Toilet problems, lifespan and upkeep

A toilet is a porcelain bowl with a water tank behind it. A flush lifts a flapper, the tank empties into the bowl, and a fill valve then refills the tank. Most trouble is in the tank's small parts or in a clog. A toilet that keeps running is usually the flapper, chain or float, and one that is clogged usually clears with a plunger. The shutoff valve behind the toilet stops the water if anything goes wrong.

Common problems
How long it should last

Typical lifespan: about 20–30 years for the toilet itself (sometimes up to 50); the flapper and fill valve wear out much sooner

Signs it is near the end:

  • The tank or bowl is cracked, or water seeps out around the base.
  • It clogs often, even with a plunger and a closet auger.
  • Rust, stains or mineral buildup won't come clean.
  • The toilet rocks or the floor around the base feels soft.
  • Repairs keep coming, and a replacement is about $175 installed plus $90–1,500 for the toilet.
Basic upkeep
  • Do the dye test a few times a year: a few drops of food coloring in the tank, and color in the bowl without flushing means a leak.
  • Replace the flapper when it gets soft or warped.
  • Flush only toilet paper and waste, never wipes.
  • Keep a flange plunger and a closet auger within reach.
  • Know where the shutoff valve behind the toilet is and that it turns.
Common fixes

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

  • Fridge not cooling?

    Fridge

    The fridge section is warm or warming. The cause depends on whether the freezer is still cold, and the first fix is often free.

  • Washer won't spin?

    Washer

    The drum fills and washes but won't spin, which is usually an unbalanced load, the lid switch, or a drain problem.

Sharpen the read

Diagnose your toilet in seconds, for free

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Snap one of these:

  • inside the tank with the lid off, showing the flapper, chain and float
  • the water level in the tank and the top of the overflow tube
  • the bowl and the floor around the base

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