Toilet Repair / Replace / Install

Toilet Repair

If your toilet leaks; runs constantly, clogs frequently, fills slowly, or won't flush at all, you need a plumber to look at your toilet. Toilets repair can be confusing so we hope these toilet repair tips help you. If they don't call us we'll fix it fast. Toilet's that don't flush completely can be embarrassing; leaky toilets will cost you money every month, and water leaks in your home now are environmentally unfriendly. If you need toilet repair in Denver call us at 303.436.2525

Toilet Repair:

Toilet clogged: stopped up toilets are a common problem and a toilet plunger will usually solve this problem. Make sure the rubber end of the plunger is seated tightly in the bottom of the toilet bowl, and keep moving the plunger back and forth while keeping it sealed tightly in the bottom of the toilet bowl. Don't use too much force this is all about keeping a tight seal between the rubber toilet plunger and the inside of the toilet bowl. If this doesn't work you could try a plumbers snake. If this doesn't work you have a problem that requires a plumber.

Toilet runs constantly: check the overflow tube in the toilet. The ballcock or the float cup probably needs to be adjusted. There's an adjustment clip; press down on it until the water stops running. If your toilet has a float cup; the clip for making adjustments is located on the side of the float cup. If this doesn't work make sure the refill tube on the toilet that goes from the fill tube to the overflow tube is above the overflow tube, not in it; if this doesn't work you probably have a defective fill valve seal that needs to be replaced.

Toilet filling slowly: If your toilet is taking too long to fill, your toilets clogged fill valve tube is probably at fault. Turn of the toilets water supply valve, and remove the mechanism at the top of the tube to access the toilet fill valve tube, and use some wire or a small brush to remove any junk from inside the tube. Open and close the valve a few times to clean out the tube. If you reinstall the hardware and it doesn't work you need a plumber. Call us at 303.436.2525 we'll fix it fast.

Toilet Valves: There are ballcock fill valves and float cup fill valves, and the ballcock fill valves are older, and they're not as common as the new float cup fill valve. The hardware that supplies the water is the problem. The ballcock fill valve uses a ball that floats on the water's surface, and the float cup fill valve travels vertically on the fill tube. You may need a plumber to resolve this so you don't have problems in the future.

Toilet won't Flush Completely: This is common with the new low flow toilets, and the problem starts when you need to flush the toilet more than once. Try cleaning the entry holes under the rim of your toilet to make sure the water is flowing freely. If this doesn't work try replacing the flapper if it's old or worn out, and adjust the chain on the flapper to a 1/2" of slack.

If your toilet is older than 7 years: and has been cleaned regularly with a cleaner that has bleach in it, this will affect toilet functions.

We hope these quick fixes for your toilet work for you; if they don't call us at 303.436.2525 and we'll give you same day service to repair your toilet in Denver.

Replace toilet:

Replacing toilets: can be messy! If you read all of the DIY articles on the Internet you'd think all you had to do was pick up a new wax ring for the floor and loosen a few bolts and insert the new toilet. Replacing a toilet is a challenging task even for an experienced plumber. Let us tell you a little bit about replacing toilets.

When installing a new toilet always make sure you know the distance from the back of the toilet bowl hold-down bolts to the wall directly behind the existing toilet so you'll be prepared to rough in the new toilet and turn of the water supply to the toilet and the flush the toilet and make sure to empty the tank and then use a large rag to remove any water left in the bowl.

Now use your open end wrench to loosen the coupling between the tank of the toilet and the water supply, and make sure to use pliers inside the toilet tank to keep it from turning when you loosen the coupling.

Remove the old toilet tank now by loosening the nuts on the end of the long bolts under the flange at the rear of the toilet bowl and slowly lift the old tank. Some toilet tanks are mounted to the wall so you may need to saw the large elbow holding the tank with a hacksaw to remove the tank from the wall, and be careful to make sure the tank doesn't fall. Now remove the bowl it's usually bolted to the floor with two bolts although some toilets have four bolts, and if there too hard to remove you can saw them off and be careful not to scratch the toilet bowls finish. 

Next break the seal of the toilet and the floor flange and take the bowl away and  keep the bowl level so you don't spill any trap sealing water, and push rags into the toilet flange to keep any sewer gases and debris out of your house.

Before installing your new toilet make sure you remove any putty from the floor and the toilets flange. Don't reuse the old hold down bolts and make sure the toilet flange sticks up at least a1/2" from the floor in the bathroom and set the toilet on the floor to make sure it's level over the flange from the front and the side; use shims if you have to level the toilet. Now you can install the new toilet hold-down bolts. If there are holes for the hold down bolts in the toilet flange make sure their inserted in the openings.

Now you're ready to install the new bowl: make sure you don't drop the bowl; they can crack and chip easily when they're being moved around. First invert the toilet bowl on the floor, and make sure you protect the floor and set the new bowl in place and make sure the new wax ring is facing the right way and lower the bowl slowly making sure the hold down bolts pass through the holes correctly and the wax gasket and toilet flange meet correctly.

Now Install the toilet tank: the instructions for this part are fairly easy just follow the directions from the manufacturer.

Reconnect water supply to the toilet: just remember the way you took it apart and hook up the water supply to the new toilet. Make sure all connections are tight and make sure to re-caulk around the base of the toilet and check for leaks the first time you flush your new toilet.

Problems installing a toilet? Call us at 303.436.2525 and we'll send one of our plumbers out to fix your toilet.