the flapper; or,
- Adjust the handle mounting nut inside the tank; it has reverse threads that require counterclockwise rotation to tighten.
Tip

There is no need to empty water from the toilet tank for either repair.
04 of 05

Fix a Clogged Toilet

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

A clogged toilet is usually cleared by plunging it. There are two types of plungers: drain plungers (flat at the bottom) and toilet plungers (bell-shaped).

Using a toilet plunger often clears toilet clogs that drain plungers cannot.

If plunging with a toilet plunger doesn't work, use a toilet auger or toilet snake. Designed to protect delicate porcelain, a toilet auger works much like a drain snake by snagging remote clogs at the end of a rotating steel cable.

Tip

If you only have a drain plunger, try that. Fill the cup with toilet water, seal the plunger tightly at the bottom, and then push. Clean the plunger afterward.

Continue to 5 of 5 below
05 of 05

Repair a Leaky Toilet Due to a Faulty Flush Valve

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

The flush valve is in the center of the toilet tank. Integrated into the flush valve is a vertical overflow tube that extends up into the tank from the base of the flush valve.

One way to control the amount of water that flows into the overflow tube is to add a small refill tube. The tube is placed on top of the overflow tube and allows a small stream of water to flow down into the bowl during the refill cycle. This restores the level of standing water in the toilet bowl, keeping the trap sealed.

Newer style toilets vary greatly in design and flushing mechanism. There can be a flapper, a disc, plunger, or Douglas valve. Before you attempt to work on your toilet you should try to find the make, model, and parts list.

FAQ

Which toilet repair is the most common?

The most common toilet repair is unclogging the toilet. Unclog the toilet by plunging it with a bell-shaped toilet plunger, not a drain plunger. Another common toilet repair is to replace the flapper at the bottom of the toilet tank to prevent water from constantly leaking. A toilet flapper repair kit costs $10 to $20 and is easy to install in your toilet.
When should you call a plumber to fix your toilet?

You should call a plumber to fix your toilet when the toilet is overflowing. Other toilet problems are static; this problem is dynamic, plus it affects hygiene. Also you should call a plumber to fix your toilet if you have tried but failed to clear a clog with a toilet plunger or a toilet auger.
Is it more budget-friendly to fix a toilet or replace it?

In most cases, it is more budget-friendly to fix a toilet yourself than to replace it. On average, toilet installation costs close to $500. Few replacement toilet parts reach that cost. It's debatable, though, whether it's more budget-friendly to have a plumber fix a toilet than to replace the toilet by yourself. Plumber labor costs range from $75 to $150 per hour, so two to three hours of repair work can cost as much as DIY toilet replacement.