How much does it cost to repair a toilet?

Your toilet is an important part of your home, so when it breaks you want it repaired fast. There are many ways that a toilet can develop issues over time, most of which can be easily repaired when caught early enough. Waiting to repair your toilet can lead to more damage, due to leaking water, which in turn can cause your repair bill to rise.

Most people pay around $60 for the most common toilet repair, including the replacement of a wax ring or a float.

Common problems

Toilets are made up of numerous parts, many of them moving. For that reason, they can develop several common problems over time. Most of these are very easy and quick to fix, often being done in under an hour for a fixed rate. Some issues are more complex, and will require more time and money to correct.

Cost factors

In most cases, the cost will be determined by the cost of the replacement part and the time needed to make the repair. Most toilet issues are fast and fairly easy to fix. However, occasionally, you will see issues where the water has been leaking for so long, that this leads to softened floor boards, water stains, corrosion, and other issues that can be more costly to fix than the initial problem. This is why it’s important to address toilet issues quickly, before they can get out of hand.

Larger jobs, such as fixing a flange or a corroded pipe may also require more than one professional to do the job, which can also increase the cost of the repair.

Labor

Most toilet repairs tend to be minor and fairly straightforward, so a handyman may be the fastest and least expensive person to call to have your toilet fixed. For corrosion, clogs, and multiple areas of leaking, however, you may want to call a plumber in to do the work. In most cases, a handyman will charge a flat fee of around $50 for the job, while plumbers will charge their hourly rate, which ranges from $45 to $65. Plumbers are more likely to have the part on hand to fix your toilet quickly, while a handyman may need to purchase the part and return, which could slow down the repair slightly.

Maintenance

Toilets don’t tend to need a lot of maintenance to keep them in good condition. Most parts that wear out do so over time through normal use, but there are a few things you can do to help keep your toilet in its best condition.

Clean it regularly, but do not use bleach-based drop in tablets as this can cause your flaps and connectors to wear out. Check for leaks and moisture around the toilet and at the joins. Avoid putting anything into the toilet except normal waste, water, and toilet paper. Anything else may cause a clog.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Reseat a toilet

Sometimes the cause of a leak is due to a wearing out of the wax ring at the base of the toilet. To replace the ring, the toilet must be uncoupled, and reseated. This sounds complicated, but is a fairly quick job assuming that the bolts holding your toilet have not corroded over time.

Occasionally, your plumber may need to reseat the toilet to check on the condition of the flange below, particularly if a leak is occurring and a cause cannot be found. Because this will add to the amount of time the repair is taking, you will likely be charged the hourly rate for this additional work ($45 - $65).

Additional considerations and costs

• If your toilet is old, needs multiple repairs, or has many worn parts, you may wish to replace the toilet. Toilet replacements cost around $350 on average.
• Never ignore a running toilet. This wastes water, as the valve will continually refill the toilet, resulting in extremely high water bills over time.
• Leaking toilets can lead to water damage of your subfloor ², as well as problems with mold and mildew both in the bathroom, and potentially in the rooms below.
• Toilet flappers last around 5 years on average, after which they may need to be replaced. If your toilet is nearing this time frame, keep an eye on the flapper so you can replace it as needed.
• Toilets themselves can last for decades if properly maintained. Replace worn parts as necessary, and a toilet can continue operating for 30 years or more. Keep in mind that newer models use less water, however, which may save you over time.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

² Subfloor: The bottom-most layer of a floor, supported by joists, over which finished flooring material is laid