Don’t let a leaking toilet cost you money!
Toilet leaks and clogs can happen at any time and affect your life in various ways. A stubborn clog can turn out to be an embarrassment when you have guests around, or prevent you from having visitors, friends, or family members over. A leaking toilet will also make your water bills more expensive, and if left too long, it can require more expensive repairs or even a replacement. So, when you have a leak or a clog on your toilet, the need to engage the services of a professional toilet plumber to repair and address the issues cannot be underestimated. Read on to learn more.
The benefits of having your toilet repaired immediately
Engaging the services of a professional toilet plumber to repair and have your toilet in the best condition possible has the following advantages:
- Avoid emergency plumbing situations. Neglecting small leaks and blockages can escalate into an emergency such as a sewer back-up that can be costly to repair.
- Reduce water wastage and water bills. The effects of a leaking toilet will sooner or later reflect on your water bill. The table below puts that into perspective in terms of the amount of water and money you can save by keeping your toilet in a working order based on a water price of $3/kL of water.
The cost of a leaking toilet per year
| Severity of the leak | Litres/hour | Litres/year | Cost/year |
| Invisible slow leaks | 0.5 | 4,400 | $13 |
| Visible leaks on the bowl without noise | 1.5 | 13,100 | $39 |
| Visible and audible leaks | 6 | 52,600 | $158 |
| Constantly visible leaks with a hissing sound | 11 | 96,400 | $289 |
Common toilet plumbing issues and how to fix them
Several toilet problems can interfere with the normal functioning of your toilet whether in your home or business. From blockages, the inability to flush, and everything in between, having a toilet that’s not functioning efficiently can spiral to further commercial and residential plumbing problems. Here are the common toilet plumbing issues that a professional toilet plumber from Absolute Plumbing Solutions will fix for you.
Clogged toilets
A stubborn clog in your toilet is a common toilet plumbing problem. It can fill your house with a foul smell that can result in an embarrassing situation, and also result in a potential health problem by allowing bacteria to build up. Common causes of toilet blockages are:
- A build-up of waste and debris. Using too much toilet paper can cause a build-up, making debris and waste collect in the plumbing trap, or in the toilet plumbing itself. This may slow down or completely block the flow of water stopping your toilet operation right away.
- Foreign objects. Children love to explore and experiment, and they may drop objects that should be better thrown in the bin in the toilet. Trying to flush such objects will result in a clogged toilet.
A professional toilet plumber from Absolute Plumbing Solutions will use CCTV inspection to identify the root cause of your toilet clog, and properly unclog or flush it out with tools like a plunger or jetting equipment.
How to unclog your toilet yourself without a plunger
If you want to hit the ground running and unclog your toilet without having to call a professional toilet plumber, then you can sometimes use a mixture of common household cooking ingredients.
A mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and a bucket of hot water can sometimes be an effective toilet unblocker if you can’t get your hands on a plunger. Using this self-made “volcano” mixture, you can unclog some toilet blockages, although we always recommend contacting us first.
Toilet repairs
Flush issues
Another common toilet plumbing problem is losing the ability to flush your toilet. This can happen due to:
- A clogged toilet
- Damaged parts in the cistern
- Inadequate water in the bowl or cistern due to a problem with the piping
It’s important to have any toilet flushing issues repaired as quickly as possible so that it can return to its normal functioning immediately. We will quickly find the blockage and remove it, explore the toilet and piping to find the cause of the low water level, repair and replace parts, and also look for possible damage or any other problems with your bathroom plumbing.
A leaking toilet
Toilet leaks can be slow and invisible, visible with no sound, visible and audible, or constant leaks that produce a hissing sound. By fixing slow, invisible leaks you can save more than 4,000L per year. Fixing visible constant leaks can help you save more than 96,000L per year. Depending on the severity of the leak, you will be able to decrease your annual water bills by anywhere between $13 to $289.
Our qualified professional plumbers from Absolute Plumbing Solutions will detect any leakages, tighten bolts, and install a new wax ring to seal any leakages in your toilet to help you conserve water and reduce your utility bill.
Cistern repairs
Common cistern issues include:
- The flush doesn’t work properly. This is usually due to the water level being too low, the flexible diaphragm in the syphon has worn out, or the link between the handle and the syphon has become detached.
- Cistern fills water very slowly. This may be due to the wrong valve nozzle being fitted, or the valve nozzle being partially blocked.
- Flush doesn’t clear the pan. This can be a problem with the pipe from the cistern to the pan.
- Cistern overflows. This is usually due to a worn-out valve washer or the float being set too high.
- Water on the outside of the cistern. This is usually due to condensation.
Our professional plumbers will replace any worn-out valves, adjust the float, and fix any other issue with your cistern to keep it functioning properly.
How much does it cost to repair or install a toilet?
There is no one-size-fits-all price when it comes to toilet repair and installation costs. The cost of repairing a toilet depends on how complex it is to fix. The cost of a new toilet installation will also depend on the quality of the toilet you’d like to replace your old one with. Here a list of ballpark costs for different toilet repairs in Sydney:
| Type of job | Cost (exact price depends on job complexity) |
| Unclogging a blocked toilet | $200 – $300 |
| Leak repairs | $100 – $180 |
| Flush repairs | $100 – $160 |
| Cistern repairs | $100 – $180 |
| New toilet installation | $400 – $800 |
If you’d like a more accurate quote, give us a call at 0421714322 or fill out our form and we’ll do our best to give you a better idea of how much your repair will cost.
Toilet installation
Toilets are one of the biggest water-using devices in the home, and installing a new toilet free from any kind of leakage can help you save more than 96,000L of water and up to $289 in water bills per year as mentioned above. There are many types of toilets used in Australia. They are:
- Wall-faced toilet
- Close-coupled toilet
- Wall-hung toilet
- Back to wall toilet
- Concealed cistern
Typically, toilet installation by a professional plumber from Absolute Plumbing Solutions costs anywhere between $400 to $800 in total cost, but prices may vary based on the specific job and the type of toilet being installed.
Frequently asked questions about toilet plumbing
Will a toilet eventually unclog itself?
Sometimes it will. You can wait on a clog and get away with it, but you can’t always count on this and it can lead to a full, nasty clog. It’s better to take proactive action.
Is replacing a toilet difficult?
Replacing a toilet may be demanding, but it is not altogether difficult. Removing the old toilet, selecting a new one, and replacing it is the only difficult part that may require the services of a qualified plumber if some modifications need to be done.
Is it bad to leave a toilet clogged overnight?
A clogged toilet can ruin your entire night if you don’t take some steps to dislodge it. It’s advisable to fix toilet clogs immediately when you notice them.
Do you need a plumber to replace a toilet?
Yes. We recommend engaging the services of a professional plumber to avoid costly mistakes.
Contact us for an obligation-free quote today and get your toilet repaired.
