A toilet that will not flush, leaks at the base or runs constantly is more than an annoyance. Here is what usually causes these faults and how we put them right.
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Common toilet faults
Most toilet problems come down to a handful of parts inside the cistern or the seal where the toilet meets the floor:
A toilet that won't flush properly — usually a worn flush valve, a broken handle or a siphon that has perished
A toilet that keeps running — the fill valve or flush seal letting water trickle into the bowl around the clock
Toilet leaking at the base — a failed seal where the pan meets the soil pipe, which needs fixing before it damages the floor
A loose or rocking toilet — the fixings have worked free, which eventually breaks the seal
Cracked cistern or pan — replacement is usually the sensible answer
Repair or replace?
Many faults are a straightforward repair: a new fill valve, flush mechanism or handle costs little and takes a short visit. Where the pan or cistern is cracked, the design is old and thirsty, or parts are no longer made, replacement makes more sense.
If you are not sure which yours needs, send a photo of the cistern internals and the base of the toilet on WhatsApp. Chris can usually tell you what is involved before anyone visits. Our guide to a toilet that keeps running explains the most common fault in more detail.
What toilet installation involves
Replacing a toilet means isolating the water, draining and removing the old pan and cistern, then setting the new one in place with a fresh seal to the soil pipe. Close-coupled toilets — where the cistern sits directly on the pan — are the most common swap. The new toilet is levelled, fixed down, connected and tested for leaks at the supply and the waste.
If the new toilet has different dimensions or the soil pipe connection has moved, some pipework adjustment may be needed. Where a toilet change is part of a bigger refit, our bathroom installations service covers the whole room.
A blocked toilet
A blocked toilet that a plunger will not shift may have an obstruction further down the soil pipe. Avoid chemical drain cleaners in a toilet — they rarely reach the blockage and can splash back. If the blockage keeps returning, it is worth having the pipe checked rather than plunging it every few weeks.
Booking a visit
Ring 07429 632804 or send photos on WhatsApp. Tell us what the toilet is doing — or not doing — and roughly how old it is, and we will tell you honestly whether it sounds like a repair or a replacement and arrange a convenient time.
Common questions
Toilet Installation and Repair FAQs
Clear answers before you arrange a visit.
How do I fix a running toilet?+
The usual causes are a worn flush valve seal or a fill valve that does not shut off. Both are replaceable parts. Our guide to a toilet that keeps running walks through the checks, or we can fit the parts for you.
How much does a new toilet cost?+
It depends on the toilet you choose and whether the pipework needs adjusting. Send us a photo of the existing toilet and we will explain what is involved before quoting.
Why is my toilet leaking at the base?+
The seal between the pan and the soil pipe has failed, or the fixings have loosened and broken the seal. It should be fixed promptly, as the water can damage the floor underneath.
Can you replace just the cistern?+
Sometimes, if a compatible cistern is available. Often a close-coupled replacement of both pan and cistern is tidier and not much more work.
