Get matched with top toilet pros in Crescent, IA

The most common toilet repair is dealing with clogs, followed closely by replacing a worn-out flapper. While clogs can happen anytime in any toilet, they most commonly occur with older toilets that have smaller diameter clearances and often empty into smaller diameter sewer connections. Because toilet flappers only last a few years, they are next in line for the most common toilet failures.

First, check that you have cut off the water supply to your toilet. This is a project that can only be done safely if running water cannot reach your toilet fixture. If you're seeing water trickle out after you've confirmed that the water supply is shut off, you can probably rest assured that what you're seeing isn't a problem. It's common for leftover water to spill out when you're removing your toilet's fill valve. If something goes wrong while you're working on your toilet, you'll need to look at your home's policy to see if your homeowner insurance covers water damage.

The most common reasons a toilet won’t stop running are a faulty flapper or fill valve, improper fill height, or incorrect chain length. Luckily, all these issues are relatively easy to fix with parts you can find at a local hardware store. You can also call a plumber or toilet repair professional to solve the problem.

If you decide to replace the toilet flapper yourself, the only cost will be buying the new flapper for around $5 to $17. You can also hire a plumber or handyperson to take on the job instead, in which case you’ll pay an hourly rate for labor plus the cost of parts. Handypersons charge $50 to $150 per hour, while plumbers cost $45 to $200 per hour. This repair might take less than an hour for your pro, but note that many providers have a minimum rate for a house call.