San Jose, CA · Answering 24/7
Toilet repair in San Jose for running, leaking, clogged and rocking toilets
A toilet that runs all night, rocks when you sit, leaks at the base or clogs every week. Most toilet problems come down to a few inexpensive parts, and we fix them properly, including the wax ring and flange hidden under the bowl.
Toilet repair in San Jose usually means a fill valve or flapper for a running toilet, a new wax ring and a flange repair for a leak at the base, or a closet auger for a clog. A toilet that clogs repeatedly or overflows when other drains run points to the main line, not the toilet.
Warning signs
Signs a toilet needs attention
- Runs between flushes
A leaking flapper or a high fill level.
- Water at the base
The wax ring seal has failed.
- Rocks when used
Loose bolts or a damaged flange.
- Weak flush
Clogged rim jets or a partial blockage.
- Sewer smell nearby
A broken seal at the floor.
- Hissing tank
A failing fill valve.
- Clogs every week
A problem past the toilet.
What happens after you call
How a toilet repair visit runs
- 1
Call
Running, leaking, clogged or rocking?
- 2
Diagnose
Dye test, flange check or auger.
- 3
Price
Part and labor before work.
- 4
Repair
Part replaced or toilet reset.
- 5
Test
Several flushes and a leak check.
- 6
Supply check
Stop and supply line checked.
The job
Most toilet problems are one part
A toilet has few moving parts: a fill valve that refills the tank, a flapper that seals it, a flush valve, and a wax ring sealing the bowl to the drain. Each fails in a recognizable way, and replacing the right part fixes most toilets for far less than a new one, unless the bowl or tank is cracked.
A toilet past repair is covered on our toilet installation page.
Running toilet
A toilet that runs, or refills on its own every few minutes, is losing water from the tank into the bowl. Usually the flapper has warped or its chain is catching; sometimes the fill valve is set too high and water spills into the overflow tube. A running toilet can waste a lot of water without anyone noticing. We find which part is leaking with a dye test, replace it with the correct part for that toilet, and set the water level to the mark on the tank.
Clogged toilet
A single clog in one toilet usually clears with a closet auger, which reaches through the trapway without scratching the porcelain the way a drain cable can. If the auger brings back something solid, like a toy or a mass of wipes, the problem is solved. If the toilet clogs again within days, or other drains gurgle when it flushes, the blockage is further down in the main line and needs main line drain cleaning from a cleanout instead of more work on the toilet.
Wax ring and base leak
Water around the base after a flush, a sewer smell, or a soft spot in the floor all point to a failed wax ring, the seal between the toilet and the drain flange. We pull the toilet, clean off the old wax, inspect the flange for cracks or rot, set a new ring and reseat the toilet on new closet bolts. If the floor has been wet for a long time, we check the subfloor before resetting, because a toilet set on rotted wood will rock and leak again.
Fill valve and flapper
These two parts wear out on every toilet eventually. The fill valve refills the tank and shuts off at the set level; when it fails, it hisses, refills slowly or never fully shuts off. The flapper seals the bottom of the tank; when it hardens or warps, water leaks through. We replace both with parts matched to the toilet, since some models use specific flapper sizes, and check the supply stop and line while the water is off. Toto, Kohler and American Standard each use their own parts.
Rocking toilet
A toilet that rocks is breaking its seal a little every time someone sits down. The cause is loose closet bolts, an uneven floor, or a broken flange underneath. Tightening the bolts helps only if the flange is intact, and overtightening cracks the porcelain. We check the flange, shim the toilet level with proper shims, and reset it on a new wax ring if the seal has been disturbed. A cracked or rotted flange gets a repair ring or replacement before the toilet goes back down.
Local context
Toilet flanges in older San Jose homes
In the fifth of San Jose's housing that dates from before 1960, the closet flange under the toilet is often original cast iron or has been patched more than once. Those flanges crack and rust at the bolt slots, which is why a toilet in an older house that keeps rocking loose or leaking at the base often needs a flange repair, not only a new wax ring. We check the flange every time we pull a toilet.
Cost factors
What changes the price of a toilet repair
Planning range, not a quote: $140 to $220 per hour for plumbers in Santa Clara County. Source: proplumbersanjose.com, 2026-07-26.
- Part needed Flappers and fill valves cost less than flange work.
- Pulling the toilet Wax ring and flange repairs mean removing it.
- Floor condition Rotted subfloor adds repair.
- Toilet model Some need maker-specific parts.
- Time of call After-hours is billed differently; you hear how first.
Every job is priced after we see it; any published range is for planning only.
Brands we service and install
FAQ
Toilet questions
Usually a worn flapper or a fill level set too high.
Yes. The seal has failed and water may reach the subfloor.
Repair, unless the bowl or tank is cracked or parts are gone.
Often a partial blockage in the trapway or the main line.
Yes, by checking the flange, shimming and resetting.
Toto, Kohler, American Standard and most others.
If other drains are backing up too, yes; call any hour.
Related work
Other Kitchen & Bath jobs we handle
Toilet trouble in San Jose? Call any hour
We fix the part that failed, including what hides under the bowl.
Updated September 2026