Common Toilet Problems We Fix

Running Toilet

A toilet that runs constantly or cycles on and off by itself is one of the most expensive plumbing problems in terms of wasted water — a faulty flapper can waste hundreds of gallons a day without making much noise. The most common cause is a worn or warped flapper that isn’t sealing properly against the flush valve seat.

You can test your flapper with food coloring — put a few drops in the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If the color appears in the bowl, your flapper is leaking. Sometimes cleaning the valve seat is enough to get a new flapper to seal. Other times the seat itself is worn or damaged and the fill valve needs replacement as well. We diagnose the actual cause rather than just swapping parts.

Toilet Leaking at the Base

Water pooling around the base of a toilet after flushing almost always means a failed wax ring — the seal between the toilet horn and the floor flange. This needs attention promptly because water leaking at the base is getting into your subfloor with every flush, causing damage that compounds over time. We replace wax rings and inspect the floor flange condition while the toilet is removed — in older Burleson homes, corroded or damaged flanges are a common find that needs addressing at the same time.

Phantom Flushing

If your toilet refills itself periodically without being flushed, water is silently leaking from the tank into the bowl. This is the flapper leak described above — the food coloring test will confirm it. The fill valve triggers when the water level drops enough, creating that distinctive refill sound every hour or so. Left unaddressed it runs continuously on your water bill.

Weak, Sluggish, or Incomplete Flushing

A toilet that flushes weakly, requires multiple flushes, or doesn’t clear the bowl completely usually has one of two issues:

• Clogged rim jets — The small holes under the rim of the bowl direct water in a circular pattern that powers the flush. Mineral deposits from Burleson’s hard water build up in these holes over time, restricting and misdirecting the flow. Clearing the rim jets with a small tool restores flush performance in many cases — see the DIY section below.
• Worn flush valve or low water level — If the water level in the tank is set too low, or the flush valve isn’t opening fully, the toilet won’t get enough water to flush properly. We adjust or replace the flush valve and set the water level correctly.

Toilet Won’t Flush at All

If the handle moves but nothing happens, the chain connecting the handle to the flapper has likely come loose or broken. This is a quick fix. If the handle is completely unresponsive and the chain is intact, the handle mechanism or flush lever has failed and needs replacement. We carry these parts on the truck.

Toilet Rocking or Unstable

A toilet that rocks when you sit on it has either loose floor bolts or a compromised floor flange. Loose bolts are a simple tightening job. A broken or corroded flange requires removing the toilet, repairing or replacing the flange, and reinstalling with a new wax ring. A rocking toilet that goes unaddressed eventually breaks the wax ring seal and starts leaking at the base.

Cracked Tank or Bowl

Hairline cracks in the tank that are above the water line are usually cosmetic and not a structural concern. Cracks below the water line in the tank, or any crack in the bowl, will worsen over time and eventually cause failure. When the toilet itself is cracked or damaged beyond the hardware, replacement is the right call — we’ll tell you honestly whether repair or replacement makes more sense.

Supply Line and Shut-Off Valve Issues

The braided supply line connecting the shut-off valve to the toilet fill valve can develop slow leaks at the fittings over time. In older Burleson homes the original shut-off valves behind toilets are frequently corroded and won’t close fully when needed. We replace supply lines and shut-off valves as part of toilet repairs when we find them in questionable condition — a valve that won’t close in an emergency is a problem waiting to happen.

Toilet Replacement

When repair doesn’t make sense — a toilet that’s cracked, one that has needed repeated repairs, or an original 1970s or 80s unit using 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush — replacement is the right investment. Current low-flow toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush. For a household using a toilet 15 times a day, replacing a 3.5-gallon original with a current model pays for itself in water savings over a couple of years on a Burleson water bill.

We install standard two-piece and one-piece toilets in all common configurations. If you’ve already purchased a toilet and need it properly installed, we handle that too. We’ll also check the condition of the floor flange and shut-off valve while the toilet is out — both are worth inspecting any time a toilet is removed.

Toilet Rebuild

For toilets that are structurally sound but have worn internal components, a full rebuild — replacing the fill valve, flush valve, flapper, handle, and supply line — restores the toilet to like-new performance at a fraction of replacement cost. This is often the right call for a toilet that is 10 to 20 years old and starting to have problems but has no cracks or structural damage.

Frequently Asked Questions — Toilet Repair

How do I know if my toilet flapper is leaking?

Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If the color appears in the bowl, your flapper isn’t sealing and needs replacement or the valve seat needs cleaning. This is one of the most common causes of a running toilet and a higher-than-expected water bill.

My toilet runs for a few seconds every hour — is that a big deal?

Yes — that phantom refill cycle means water is constantly leaking from the tank into the bowl. Depending on the rate of the leak, this can add thousands of gallons to your monthly water usage. It’s a inexpensive repair that pays for itself quickly on your water bill.

There’s water around the base of my toilet — what’s wrong?

Water at the base after flushing is almost always a failed wax ring. Turn off the water supply to the toilet and call us — every flush is sending water into your subfloor until it’s fixed. If the toilet has been rocking for a while before the leak appeared, the floor flange may also need attention when we pull the toilet.

Should I repair or replace my toilet?

If the toilet is structurally sound — no cracks in the bowl or tank — repair or rebuild is usually the right choice, especially for toilets under 20 years old. If the toilet is original to an older Burleson home, uses significantly more water per flush than a current model, or has had multiple repairs in a short period, replacement is worth considering. We’ll give you an honest assessment when we look at it.

Can you install a toilet I already purchased?

Yes — if you’ve bought a toilet and need it installed, call us. We’ll handle the removal of the old unit, inspect the flange and shut-off valve, and install the new toilet correctly. We’ll let you know if we find anything that needs attention while the old toilet is out.

Schedule Your Toilet Repair

Whether it’s a running toilet wasting water on your bill, a leak at the base, or a flush problem that’s been annoying you for months — give us a call. Most toilet repairs are resolved same day.

📞 Call Dependable Plumbing at (817) 447-2654
Free estimates · Same-day service available · Serving Burleson and south DFW since 1985