Get matched with top toilet pros in Rosman, NC

Brown stains in your toilet bowl are most likely limescale. Limescale happens from lime being left behind from hard water evaporating. Once dried out, the minerals also catch dirt and bacteria which eventually accumulate into the brown or blackish stain you see in your toilet. To remove thick and hard limescale from your toilet, use a mixture of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda, and scrub with a metal scrubbing brush.

Emergency plumbers charge a significantly higher rate than for standard service, typically 1.5 to 3 times the normal hourly cost. You can expect to pay between $100 and $500 per hour, with an average of around $200 per hour. In addition to the higher hourly rate, many plumbers charge a flat emergency service or trip fee, which can be between $150 and $300. The final cost depends on the timing of the call; prices are highest for major holidays, followed by weekends and after-hours service on weekdays. For a complex job on a major holiday, a master plumber's rate could reach as high as $600 per hour.

A running toilet is not a plumbing emergency, but you will want to try some DIY fixes or call in a plumber to prevent wasting gallons of water. The three most common causes of a running toilet are a broken or dirty flapper, an incorrectly sized chain between the flush lever and flapper, or a float that is out of position.

If you notice that your toilet is leaking puddles near the base, the leak is coming from your toilet bowl, and the water could be unsanitary. This is a situation that needs to be dealt with immediately—call a nearby plumbing repair pro right away. A contained leak from tank to bowl is not as urgent a situation, but it could be raising the cost of your water bill—have it looked at as soon as you can.