Toilet Repairs 101: When to Phone a Plumber

Few things are as frustrating as needing toilet repairs. It can grind anyone’s gears to find out that their home or office toilet is broken just as they’re about to use it. Or worse, that it is broken after they’ve used it.

The worst part about this issue is that it can go from mildly frustrating to mind-numbingly annoying. That’s right – toilet issues can ruin your day. It’s happened loads of times that a frustrated home or property owner tries to take matters into their own hands after finding an issue with their toilet, only for them to break a pipe, or worse, clog a drain and have sewage decorate their nice clothes and walls.

We’ve all been there, so this is not a topic that’s strange. And as you know, there are two kinds of toilet emergencies: the ones you can fix quietly and the ones you definitely need to call a toilet repair plumber for.

We’ve written this guide to help you make a clear distinction between the two. In this guide, we will be spelling out the common toilet problems in Sydney homes, outlining easy DIY hacks to fix any issues, but most importantly, letting you know when to call a plumber Sydney.

What “toilet repairs” include

When you get a call from your spouse, sibling, child or staff about a toilet issue, 10 bucks says it’s one of the following:

• Cistern/tank issues

An old toilet will wear out part by part, and this usually starts with the flapper in the cistern/tank. Sometimes, it could be the float, which makes it so that water in the tank keeps running and floods the room.

• Flush mechanism & hardware

This one is the most common toilet issue people experience. And again, improper maintenance is the primary cause of a faulty dual flush toilet. The handle, chain and flush valve will age as all things do and become stiff to use. These parts are usually cheap to replace and easy to fix, too.

• Blockages

That loose strand of hair, that chipped piece of soap, or that earring that unfortunately dropped into the toilet as you were flushing, as well as your used sanitary products –these things can accumulate over time to result in a blocked drain problem. What maintenance does is to make sure that these things don’t accumulate, and cause toilet flushing to become tedious. If your toilet cistern and dual-flush system work just fine, but it still takes forever to flush, this is most likely the problem you’re dealing with.

• Leaks at the base

Old toilets that need changing will leak in some way. When these leaks start to appear, water begins to pool at the base of the tank. This particular issue is something only plumbers can attend to. But until it is attended to, it will annoy you to no end because it can lead to rot, mould and costly structural repairs.

• Cracked porcelain or damaged bowl/tank

While this is typically not an issue that can stop you from using the toilet, it should definitely worry you. You never know when that little hairline fracture will crack open wider and become a big problem.

• Structural/sewer problems

You may not see signs of this in your toilet, but you can smell them. That’s right – that stink you perceive when you walk into your toilet to ease yourself is a result of something brewing in the sewer pipes. There could be a clog in the main sewer line, or a broken pipe from another line that’s leaking into yours. Only a plumber and his tools can tell you what the problem is in this case.

Now, some of the toilet issues listed above just require quick fixes, and others require professional handling. This guide is to help you figure out how to tell which issue requires a professional plumber Sydney from another.

But first, let us learn about the problems that arise because of the issues listed above.

Common Toilet Problems (Symptoms & Causes)

• Running or Leaking Toilet

A toilet cistern stores the water you use to flush, and refills itself after you flush. It’s set up so that the refill stops when it gets to a certain level. When the refill doesn’t stop because the water keeps running or leaking from the toilet tank, it means you have a problem with the fill mechanism, the flapper or the float and this known as the phantom flush. This is a recipe for financial disaster, because all the wasted water will count towards your bill.

• Clogged or Slow-Draining Bowl

When your toilet doesn’t flush as it should, it means the toilet pan is clogged. Data from across multiple emergency plumbing services in Sydney show that the primary causes of these bowl blockages are flushing other things outside the three Ps – pee, poo and toilet paper – down the toilet.

• Weak Flush or Blocked Trap

When your toilet is older, the flush mechanism will not work as it used to. Expected wear and tear from use over time causes this. Mineral deposits from the water that has filled the tank over the years can also cause the flushing mechanism to become harder to use. These same mineral deposits can accumulate in the trap or drain, causing you to have to flush multiple times.

Sydney Water’s data puts the cost to our city of sewer issues, mostly stemming from delayed toilet repairs, at about AU$27 million a year to clear. Imagine what it costs the average Sydney resident.

DIY Checks & Quick Fixes

We imagine that you’ll have read the last few sections of this guide, spotted a few things that you can relate to, and immediately decide to call a plumber.

You’re not making a wrong call. But money is hard to come by. You wouldn’t want to call a plumber for issues you can handle, can you? It’s also a waste of proper business hours for the plumber as well, who could be attending to something much tougher (and frankly, more lucrative) than your small problem.

So, before you call a plumber for toilet repairs after spotting any of the problems from the last sections, try doing the following first:

• Check the Flush Mechanism

If flushing becomes tedious, open the tank lid. Take note of what you see. If the water keeps running, shut off the water supply to the tank. Then try to adjust the float arm or replace the rubber flapper. Once you’re done, turn the water back on, and see. If this doesn’t work, disassemble the flush mechanism and clean it. Mineral deposits may have built up in it, making it stiff. If none of these work, that’s when you can phone a plumber Sydney.

• Test for Silent Leaks

Sometimes, little leaks can escape you even after you’ve fixed the flapper or the float. Add some food colouring or any coloured liquid into the tank, and check the bowl in about 20 minutes. If the water is coloured, that means you didn’t fix the flapper well enough. Try again, and repeat the same process. Call a plumber if you fail for the second straight time.

• Use a Plunger

Sometimes, all you need is a plunger to free up your bowl and toilet drains. Put the thing inside the bowl and pump it rhythmically. If the blockage is small, this action will loosen it up. Once you’re done, get warm water and pour it down your toilet to wash any remnants away. Try flushing again after this, and if the symptom persists, call the toilet doctor!

• Try a Toilet Auger (“Snake”)

Before that next step, though, try a toilet auger (also known as a snake). It can reach further down into the bowl and the pipe connecting it to the sewer system. Keep pushing until you feel the blockage, then twist the snake to break it up into pieces that the water can carry. If this doesn’t work, then you can call a plumber. This is also a gentle nudge to you to buy one of those for your plumbing tools.

Don’t just keep flushing. You’re wasting water, which will show up on your bill, and probably making things worse. Try any of these methods first, and if they don’t work, call the pros to come handle it.

When to Call a Sydney Plumber

We’ve pretty much covered the basics of when to call a plumber for your toilet emergencies in the last few sections. This section, however, goes a little bit deeper into some toilet repairs that you can absolutely not attempt to fix on your own without the help of professionals like the Plumber Sydney blocked-toilet specialists who are available 24/7.

That’s right–even though you just need your plumbing starter kit to handle a lot of these fixes, sometimes, only one attempt is enough to know that you should call a plumber.

One such issue is having to use your plunger or snake every day. These tools do the job, sure, but every day? That’s just a disaster waiting to happen. There might actually be a huge blockage in the main sewer line that has made it to your toilet from the backflow. A tree root could have also broken off into the sewer line, and the backflow pushed it into your line.

It could even be a case of broken or corroded pipes in the sewer line. These corroded pipes could be yours or your neighbour’s, but it keeps making you pull out your snake or plunger every time you use the toilet.

Another such issue could be continuous leaks. This is straightforward, but we’ve learned that people have spent time and resources replacing flappers, floats and flushing mechanisms, only for the leaks to continue. When they finally call a plumber, they discover that there’s a concealed crack somewhere that causes water to leak.

Sometimes, flushing your toilet could make the water levels rise in your drains, sinks or tubs. This means there’s a swerve line problem, and it’s not something you can fix.

Don’t forget that Sydney regulations also forbid DIY in some cases. When in doubt, call a pro. Plumber Sydney’s team knows all the ins and outs of Sydney’s plumbing and will comfortably, expertly and swiftly handle the dirty work while you relax.

What to expect during a professional repair

You don’t just call the first name that pops up on the first page of your search engine when you type in “Cheap Plumber Sydney”. Before you call a plumber, there are some checks you must perform. Ask the plumber the following questions:

• Are you licensed and insured? What is your licence number?
• Can I have an itemised quote before you start?
• What’s the warranty on parts and labour?
• If you need to replace the toilet, which brand or model works best that won’t cost me too much in water bills?

If you get satisfactory answers to these questions, proceed to book the plumber.

When the licensed plumber you’ve settled upon shows up, they show up ready and with a plan. You should know what they’re there for and understand their workflow, so that you can feel more in control of your space.

This is what the workflow of a licensed plumber looks like:

First 10–15 minutes: Identification and inspection

Once the plumber arrives, they should show their ID first, then explain the immediate safety steps that they will take before getting to work. They’re required by NSW laws to do this, by the way.

Then they begin inspecting the toilet to make sure the problem is as you described it during your booking call. They follow this up with questions which help them to diagnose the issue properly and decide on the best course of action.

Typical diagnostic tools they may use

• Dye and leak test kits to check if the toilet tank or bowl is leaking, or to check the extent of the leak you must have described during your booking call.
• Pressure checks to confirm if the water pressure is good enough for the toilet, because water pressure can damage toilet system, too.
• Toilet augers and manual tools to see if there are any clogs that need to be cleared before they work, or to see if you even cleared them at all.
• CCTV camera inspections to check the sewer lines for any potential issues.
• Hydro-jetting equipment to clear out any heavy build-up in the mainline that they spot with their CCTV.

Next 5 minutes: Recommending repair options and getting work consent

When you go to see a doctor, you get a diagnosis done first to identify your ailment, and then get recommendations for treatment. It’s the same with licensed plumbers. After diagnosing the problem, they’re required by law to let you know of the various repair options that could fix your toilet problem.

Some of these options are:

• Replacing the small parts of the toilet system
• Reseating the toilet
• Full toilet replacement
• Doing work on the main sewer line

By doing this, they roll the ball into your court, leaving the decision up to you. And just like a doctor is required to let you know that they’re about to start any treatment on your body, a licensed plumber has to seek your consent before they work, even if they’ve identified the problem.

Next few minutes, hours or days: Repairs

Different repairs last different times:

• Simple in-tank repairs often last between 30–60 minutes.
• Reseating a wax-ring reseat or replacing a leaking toilet (if a new one is available) lasts between 1–2 hours.
• Doing work on the main sewer line can last days because they might need to secure some permits. If the work doesn’t require permits, the time spent on the repairs will be determined by how easy it is to access the main line from your home and how complex it is.

If you know these things, you’ll remain in control from start to finish, even though you’re not actually doing the dirty work.

Cost expectations & quotes (how plumbers charge for toilet repairs)

Plumbers charge differently for jobs. Replacing small toilet spare parts will not cost as much as replacing the whole toilet system, of course.

Plumbers also factor in how urgent the request is. For example, if your request comes in after hours or during the holidays, you’ll be charged differently.

Plumbers also factor in access to your home or to the property with the blocked toilet. If you live up a hill or in a valley town, they will charge you differently.

It is always best to ask for an itemised invoice to see exactly what you’re being charged for. More than this, you need to know exactly what a typical plumber’s invoice looks like so that you can decide what you need to pay for or not.

This is what a typical plumber’s invoice looks like:

• Call-out/service fee

Plumbers who collect a call-out fee typically do so to cover their travel and diagnosis, mostly as insurance, should you choose not to use their services. Plumber Sydney does not charge a call-out fee.

• Labour

This is the regular fee for the plumber’s service, no matter the job. It is usually charged hourly or as a flat rate for specific jobs. As pointed out earlier, any work that’s done after hours or during weekends is usually more expensive.

• Parts & materials

If your job requires the replacement of parts, they’ll invoice you for those parts as well. That’s why you should ask them during your booking call about the options available to help you save money on this particular cost item.

• Specialist equipment

This is usually added to your final bill if your toilet repair work goes beyond fixing parts or unclogging drains. They might need special equipment like CCTV or motorised snakes. Whether the plumber has these tools or they have to rent them, you’ll get invoiced for their use, because this equipment is typically not carried around.

Preventing Future Toilet Woes

One last thing is necessary for you to learn, though: what to do to make sure that you don’t have toilet problems frequently that may require you to use your plumbing starter kit or require the services of your plumber.

Do the following to prevent future toilet woes:

• Flush Only the 3 Ps

Pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Not just any paper, but toilet paper. Teach everyone at home, especially the children, or those (possibly staff or visitors) who uses the toilet(s) on your property to do this. Hang a sign on toilet doors if you have to. Make it easier for them not to flush anything else by leaving a bin in or around the toilet so that they can dispose of items like wet wipes, cotton buds, floss, feminine products, paper towels, and food waste easily. These don’t affect you alone; they cost our city millions to clear.

• Regular Cistern Checks

Once in a while, probably every two months, lift the lid of your toilet seats and watch how it works when you flush. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, try a DIY fix. If the DIY fix doesn’t work, then call your plumber.

• Avoid Chemical “Quick Fixes”

Some people recommend that you use all sorts of liquids to unclog your toilet bowls or blocked drains. Please, don’t. Hot water with baking soda or vinegar might work for some small clogs, but even this simple homemade fix can cause problems, not to mention some chemical drain cleaners. Call a plumber if you have a clogging problem.

• Prepare for Emergencies

Know where to turn off the water supply to your home. If your toilet leaks, do this quickly to prevent any case of sewage getting into the main water line.

Conclusion: Need Help? Call Plumber Sydney

Toilets are typically not the fanciest places on a property, but the problems that could arise from them are some of the worst to deal with. The good news is that help is not far from you if you reside in Sydney!

Call Plumber Sydney today for your toilet repairs and enjoy a working toilet and peace of mind!