Bidet Installation
Fit a bidet seat, a handheld sprayer or a freestanding bidet with a proper supply line and shutoff.
Fixtures and bathrooms
Emergency Toilet Repair and Installation in Louisville
A toilet that runs all night, rocks on the floor or overflows when flushed is telling you what is wrong, if you know how to read it. Most problems are small and cheap to fix. A few mean a bigger issue below the floor.
Call and describe whether it is leaking, clogging or running.
What the symptom usually means
- Runs on and onA flapper that does not seal or a fill valve set wrong.
- Wobbles or seeps at the floorA failed wax ring or loose closet bolts.
- Weak flushClogged rim jets, low tank water or a partial clog.
Running toilets waste more than you think
A flapper that does not seal lets water trickle from the tank into the bowl all day. It makes little noise, so a leaking toilet can go unnoticed. Add food coloring to the tank, wait without flushing, and watch the bowl for color.
Replacing the flapper or fill valve is a repair most plumbers finish quickly, and parts are inexpensive. The cost of ignoring it shows up on the water bill.
Clogs and overflows
Use a flange plunger with firm, steady pushes. If the water does not drain, stop and shut the supply valve behind the toilet before it overflows. Lift the tank lid and hold the flapper closed if the bowl is rising.
A toilet that clogs often may have a restricted drain or a vent problem. If other fixtures are slow too, the cause is not the toilet. See the drain cleaning page.
In Louisville
Older bathrooms and basement baths
Many older Louisville homes have basement bathrooms where the toilet sits on a slab or a concrete floor, and others have second-floor baths above living rooms. A leak at the wax ring on an upper floor can stain the ceiling below.
If a basement toilet backs up when you run laundry upstairs, the sewer line may be the problem. The plumber can check that with a camera.
Cost
What goes into a toilet repair price
Small parts are inexpensive. Labor and complications drive the total.
Ask whether replaced parts and labor carry any warranty.
Leaks at the base
Dampness at the base can come from the supply line, the tank bolts or the seal between the toilet and the flange. A wax ring seals the bottom, and when it fails you may see water, smell sewer gas, or feel the toilet rock.
Repair means lifting the toilet, replacing the wax ring or a flange repair ring, and resetting it. If the subfloor is soft, it should be repaired first. Do not just caulk around the base, because that hides the leak.
Replacing a toilet
Water-efficient toilets use far less water per flush than older models. A replacement is a good idea when the porcelain is cracked, the flush is poor despite repairs, or the old unit leaks repeatedly.
Measure the rough-in distance from the wall to the center of the drain, which is commonly twelve inches but not always. Ask the plumber to confirm the flange height, set the toilet level and test for leaks.
Choosing a replacement toilet
Pick a bowl shape that fits your space. Elongated bowls are more comfortable but project farther into the room. Round bowls save a couple of inches. Comfort height, sometimes called chair height, sits higher than a standard seat and is easier for many adults.
Flush performance is not in the gallons per flush alone. Look at the independent flush tests that publish how much waste a model clears in one flush, and read reviews about clogging. A good low-flow toilet can outperform an old high-volume one.
Match the rough-in. The distance from the wall to the drain center sets which toilets will fit. Twelve inches is most common, and ten and fourteen exist. Measure before you buy, and bring the number to the plumber.
If the toilet is only a symptom
Drain Cleaning & Unclogging
Open a blocked sink, tub, laundry drain or main line, and find what keeps causing the stoppage.
Faucet & Sink Repair
Stop drips, restore flow, free a stuck stop valve and cure leaks under the vanity.
Quick answers
What people ask about toilet repair
The flapper may not be sealing, the fill valve may be set too high, or the chain may be too short or too long. Replacing those parts usually fixes it.
Turn the supply valve behind the bowl, take off the tank lid and press the flapper closed. If the bowl still will not drain, phone in.
The closet bolts may be loose, the floor uneven, or the wax ring failing. Tightening may help, but a failed wax ring needs replacing.
A common repair is cheap. If the bowl is cracked or repairs keep recurring, a new toilet may be a better value.
Phone for a toilet that is overflowing or leaking. Turn off the supply valve first, then describe the water's behavior to the dispatcher.
Blocked rim jets, a low water level in the tank, a partly closed supply valve or a partial clog can all weaken a flush. A plumber can clean the jets and check the tank and the drain.
Toilet overflowing or leaking?
Close the supply valve behind it and call. Tell the dispatcher what you see.