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Toilet Repair in Tuscaloosa

A toilet that runs, leaks at the base or clogs every week usually has a simple cause. Tell us what it is doing and we will connect you with a licensed local plumber who handles toilet repairs in your part of Tuscaloosa.

Running toilets
Leaks at the base
Clogs
Weak flush
Wobbly toilets
New toilet installs

Running, leaking and clogged toilets
Tuscaloosa and Northport
Licensed Alabama plumbers

Common problems

What's wrong with my toilet?

Most toilet trouble comes down to a few parts:

It runs on and off. A worn flapper or a fill valve set too high lets water trickle into the bowl. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if color shows in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
Water pools at the base. The wax seal under the toilet has failed, or the bolts holding it down have loosened.
It clogs often. Wipes, too much paper at once, or an early low-flow model that never flushed well. A clog further down the line can also show up at the toilet first.
The flush is weak. Hard water leaves mineral scale in the rim holes and the jet at the bottom of the bowl, so less water reaches the bowl with each flush.
It rocks when you sit. A loose or broken flange lets the toilet shift, which soon breaks the seal and starts a leak.
The bathroom smells like sewer. A dried-out or broken seal under the toilet lets sewer gas through.

Repair or replace

Should I repair or replace my toilet?

Most problems are parts inside the tank or the seal underneath, and those are worth repairing. Replacement makes more sense when:

The bowl or tank is cracked, even a hairline crack that seeps.
It keeps clogging after the line has been cleared.
It is an older model that uses 3.5 gallons or more per flush. Toilets made since 1994 use 1.6 gallons or less, and EPA WaterSense models use 1.28 gallons or less.
Parts for it are no longer made.

In older Tuscaloosa homes, the plumber will also check the flange and the shut-off valve, since corroded ones are a common reason a new toilet leaks.

Do this first

What to do if your toilet is overflowing

Take the lid off the tank and push the flapper down to stop more water going into the bowl.
Turn the shut-off valve behind the toilet clockwise until it stops.
Do not flush again until the clog is cleared.
If the valve will not turn, shut off the main water valve to the house.

Our guide on what to do in a plumbing emergency covers this step by step.

Call a plumber when

Water leaks around the base
The toilet still runs after you replace the flapper
Plunging does not clear it, or it clogs every week
Water comes up in the tub or shower when you flush
There is a stain on the ceiling below an upstairs bathroom

Bigger problem

When is it the sewer line, not the toilet?

If the toilet gurgles when you run the sink, water backs up into the tub when you flush, or several drains are slow at once, the blockage is probably in the main line rather than the toilet. That needs drain cleaning or a camera check of the sewer line, not just a plunger.

Toilet trouble right now?

Call for a plumber(205) 880-9651

Or request a callback

Running or leaking but not urgent? Leave your number and a local plumber will call you back.

Questions

Toilet repair questions

Still not sure? Call (205) 880-9651 and describe what you’re seeing.

Why does my toilet keep running?

Usually the flapper at the bottom of the tank has worn out and lets water slip into the bowl, or the fill valve is set too high and water spills into the overflow tube. A chain that is too short or tangled can also hold the flapper open. These are small parts, and a plumber can replace them on the spot.

Is a leak at the base of the toilet an emergency?

It is not as urgent as a burst pipe, but do not wait on it. Water at the base usually means the wax seal under the toilet has failed. Each flush then pushes a little water under the floor, which can rot the subfloor or stain the ceiling below an upstairs bathroom.

Can a plumber fix a toilet that clogs all the time?

Yes. The plumber will check for something stuck in the trap, a partial blockage further down the drain line, or a sewer line problem. If the toilet is an early low-flow model that never flushed well, replacing it is often the lasting fix.

Should I pour a chemical drain cleaner into a clogged toilet?

No. Chemical cleaners rarely clear a toilet clog, they can damage older pipes and seals, and they leave caustic water in the bowl for whoever has to clear it next. Use a flange plunger, the kind with a rubber sleeve on the bottom, and call if a few tries do not work.

Can you help with installing a new toilet?

Yes. The plumber we connect you with can remove the old toilet, check the flange and shut-off valve, and set the new one with a fresh wax seal so it does not rock or leak.

Service area

Where can we find you a plumber for toilet repair?

We take toilet repair calls across Tuscaloosa, including Alberta City, Forest Lake, Hillcrest, Taylorville, Glendale Gardens, downtown and the University of Alabama area. We also cover Northport, Cottondale, Coker, Holt and the Lake Tuscaloosa area. Give us your address or ZIP code when you call and we’ll match you with a plumber who works there.

Need a different repair? See all plumbing services in Tuscaloosa.

Guides

When it's more than a clog

Drains & sewerSigns your sewer line is failingThe warning signs, what causes them in older homes, and your repair options.6 min read EmergenciesWhat to do in a plumbing emergency before the plumber arrivesStep by step for burst pipes, overflowing toilets, sewage backups and leaking water heaters.7 min read Leaks & costsWhat affects the cost of a plumbing repairThe five things that set the price, how plumbers quote, and how to get a fair estimate.7 min read

See all plumbing guides →

Toilet still giving you trouble?

Call and tell us what it is doing. We will connect you with a licensed local plumber who covers your area.

Talk to someone now(205) 880-9651

Call now (205) 880-9651