Toilet problems are among the most common plumbing calls. A toilet that keeps running or refills on its own usually has a worn flapper or fill valve. A weak or incomplete flush can come from a low water level in the tank, clogged rim holes, or a partial clog in the trap. Water on the floor around the base often points to a failed wax ring or a cracked flange, and a toilet that rocks will eventually break that seal if it has not already.
A running toilet can waste a surprising amount of water and raise your bill. A quick check is to put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If color shows up in the bowl without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
Haygood Plumbing connects you with an independent plumber in Iowa City, IA who repairs toilets. The plumber who takes your job can replace tank parts, clear clogs with a closet auger, reset the toilet on a new wax ring, repair or replace a damaged flange, and fix leaking supply lines and shutoff valves. If the bowl or tank is cracked, or the toilet is very old and keeps having problems, they may suggest a replacement.
If water is leaking or the bowl is about to overflow, turn the shutoff valve behind the toilet clockwise to stop the flow. Lift the tank lid and push the flapper down to stop a running fill.
When you call, say what the toilet is doing, whether there is water on the floor, and whether more than one toilet or drain is affected, since that can point to a main line clog rather than a problem with one toilet.