Leander Toilet Installation and Repair: Running Water, Clogs and a Rocking Base

Running, weeping or silently leaking: how do you test a toilet?

A toilet that runs on its own wastes water all day, and a toilet that leaks silently can run up the bill without a sound. The test takes five minutes and needs a little food coloring.

1. Remove the tank lid and add a few drops of food coloring to the tank water. Do not flush.
2. Wait 15 minutes without anyone using the toilet.
3. Look in the bowl. If color appears, the flapper is not sealing and water is leaking into the bowl.
4. Listen and watch. If the tank refills on its own every few minutes or hisses, the fill valve or flapper needs attention.

If the meter moves with everything off and the toilets pass the dye test, the leak is elsewhere. Our page on finding hidden water leaks covers the next step.

A clogged toilet: plunge, stop or call?

One clogged toilet is usually a plunger job. A clog that affects other fixtures is not.

• Use a flange plungerIt has a rubber flap that seals in the drain. Push and pull steadily for about twenty seconds.
• Do not flush again if the bowl is highA second flush on a full bowl overflows it. Let the water drop first.
• Try a closet augerIt clears most clogs a plunger cannot, without scratching the porcelain.
• Stop if other fixtures are slowIf a tub or a sink gurgles, the clog is in the line. See clearing a clogged drain line.

Avoid chemical drain openers in a toilet. They can damage the bowl and the wax seal and leave a hazard for whoever opens the line next. If sewage is rising in the lowest drain of the house, stop using water and call. The City of Leander's Public Works number is 512-259-2640 if the problem may be in the street line.

Replace it, or move it: what does a new toilet involve?

A toilet in the same spot is a straightforward swap if the new one fits. A toilet in a new spot changes the plumbing, and that changes the permit question.

• Measure the rough-inThe distance from the wall to the center of the drain is commonly 12 inches. A different distance needs a matching toilet.
• Check the flangeIt should be in good condition and sit level with the finished floor.
• Look for the WaterSense labelIt marks toilets certified by the EPA to use less water per flush.
• Consider height and shapeTaller bowls are easier for many adults, and elongated bowls are larger.

The City of Leander says replacing fixtures without altering plumbing needs no permit. Moving a toilet alters the drain, so ask the plumber whether a permit is needed. Texas requires plumbing work to be done by a licensed plumber or under one's supervision, and you can check a license on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners site. For ranges, see the cost ranges for Leander plumbing.

Should you replace the shutoff valve and supply line at the same time?

A toilet swap is the easiest moment to renew the small parts that connect it to the wall. They are also the parts that fail with the least warning.

• The shutoff valveValves that have not been turned in years can seize or weep when you close them. If it will not close fully, replace it before the toilet comes off.
• The supply lineA braided stainless line lasts longer than a plain plastic one. Replace an old line rather than reusing it.
• The closet bolts and the sealUse new bolts and a new wax ring or seal every time a toilet is reset. Reusing a ring is a common cause of a leak at the base.
• The floor flangeCheck it for cracks and for height. A damaged flange is the usual reason a new toilet rocks.

Ask the plumber to test each connection under pressure and to wipe the base dry before leaving. A dry base after the first flushes is the quickest sign of a good seal.