A toilet that rocks, leaks at the base or runs all night is usually telling you something about the seal, the flange or its own age. Target Plumbers repairs what can be repaired and replaces what can’t, in homes and businesses across Orange County and Los Angeles. We measure the rough-in, check the flange under the old bowl, and give you a written price before any work starts.
| What you notice | Usually the fix | Replace instead when… |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on and off, or hisses after flushing | New flapper or fill valve | Parts for that model are no longer made |
| Water on the floor around the base | New wax ring and closet bolts; flange repair if it’s broken | The bowl itself is cracked |
| Drips between the tank and bowl | New tank-to-bowl gasket and bolts | The tank is cracked |
| Rocks or shifts when you sit | Reset on a new seal, shims, flange repair | The subfloor under it has rotted |
| Weak flush, needs two flushes | Clear the rim jets and trap, adjust the fill level | It’s an early low-flow model that never flushed well |
| Hairline crack in the porcelain | None; cracks spread | Always: a cracked tank or bowl can split without warning |
| Uses 3.5 gallons or more per flush (usually stamped inside the tank) | Repairs keep it working | You want lower water bills, a rebate, or you’re remodelling a pre-1994 home |
Toilet clogged rather than broken? That’s a job for drain cleaning . If the toilet keeps clogging and other drains gurgle, the problem is usually further down the line.
| Choice | What to know |
|---|---|
| Rough-in | Measure from the finished wall to the center of the floor bolts. 12 inches is standard; 10- and 14-inch rough-ins turn up in older houses and need a matching toilet. |
| Bowl shape | Round bowls save a couple of inches in small bathrooms; elongated bowls are more comfortable for most adults. |
| Seat height | Standard bowls sit about 15 inches high. “Comfort” or “right height” models are about 17 to 19 inches, easier for tall users and anyone with knee or hip trouble. |
| Flush type | Gravity flush is quiet and simple to repair. Pressure-assisted is louder but strong, useful for busy commercial restrooms. Dual flush lets you use less water for liquids. |
| One-piece or two-piece | One-piece is easier to clean and has no tank-to-bowl gasket to leak; two-piece costs less and is easier to carry into tight spaces. |
| Wall-hung | The tank sits inside the wall on a steel carrier, so it’s a remodel job that means opening the wall, not a same-day swap. |
| Bidet seat or smart toilet | Most need an electrical outlet beside the toilet, and some need a tee on the water supply. Check before you order. |
If water has been leaking under the floor for a long time, we may suggest a leak check on the line as well.
Financing: 0% for up to 48 months on approved credit
The total depends on the toilet you pick, whether we supply it or you do, and what we find when the old one comes off: a broken flange, a soft subfloor or a corroded shut-off valve adds work. We give you one written price before we start, and a second written price if the flange or floor needs repair.
A straight swap on a sound flange usually takes a couple of hours, including testing. Flange repair, a new shut-off valve or a wall-hung toilet adds time.
No. California’s retrofit law treats toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush as noncompliant in buildings built on or before January 1, 1994. A 1.6-gallon toilet is not on that list, although any new toilet sold in the state today must be a high-efficiency model.
Often, yes. SoCal Water$mart offers rebates starting at $40 for premium high-efficiency toilets that use 1.1 gallons per flush or less and replace a toilet using 1.6 gallons or more. The amount depends on your water agency, so check the program site before you buy.
Repair it first in most cases. A running toilet usually needs a new flapper or fill valve, which costs far less than a new toilet. Replacement makes sense when the porcelain is cracked, the toilet uses 3.5 gallons or more per flush, or the same parts keep failing.
It’s the distance from the finished wall behind the toilet to the center of the floor bolts, usually 12 inches and sometimes 10 or 14 inches in older homes. A new toilet has to match it, or it won’t sit against the wall properly. We measure before you buy.
Yes, removal of the old toilet is part of the job
Toilet work across Orange County and Los Angeles County is booked through these local offices:
Toilet overflowing or leaking right now? Turn the valve behind it clockwise to stop the water, then call (844) 941-2727. For a planned replacement, book a visit and we’ll call back to set a time.