Get matched with top toilet pros in Arcata, CA

The Thanksgiving holiday period is one of the busiest times of the year for plumbers. Both Thanksgiving Day and the day after, often called Black Friday or "Brown Friday" by plumbing professionals, see a significant increase in service requests. This is because a house full of guests, large holiday meals, and unfamiliarity with the home's plumbing can lead to clogged drains, garbage disposal issues, and sewer line backups. Outside of the holidays, the busiest weekdays for plumbers are typically Monday and Tuesday, as many people discover plumbing problems over the weekend but wait to call for service. Despite the holiday, you can rest assured that many plumbers work on Thanksgiving and Black Friday to handle the surge in emergency calls.

The cost to install a new toilet typically runs from $225 to $530. This doesn’t include the price of the toilet itself, which can cost $90 to $1,500 depending on the model and features you choose. You can save money if you choose to install a toilet yourself. However, you might want to hire a pro for this project.

"Due to the many complexities of replacing a toilet flange, it is typically a job best left to the pros," says Jeff Botelho, Angi Expert Review Board member and plumber. "Many times it isn't as simple and straightforward as 'pop off the old one and pop on a new one' because the flange is either glued on (PVC/ABS), soldered on (brass/copper), or caulked in place with a lead & oakum joint (cast iron) and none of these things can be easily reversed without years of training and repetitive practice."

The biggest sign that your flange leaks is if you notice water at the base of the toilet. The cause is likely due to a poor flange installation, so you might have issues with loose bolts, an uneven flange, or a cracked plastic flange. Add a deteriorating wax seal to this, and you have a recipe for disaster. The best solution is to shut off the water valve, replace the toilet flange, and seal it with a new wax ring.

There are a few ways to unclog a toilet without a plunger. Break up the clog with homemade solutions containing soap, vinegar, and baking soda, or simply let hot water spend some time in the drain. You can also use a two-liter soda bottle filled with water to push pressurized water into the pipe to dislodge the debris (see the steps above).