Should I repair or replace an old toilet?

Repair an old toilet when the problem is a part, and replace it when the problem is the toilet. Almost everything that makes a toilet run, ghost flush, flush weakly or leak from the tank is an inexpensive part you or a plumber can change without replacing the toilet. Cracked porcelain, a toilet that clogs every week, parts that no longer fit, or an old model that uses several times the water of a new one are the reasons to replace it.

Problems that are worth repairing

A running toilet or one that flushes on its own. Most toilet leaks are due to old or worn-out flappers, an inexpensive rubber, plastic or silicone part that EPA calls quick and easy to replace.^[1] EPA says the flapper should be checked periodically and replaced at least every five years,^[2] and warns that an old or worn flapper can make a toilet flush on its own or silently leak thousands of gallons a year.^[2]

Chesterfield County's utility notes that a toilet leak is the most common and overlooked type of water leak because it cannot be seen.^[3] Its test: take the lid off and listen. If water is flowing into the overflow tube in the tank, the valve may not be cutting off completely,^[3] which means the fill valve needs adjusting or replacing.

A weak flush or a handle that sticks. A loose handle can cause a weak flush or no flush, and a chain that is too long or too short stops the flapper sealing.^[4] Both are adjustments, not new toilets. Mineral buildup can also clog the holes under the rim and reduce the flush, and those can be cleaned out.^[4]

Water under the tank. A worn flush valve gasket can leak between the tank and the bowl, and sediment from the water lines can clog the fill valve over time.^[4] Oatey notes that a worn flush valve can be replaced with a universal flush valve kit.^[4]

A toilet that rocks. A bowl that rocks often means the bolts are loose, broken or badly installed, and repeated movement can point to a damaged flange that has to be fixed before new bolts go in.^[5] That is a repair under the toilet, and the same toilet can usually go back down on a new wax ring.

Signs it is time to replace

• Cracked porcelain. A hairline crack in the bowl or tank that weeps water is not a part you can swap. Replace the toilet before the crack opens.
• It uses a lot of water. Older, inefficient toilets can use as much as 6 gallons per flush, while toilets with the WaterSense label use 1.28 gallons per flush or less.^[1] EPA estimates that replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense models can cut the water a family uses for toilets by 20 to 60 percent.^[1] To see what yours uses, lift the seat: a toilet's gallons-per-flush rating is typically stamped on the bowl in front of the tank.^[6]
• It clogs constantly. EPA notes that the early low-flow toilets of the 1990s were sometimes associated with performance issues such as needing a double flush.^[1] If yours is one of those and the drain line is clear, a new certified toilet often solves it. See how to stop a toilet from clogging first.
• Parts no longer fit. Some older or unusual toilets take flush valves or tank kits that are no longer made. When the repair needs a part you cannot get, the repair is a replacement.
• You are remodeling anyway. A new floor is the easiest time to set a new toilet, because the flange height is being dealt with too.

A rebate can tip the decision. Since October 2024, City of Charlottesville residents can get a rebate of up to $150 per toilet for replacing a toilet that uses 1.6 gallons per flush or more with a WaterSense model.^[7] Ask your own water utility what it offers.

Hiring someone for it

A straight swap usually does not need a permit. Virginia's building code exempts from a permit the replacement of plumbing fixtures without alteration of the water supply and distribution systems, sanitary drainage systems, or vent systems.^[8] In a special flood hazard area, the building official can require a permit even for exempted work.^[8] Moving the toilet, or any repair that changes the drain or supply piping, is different: alterations to the water supply, drainage or vent system need a permit from your local building department.^[8] That is work worth handing to a licensed plumber.

If you pay someone, check the licence. Virginia's Board for Contractors regulates individual plumbers, and state certification of the trade is mandatory, not optional.^[9] Since April 1, 2025, Virginia has also issued a Residential Plumbing licence for plumbers who work only in residential structures.^[9] Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[10] Ask for the diagnosis and the price for both options, repair and replacement, in writing, so you can choose.

Stop and call a pro if

• Water is on the floor around the base, the floor is soft or the ceiling below is stained. See why water leaks around the base of a toilet.
• The shutoff valve behind the toilet will not close, or leaks when you turn it.
• The toilet still runs after a new flapper and fill valve, or the tank cracks while you are working on it.
• Sewage backs up into the toilet or a tub when other fixtures drain. That is a drain line problem, not a toilet problem.

Getting help on Loclis

Licensed plumbers on Loclis repair and replace toilets. Start with a running toilet repair, browse toilet repair and installation, find plumbers in Blacksburg, read what a toilet replacement costs in Virginia, or see every plumbing answer.

Describe the toilet problem once and licensed local plumbers quote the repair, the replacement, or both.