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Toilet repair, from a running tank to a leak at the base
A plumber checks the fill valve, flapper and flush mechanism inside the tank, and the wax ring seal at the base, to find which part is actually failing before replacing anything.
Why does my toilet keep running after it flushes?
A toilet that keeps running almost always has a flapper that is not sealing fully, letting water trickle from the tank into the bowl, or a fill valve that is not shutting off once the tank reaches the right level. Both are standard, inexpensive parts that wear out with normal use over a few years, and both are usually a quick swap once identified correctly.
A running toilet wastes a meaningful amount of water over time even though it looks like a small annoyance, and it is one of the more common calls a plumber gets precisely because it is easy to ignore until the water bill makes it obvious. Fixing it early is a small job; ignoring it for months is just a slow, invisible expense that shows up as one confusing line on a water bill.
Common problems
What is usually behind it
Water running long after flushing
A worn flapper or a fill valve not shutting off.
A weak or incomplete flush
A partial clog, low tank water level, or a worn flush valve.
Water or moisture pooling at the base
A failed wax ring seal, common in older slab-set toilets.
The toilet rocks slightly when you sit down
A loose base connection, which can lead to a seal failure if left alone.
The base seal specifically
Why a leak at the base matters more than it looks
A toilet is sealed to the floor drain with a wax ring, and once that seal fails, water can leak down into the subfloor with each flush rather than pooling visibly right away. In an older Hollywood home on a concrete slab, that kind of leak can go unnoticed longer than it would with a raised wood subfloor, since there is no floor damage to signal it early.
A toilet that rocks even slightly, or shows any dampness at the base, is worth addressing before it becomes a bigger repair than resetting the toilet on a new wax ring.
Common culprits
What is actually behind a running or rocking toilet
A toilet that runs constantly is almost always a flapper that no longer seals, or a fill valve that is not shutting off, both inexpensive parts that account for the large majority of running-toilet calls. A toilet that rocks slightly on the floor, though, usually means the wax ring underneath has failed and needs to be reset, not just tightened down further.
A weak flush that takes two attempts is frequently a partially clogged trapway or jet holes rather than anything wrong with the tank mechanism, and is worth checking before assuming the whole toilet needs replacing. Repeated clogging on a toilet that used to work fine can also point to a problem further down the line rather than the fixture itself.
Questions
Toilet repair, answered
Is a running toilet worth calling about, or is it minor?
It is a quick, inexpensive fix in most cases, and it is worth addressing since it wastes water continuously until it is repaired.
How do I know if it is a clog or a flush mechanism problem?
A weak flush with no backup elsewhere usually points at the flush mechanism or a partial clog in the toilet itself, rather than the main line.
Can a leak at the base really damage the floor?
Yes, moisture reaching the subfloor or the slab over time can cause damage that is more costly than the toilet repair itself.
Do you replace toilets as well as repair them?
Yes, if a toilet is old enough or damaged enough that repair does not make sense, replacement is discussed as an option.
Live dispatch
Toilet running, weak, or leaking at the base?
Call and describe what it is doing. A plumber can tell you exactly which part needs attention.
No obligation to book after the call.