Running Toilets, Dripping Faucets and Fixture Fixes in Boulder
Fixtures fail in small, noisy ways. A toilet runs all night, a faucet drips onto a countertop, a shutoff valve under the sink will not turn. None of these is dramatic, and all of them waste water or invite a bigger leak.
A plumber can repair most fixtures in a single visit and tell you when replacement costs less than another repair.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
The toilet that will not stop running
A running toilet is the most common fixture complaint, and often the easiest fix. The tank holds a flapper, a fill valve and an overflow tube. When any of the three misbehaves, water keeps moving even though nobody has flushed.
| What you hear or see | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Refills every few minutes with no flush | Flapper not sealing | Replace flapper |
| Constant hiss after the flush | Fill valve not shutting off | Replace fill valve |
| Water running into the overflow tube | Float set too high | Adjust float |
| Handle must be held down | Chain length or linkage problem | Adjust or replace linkage |
| Puddle around the base | Wax ring or supply line | Reset bowl or replace line |
Two toilets running in the same house usually share the same age and the same worn parts. Replacing both flappers together costs little more than doing one. Ask the plumber to check the supply valve on each while the lid is off.
Faucets, tubs and showers that drip
A drip wastes water and stains the basin. Compression faucets drip from worn washers, while cartridge and ball faucets drip from worn cartridges. Tub and shower valves are harder to reach because the valve body sits in the wall.
- Kitchen faucet dripping at the spout: cartridge or seat
- Bathroom faucet leaking at the handle: O-ring or packing
- Tub faucet dripping after shutoff: cartridge or stem
- Shower head dripping: diverter or cartridge
- Weak flow from a faucet: clogged aerator or a failing supply line
If the valve body in the wall is corroded, a plumber may suggest replacing the valve with a modern one rather than patching. That decision depends on access, and some tubs have an access panel in the next room that makes it easy.
Fixture dripping or running? Call
Say which fixture and what it is doing, and a plumber serving your area can bring the parts.
☎ Call (303) 567-7524Shutoff and supply valves: the small parts that cause big floods
Under every sink and behind every toilet sits a small shutoff valve. They are used rarely, so they seize, weep and fail. A valve that will not close forces you to shut the main valve for a simple repair.
- Test each shutoff valve by turning it gently closed and open.
- Look for green crust or a damp ring around the stem.
- Replace valves that leak, stick or turn only partway.
- Replace braided supply lines that show rust at the fittings.
- Label the main shutoff and keep a plan for an emergency.
Replacing the shutoffs and supply lines when a fixture is swapped is inexpensive protection. A plumber carries quarter-turn valves and new lines for most sinks and toilets.
Installing a new fixture: what to settle first
Swapping a toilet or faucet is simple when it matches the old one. It gets more involved when the new one has different dimensions or the layout changes. A plumber measures the rough-in, the spacing and the supply connections before ordering.
- Toilet rough-in distance from the wall
- Faucet hole count in the sink or countertop
- Supply line length and shutoff placement
- Drain size and trap location for a new sink or tub
- Clearances required around a relocated toilet or vanity
Remodel work such as a tub-to-shower conversion, a bidet seat, an outdoor faucet or hose bib, or a washer, dishwasher or ice maker hookup adds plumbing to the walls and drains. That work often needs a permit, so ask before you buy fixtures.
Planning a swap or a remodel hookup? Call
A plumber can measure, quote the rough-in and plan the permit.
☎ Call (303) 567-7524Fixture questions plumbers hear often
Why does my toilet keep running after I flush?
A toilet that refills every few minutes usually has a flapper that no longer seals, a fill valve that does not shut off or a chain that is too tight. The tank water leaks quietly into the bowl and the fill valve tops it up. Dye tablets in the tank show a leaking flapper within minutes. A plumber replaces the failed part, and a two-bathroom house often has the same part in both toilets.
How do I fix a leaking bathtub faucet?
A tub faucet drips from a worn cartridge or valve seat. Turn off the water at the shutoff or the main, remove the handle and replace the cartridge with an exact match. Older stems and valves that will not come out are a reason to call, because forcing them can break the pipe behind the wall.
Should I replace a faucet or repair it?
Repair when the faucet is sound and the drip comes from a cartridge, washer or aerator. Replace when the finish is gone, parts are no longer made or the valve body leaks. Under the sink, a plumber also checks the supply valves and lines. A new faucet on corroded valves invites a leak.
Water is coming up from the floor drain and the toilet gurgles. Is that a fixture problem?
No, that points to a clogged main drain line instead of a fixture. When several fixtures gurgle or back up together, stop using water and call. The drain page explains the main line and what a plumber does about it.
When a fixture leak points elsewhere
Gurgling toilets across the house point to a main drain clog. A fixture that leaks inside the wall is a hidden leak. Garbage disposal trouble belongs on its own page, and corroded supply lines lead to pipe replacement.
Fixture trouble? Call and describe what it is doing
A plumber serving your area can repair or replace it in one visit.
☎ Call (303) 567-7524- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch