Toilet Repairs and Installation.Done Right.

Installing a new toilet

We remove the old toilet, check the drain connection and the floor, fit the new pan and cistern and test the flush. Wall-hung units need a frame and in-wall cistern.

Renovations

If you are renovating a bathroom, we can place the toilet and plumb it in as part of the wider job.

Accessible toilets

Taller pans and rails can be fitted. Tell us what you need.

Aftercare

We check for leaks, run flushes and show you how to isolate the water.

What affects the price of a toilet job

The fault, the model and the access all change the price. A new washer or inlet valve is a small job. Replacing a pan means disconnecting the waste, lifting the old one, checking the floor and flange, and fitting the new one with a good seal. A wall-hung toilet or a concealed cistern is a bigger job again, because the frame and the in-wall parts come into it.

Ask whether the price includes the toilet, the disposal of the old one, and any parts such as a new seat, flexible hose or isolation valve. Quotes are free and there is no call-out fee.

Mistakes that cost more later

Overtightening bolts can crack a pan. Using strong drain chemicals can damage seals and make a later repair unpleasant for whoever has to work on it. Flushing wipes sold as flushable is a common cause of blocked drains, because they do not break down like toilet paper. Ignoring a slow leak at the base can rot a floor.

If you are not sure what a fault is, switch the water off at the small tap behind the toilet and call for advice instead of guessing.

Cistern parts explained

A cistern has an inlet valve that fills it, a float that tells the valve when to stop, and a flush valve or outlet that releases the water into the pan. If the cistern keeps refilling, the outlet seal may be letting water through. If it fills slowly, the inlet valve or its filter may be blocked. If the float sits too high, water can run down the overflow. Each fault has a different part, so naming the symptom helps.

Photograph the inside of the cistern and the brand on the lid or the back before you call.

Water rating and flush volumes

Toilets sold in Australia carry a water efficiency label under the WELS scheme. A higher star rating means less water per flush. Dual flush toilets give a short flush and a full flush. Check the label for the rating, and ask your plumber whether a new suite suits your drain, since very low flush volumes work best on drains with a good fall.

The government WELS website lists registered products if you want to compare models.

Cisterns that run or fill slowly

A cistern that keeps filling usually has a worn inlet valve or a leaking flush valve. A slow refill may mean a partly closed isolation valve or a blocked filter. These parts are common and often easy to replace.

Choosing a new toilet

Check the position of the waste outlet: S-trap pans exit through the floor, while P-trap pans exit through the wall. The new pan has to suit the existing waste or the waste has to be changed. Look at the water rating, flush type and seat fit.

Fixing a rocking or leaking pan

A toilet that rocks or leaks at its base needs attention. A loose pan or a failed seal can let water seep under the floor. Do not only caulk around it. Ask your plumber to lift the pan and check the floor and seal.

Common toilet faults

A toilet that runs on, fills slowly, flushes weakly, leaks at the base, rocks on the floor, has a cracked pan or has a seat that keeps loosening each points to a different part. Many are cheap to fix: a washer, an inlet valve, a flush valve seal or new connectors. A cracked pan or cistern cannot be repaired and the toilet must be replaced.

What affects the cost of a toilet job

The cost depends on whether it is repair or replacement, the toilet you choose, whether the existing waste suits the new pan, the floor condition and how hard access is. If the floor is rotted from a long leak, it needs repair before the new toilet is fitted. Ask for the details in writing, and ask what is included, such as removal of the old toilet.

Accessible and comfort-height toilets

Taller pans, wall-hung units, support rails and larger rooms suit people with limited mobility. Walls need to be reinforced for rails and wall-hung cisterns, so plan this before lining. A plumber can discuss the plumbing side, and an occupational therapist or builder can advise on layout.

Pan types and waste outlets

Toilets have a floor or wall outlet, S-trap or P-trap. A replacement must match the outlet, or the waste must be altered.

Take a photo of the back of the existing toilet.

Water use and dual flush

Dual flush uses less water for a half flush. WELS ratings help compare. Ask about the rating on any model you choose.

The Australian WELS scheme publishes ratings at waterrating.gov.au.

Planning a toilet replacement

Measure the distance from the wall to the waste outlet and note the type of outlet. Choose a pan that suits the outlet or ask about changing it. Check the cistern type, the flush button position and the seat size.

The plumber removes the old toilet, checks the floor flange, fits the new pan and tests flush and seal. Ask whether the old toilet is taken away.

Guides worth reading

• Should You Repair or Replace Your Toilet?

Related plumbing services

• Leaking Taps: Dripping taps fixed with new washers, cartridges or full replacement.
• Tap and Mixer Installation: New kitchen, bathroom and laundry taps and mixers fitted properly.
• Shower Repairs: Leaking, dripping and low-flow showers repaired.
• Sink and Basin Plumbing: Leaking and slow-draining sinks, basins and traps repaired or replaced.
• Emergency plumbing is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Talk to GSA Plumbing Services

Call 0401 041 103 or send an enquiry on the contact page. We work across Geelong, Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.