Fixture Repairs and Installs: Toilets, Faucets, Sinks, Showers and Tubs
Most fixture problems are small until they are not. A toilet that keeps running, a faucet that drips overnight or a shower that runs lukewarm all waste water or patience, and each has a short list of likely causes. This page walks through the common ones and what a plumber checks first.
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Toilet Repair: Running, Weak Flush, Rocking and Leaking
A running toilet is nearly always a worn flapper, a misadjusted fill valve or a chain that is too tight or too loose. A weak flush points to a partly blocked rim, low tank water or a worn flush valve. A toilet that rocks has lost the seal under it, and a ring of water at the base often means the wax ring has failed.
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Runs after flushing | Worn flapper or fill valve |
| Weak flush | Clogged rim jets or low tank level |
| Water at the base | Failed wax ring or loose bolts |
| Phantom refills | Slow tank leak into the bowl |
Put a little dye in the tank and wait without flushing to spot a slow leak: if color reaches the bowl without flushing, the flapper is not sealing.
Toilet Installation and Replacement
Replacing a toilet is a good moment to check the flange, the floor and the shut-off valve beneath it. A flange set too low, or a rotted subfloor, causes rocking and leaks no matter how new the toilet is. The plumber sets the new bowl on a fresh seal, tightens the bolts evenly and tests flush and refill before leaving.
Height, rough-in distance and bowl shape all matter. Measure from the wall to the center of the floor bolts; most are 12 inches, but older bathrooms vary. Tell the plumber the measurement and whether you want a standard or taller bowl.
Toilet running or leaking at the base?
Close the valve behind it and call. Most toilet repairs are quick once the cause is known.
Bathroom Sink and Vanity Plumbing
Under a bathroom sink the usual troubles are a slow drain, a dripping trap and supply lines that weep at the connections. Hair and soap gather in the pop-up stopper, which a plumber can pull and clean in minutes. For deeper blockages see the drain cleaning page.
Replacing a vanity faucet or the whole sink means shutting off the supply stops, disconnecting lines and resealing the drain. Old stops that will not close fully should be replaced during the job, since the wall is already open and the cost of the extra part is small.
Kitchen Sink: Leaks, Sprayers and Slow Drains
Kitchen sinks carry more load than bathroom sinks, with dishes, food waste and a disposal in many homes. Common repairs include a leaking sprayer hose, a dripping spout base and supply lines that have corroded. If a sink drains slowly on one side only, the trouble is often in the trap arm or the disposal connection.
A cabinet that smells damp deserves attention even without visible water. A slow leak under the sink can soften the cabinet floor and grow mold before it ever drips on the ground. Disposals have their own page: garbage disposal help.
Shower Repair: Valves, Heads and Temperature Problems
A shower that swings between hot and cold usually has a worn cartridge or a failing pressure-balance valve. A weak spray is more often scale in the showerhead than a pipe problem. A valve that drips from the spout after the shower is off has a worn seat or cartridge.
Replacing a shower valve behind tile can mean opening the wall from the back, which is why an access panel in the adjoining closet is a useful feature. Ask whether the repair can be done from the front through the existing trim opening, which keeps tile intact.
Water heater involvement
If only the hot side changes temperature, check the heater too; see the water heater repair page.
Faucet dripping or shower swinging hot to cold?
Cartridge and valve repairs are routine. Describe what you see and call.
Bathtub Repair and Replacement
Tub trouble includes slow drains, leaking overflow gaskets, drip from the spout and cracked or stained surfaces. The drain assembly sits beneath the tub and is often reached through the floor below or an access panel. A tub that drains slowly after you remove the stopper and hair is likely a downstream clog, not the tub itself.
Replacement is a larger project. It involves removing the old tub, checking the drain connection and floor, and setting the new unit level. Ask whether a liner or resurfacing would suit the tub instead if only the surface is worn.
Faucet Repair and Installation, Shut-Off Valves and Other Small Jobs
A dripping faucet wastes water every minute it runs, and the fix depends on the type: compression faucets need new washers, while cartridge, ball and ceramic disc types each have their own parts. Many drips end with a new cartridge. If the faucet is old and parts are hard to find, replacement is usually the better path.
The shut-off valves under sinks and behind toilets are worth checking at the same time. A valve that has not been turned in years often leaks or sticks when it finally gets used. Replacing an old stop takes a few minutes and means the next repair can start with a reliable shutoff.
Related small jobs include bidet seat and supply hookups, washer, dishwasher and ice maker connections, and rough-in plumbing for a bathroom or laundry remodel. Anything not listed here, such as hose bibs, utility sinks or pot fillers, is worth a call.
Fixture Repair Questions
Why does my toilet keep running?
The usual cause is a worn flapper that does not seal, or a fill valve set too high. Both are quick repairs once identified.
How do I know if my faucet needs repair or replacement?
A simple drip often needs only a cartridge or washer. If the faucet is corroded, loose or hard to find parts for, replacement makes more sense.
Why does my shower go from hot to cold?
A worn cartridge or pressure-balance valve is a common cause. If the problem affects other taps too, the water heater may also need a look.
Can a toilet that rocks be fixed without replacing it?
Often yes. Rocking usually means a failed seal or an uneven floor. A new wax ring, shims or a repaired flange can fix it.
Should I replace old shut-off valves?
If they leak, stick or will not close fully, yes. A reliable valve under each fixture makes later repairs faster and limits damage in an emergency.
Ready to get a fixture working properly?
Name the fixture, the symptom and how long it has been going on.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch