How the job runs
- 1Listen and looka hiss, a trickle or a refill every few minutes all tell us something
- 2Colour checkdrip food dye into the tank to check whether the flapper is leaking
- 3Replace partsswap the fill valve, flapper or flush valve seal as needed
- 4Check the basea rocking bowl often means a loose or broken flange and a failing wax ring
- 5Reset and testadjust water level, flush several times and check for leaks
01The silent water waster
A toilet that runs constantly can quietly send a lot of water to the sewer each day without anyone noticing, and you pay for it on the Toronto water bill. The usual cause is a flapper that has warped and no longer seals. Replacing it takes minutes.
If the tank refills by itself every few minutes, that is the same problem in a slower form.
| Running toilet | Most often a tired flapper, or a float adjusted so high that water spills into the overflow |
|---|---|
| Weak flush | Low tank level, partly blocked rim jets or trapway |
| Rocking toilet | Needs a reset before the wax seal fails |
02Wet floor at the bowl
A puddle by the toilet is either condensation, a leak from the tank bolts, or the wax ring under the toilet. If it is the ring, the toilet has to come up. We check the flange for cracks and set the bowl on a new seal with fresh bolts.
03When to replace instead
If the porcelain is cracked, if parts are no longer made, or if it is an old high-volume toilet that clogs constantly, replacement may be the better money.