Call a plumber for a toilet leak when water is on the floor and you cannot tell where it comes from, when the leak is at the base, or when the tank or bowl is cracked. A drip from a loose supply nut you can tighten yourself. A leak under the toilet means the seal has failed, and that needs the toilet lifted. We'll arrange the visit from our quote page. The wider toilet repair page lists every part that can fail.
First, stop the water. Close the shut off valve on the wall or floor behind the toilet by turning it clockwise. If it will not turn, close the main shut off for the house.
Where is my toilet leaking from?
A toilet leaks from one of four places: the supply connection at the wall, the tank bolts and the joint between tank and bowl, the cracked porcelain of the tank or bowl, or the seal at the floor. Dry the toilet and the floor, lay paper towel around it, and see which towel gets wet first.
Work from the top down so you do not chase the wrong source:
- Water at the wall or on the supply line. Wet braided hose, wet nut, or drip from the shut off valve. Fix is a new line or valve. See toilet shut off valve repair.
- Water running down the outside of the tank. Tank bolts and washers, or the tank to bowl gasket. Often leaks only after a flush.
- Water around the base, only after flushing. Wax ring or flange problem, or a loose bowl.
- Constant wet around the base, even without flushing. Usually the supply line or a cracked bowl. Test by drying and watching.
- No visible leak, but the tank refills by itself. An internal leak, which the dye test finds. Put food coloring in the tank for about 10 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking, a method EPA WaterSense describes. See flapper repair.
Condensation fools many people. A cold tank in a warm, humid bathroom sweats and drips onto the floor. If the water is on the outside of the tank only, clean and dry the tank and see whether it returns without a flush.
Can a toilet leak at the base be fixed without replacing the toilet?
Usually yes. Water around the base normally means the wax ring that seals the toilet to the drain has failed, or the toilet has shifted. A plumber removes the toilet, replaces the ring, checks the flange and sets the toilet back, with new bolts. The toilet itself is reused unless it is cracked.
The sequence looks like this. The plumber shuts off and drains the toilet, disconnects the supply line, and unbolts it from the floor. They lift it away, scrape off the old ring, inspect the flange, the metal or plastic ring set into the floor that the toilet bolts to, and then fit a new seal and reset the toilet level. If the flange is cracked or sits too low, a repair ring or flange replacement is added.
The part many homeowners miss is the floor. If a leak at the base has been running for a while, the subfloor around the flange may be soft. A plumber presses on it with a screwdriver. Soft or stained wood means a different trade has to repair the floor before the toilet goes back. Ask for that to be checked.
Can you stop a toilet leak yourself?
You can tighten a loose supply nut, replace a flapper or fill valve, and tighten tank bolts a little. You should not reset the toilet or work on anything that involves the drain, if you are not comfortable lifting a heavy porcelain bowl and cleaning a drain opening.
Safe first steps for a homeowner:
- Close the toilet shut off valve and put a towel and a bucket down.
- Tighten the supply nut by hand, then a small turn with a wrench. Do not force it.
- Tighten the two tank bolts evenly, a little at a time, alternating sides. Over-tightening cracks the porcelain.
- Check the tank for hairline cracks. A cracked tank does not get repaired. It gets replaced.
The fixes that reach into the drain, the flange or the floor are plumber work. California requires a contractor license for jobs worth $over $1,000 once labor and materials are added and for any job that needs a permit, and a base reseal is well under that, so the price is rarely the problem. The point is that a mistake with a wax seal shows up as a wet ceiling in a downstairs room weeks later. If the toilet is on the second floor of a Los Angeles apartment or duplex, a failed seal can damage the unit below, which is worth a professional visit.
What does a plumber charge for a toilet leak?
Angi lists toilet repair in Los Angeles at an average of about $290, with a typical range of $151 to $429, and a leaky toilet at $115 to $685 depending on the cause. A supply line or valve swap sits at the low end. A reset with a new seal, or a cracked tank, sits higher.
Treat these as a guide, not a quote. The factors that move the price are:
- Where the leak is. Supply line is cheapest; the floor seal costs more because the toilet has to come up.
- Floor and flange condition. A soft subfloor or broken flange adds work.
- Replacement instead of repair. A cracked tank or bowl cannot be fixed. A toilet replacement costs more, and the plumber replace toilet cost page shows the ranges.
- Time of day. After-hours rates in published Los Angeles guides run well above daytime rates, so a leak you can contain with the shut off valve can wait for a regular slot.
You get a written quote before work starts. The plumber cost page explains how plumbers price small jobs.
When is a toilet leak an emergency?
A toilet leak is an emergency when you cannot stop the water, when it is soaking a ceiling or wall below, or when the water coming up is sewage. In those cases close the main shut off, move electronics and rugs, and call for an emergency visit. A slow drip you can stop with the valve can wait.
Sewage backing up from the toilet is a different problem from a leak: the water is dirty, and the cause is a blocked line. Do not flush again, and see what to do in a plumbing emergency and plumber for clogged toilet. If the water is spraying and you cannot shut it off, call right away and shut off power to the room only if the breaker is dry and reachable.
Our how a job runs page shows what happens from your first message to the finished repair. City of Angels Plumbing arranges local plumbers across the city.
Common questions
How long does a plumber take to fix a toilet leak?
A supply line or valve swap is a short visit. Resetting a toilet with a new seal takes longer because the toilet has to be lifted, cleaned underneath and set again. Hidden floor damage adds time. The plumber can tell you more once they see the leak.
What should I ask before I hire someone to fix a toilet leak?
Ask what the quote covers: the seal, new bolts, a supply line, and whether they check the flange and the subfloor. Ask who takes the old toilet away if it is replaced, and what the service call fee is. Ask for their CSLB license number and check it online.
Does someone need to be at the property?
Yes, or someone must give access. The toilet will be out of use during the work. If the leak has damaged the floor or a ceiling below, you will also want to show the plumber the damaged area and take photos for your records.
Can a leaking toilet raise my water bill?
An internal tank leak can. EPA WaterSense says a leaking toilet can waste about 200 gallons a day. A leak at the base or supply line usually wastes less water but can damage floors. See our page on why a water bill is so high.