Plumber toilet repair in Los Angeles covers the parts inside the tank, the seals and valves around the toilet, and the fixtures that wear out first: flapper, fill valve, handle, supply line, shut off valve and the wax seal at the floor. A plumber comes to your home, finds the failed part, and quotes the work in writing before starting. Most repairs cost $60 to $390 in published 2026 guides.
We'll arrange the visit through our quote page. The pages below each cover one fault in depth, and this one helps you pick the right one. City of Angels Plumbing arranges local plumbers across the city.
Should I call a plumber for a running toilet?
Not always. A running toilet is often a worn flapper or a fill valve set too high, and both are cheap parts you can swap yourself. Call a plumber if you have tried those, if the shut off valve is stuck, or if you would rather not work with water and a wrench. A running toilet wastes a lot of water, so do not wait long.
EPA WaterSense says a leaking toilet could waste about 200 gallons a day. The dye test tells you which part: a few drops of food coloring in the tank, no flush, and a look at the bowl after about 10 minutes. Color in the bowl means the flapper. No color but constant filling means the fill valve or its level.
Start with these pages:
- How to repair a running toilet for the full diagnosis.
- Toilet keeps running for the causes by sound and symptom.
- Toilet flapper repair for the seal at the bottom of the tank, including types and chains.
- Repair a toilet fill valve, also known as the inlet valve, for slow, noisy or endless filling.
What is a person who fixes toilets called?
A person who fixes toilets is a plumber. A plumber handles the toilet, its supply line, the shut off valve and the drain connection. Simple jobs like a loose seat or a flapper swap are also done by handymen. California requires a contractor license for work worth $1,000 or more, or for any work needing a permit.
The line matters because a toilet repair can slide from small to big. A flapper is a handyman job. A leak at the floor means lifting the toilet and may involve the drain flange and the subfloor. A cracked bowl means replacement. The California Contractors State License Board says anyone contracting for $over $1,000 once labor and materials are added must hold a license, and the same applies to any job that needs a permit. Check a license number on the CSLB site before you agree to larger work.
For the simplest jobs, a handyman typically charges $60 to $150 per published guides. For anything involving the drain, the supply pipe or a permit, you want a plumber.
Can you repair a broken toilet?
Usually yes. Most toilet faults come from small parts that are cheap to replace: the flapper, fill valve, handle, chain, supply line or seal. Repair does not work on a cracked tank or bowl. A crack in the porcelain means the toilet is replaced, because no sealant holds under water pressure.
How to match fault to fix:
| What is wrong | Likely part | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Runs after flushing | Flapper or chain | Flapper repair |
| Hisses, fills slowly, fills forever | Fill valve or float | Fill valve |
| Water going down the middle tube | Level, refill tube, flush valve | Overflow tube |
| Weak or no flush, handle limp | Handle, chain, flapper | Toilet flush repair |
| Water on the floor | Supply, tank bolts, floor seal | Repair toilet leak |
| Wobbly seat | Seat bolts | Loose toilet seat |
| Valve will not turn or drips | Shut off valve | Shut off valve |
| Rising water, gurgling, will not drain | Clog | Plumber for clogged toilet |
This table also answers the searches for toilet tank repair, toilet bowl repair, toilet handle repair, toilet float repair and toilet chain repair. The tank holds the flapper, fill valve, float, chain and handle. The bowl is the porcelain below, which does not repair. Toilet commode repair is the same job by another name.
Can a plumber fix my toilet?
Yes. A plumber can fix almost any toilet fault on the first visit, from a flapper to a floor seal, and can tell you honestly when the toilet should be replaced instead. The plumber finds the failed part, quotes the price, and does the work once you agree.
What a visit looks like:
- You describe the problem through the quote page: what it does, how long, any water on the floor.
- A local plumber comes to you. They check the toilet, the supply line and the shut off valve, and test for leaks.
- You get a written quote before any work starts, with the part and the labor.
- The repair is done, the toilet is tested with several flushes, and the old parts are removed.
Our page on how a job runs shows the steps in detail. Brand matters less than people think. A Kohler, American Standard or other major make uses standard parts in most cases, but some have their own flush valves or flappers, so give the plumber your toilet's make and model, which is usually printed inside the tank or under the lid. The plumber then brings the right parts, and you avoid a second trip. If you want a simple DIY repair, the individual pages here include steps.
For a toilet that is old and keeps failing, compare repair against a replacement. A plumber can quote both.
Can you fix a broken porcelain toilet?
A hairline crack in a toilet tank or bowl cannot be fixed in a way that lasts. Epoxy and sealants hold briefly at best, because porcelain flexes and the water is under pressure. A chipped rim is cosmetic, and a cracked tank or bowl that leaks means replacing the toilet.
If the crack is below the water line, or if water seeps from it, shut off the water at the valve behind the toilet and plan a replacement. A chip on the outside of the rim does not need replacing unless it is sharp or exposes unglazed material that stains.
In Los Angeles, a replacement toilet has to meet current water-saving standards. California Civil Code 1101.1 to 1101.9 requires replacement of noncompliant fixtures, meaning toilets over 1.6 gallons per flush, in older buildings when they are altered. LADWP also lists premium high-efficiency toilets among its residential rebates, so check its page before you buy. We cover this in what a toilet replacement costs.
What do toilet repairs cost in Los Angeles?
Published 2026 guides put most toilet repairs at $150 to $390, with simple parts lower. A flapper replacement is about $60 to $150, a fill valve about $60 to $200 and a shut off valve about $60 to $250. Angi's Los Angeles average for a toilet repair is about $290, with a range of $151 to $429.
Los Angeles plumbers in published guides list hourly rates of about $95 to $200 and service call fees of roughly $75 to $150, so a single small part still costs the visit. Ask for one visit that covers every part in the tank at once. Treat these ranges as a guide: the plumber's written quote is the real price. For broader pricing, see plumber cost and the toilet replacement cost page.
A cheap or very low advertised price is worth a question: ask what the visit includes and whether parts are extra. You will thank yourself for asking before the work starts, not after.
Common questions
Would a plumber fix a toilet?
Yes. Fixing toilets is routine plumbing work. A plumber can replace a flapper, fill valve or supply line, reseal the toilet at the floor, clear a clog, or replace the toilet if it is cracked. For a floor seal or any work on the drain line, a plumber is the right person.
How much does it cost to have a plumber fix a running toilet?
Usually $60 to $200 for a flapper or fill valve in published 2026 guides, and often $150 to $225 if both are replaced together. The parts cost $5 to $40, so most of the price is the visit. The plumber quotes the real price after seeing the toilet.
What do plumbers recommend to unclog a toilet?
Plumbers generally start with a flange plunger, the kind with a flap extending from the cup, and a slow, steady push. If that fails, a closet auger reaches the trap. Do not use chemical drain cleaners in a toilet. If the water is rising, stop flushing. See how to repair a blocked toilet.
How much does it cost to just replace a toilet?
Published guides put a plumber-installed replacement at roughly $350 to $800, depending on the toilet and the labor. Labor alone is often $150 to $450. Moving the toilet to a new spot costs much more. Our replacement cost guide shows how the price breaks down.
How much does it cost to reseal a toilet?
A reseal means lifting the toilet and fitting a new wax or foam ring, so it costs more than a flapper swap. Guides do not agree on one price, and Angi lists leaky toilet repairs in Los Angeles at $115 to $685. The plumber can quote the reseal once the cause is clear.