Leaking Toilet Repairs
A 'small' toilet leak can multiply your water bill, so we diagnose running cisterns and leaking valves, and repair them properly with quality parts.
Is a leaking toilet a big deal?
Bigger than most people think. A leaking or constantly running toilet wastes water around the clock and shows up directly on your bill. We've seen water bills two times and even five times normal from toilets the owners had dismissed as 'not a big deal'. The repair is usually simple and pays for itself within a bill or two.
The Bill Tells The Story
The most expensive leak you can't see
Leaking toilets are very expensive in terms of water wasted, and it all reflects on your water bill. Some people think a leaking toilet is not a big deal, but we have seen water bills come in at two times and even five times the normal cost, from a single quietly running toilet. Unlike a dripping tap, a toilet leak often makes no mess and little noise; the bill is how most people find out.
Ready Plumbing identifies and repairs leaking toilets across the Northern Beaches and North Shore, and we’ll guide you to the right informed decision on what to do: repair, or when it genuinely makes sense, replacement.
How Toilets Leak
How toilets leak
- Cistern-to-bowl leaks: A worn outlet valve or washer lets water seep continuously into the bowl. Look for ripples or a thin stream at the back of the pan.
- Running cisterns: A failed inlet/fill valve never quite shuts off; you’ll hear hissing or periodic refilling, sometimes called phantom flushing.
- External leaks: Worn inlet connections or seals let water reach the floor. Less common, more urgent: this water damages bathrooms.
Skip The DIY Attempt
Why we suggest skipping the DIY attempt
Toilets can be quite complex, and they require a professional to repair them confidently and correctly. Many times we're called to homes where someone has tried to repair the toilet themselves and created more damage: the toilet out of action until we arrive. It's very common, especially in units where there's only one toilet: a normal, simple plumbing job turned into an emergency call-out. We've perfected our skills over many years repairing these issues, and we're only a call away.
Quality Parts, Single Visit
Quality parts, single visit
The inside of a cistern is a valve ecosystem, and there are many valves and many brands out there. Knowing which your suite needs, and having access to it, is the difference between a repair that lasts and one that fails by Christmas. We use high-quality parts and work closely with our suppliers to make sure we can get all the parts required for your toilet. Most repairs are completed in a single visit.
Call today and get plumbing professionals at your door, or if the whole suite is due for retirement, see our toilet replacement service. For everything else that drips, start at leak repairs.
Last reviewed: 8 July 2026 by the Ready Plumbing team.
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FAQ
Leaking Toilet Repairs: your questions answered
Plumbing problems can be extremely frustrating. Our licensed Sydney plumbers are here to provide fast, reliable answers and solutions.
How do I know if my toilet is leaking?
Listen and look: hissing or trickling from the cistern between uses, ripples or a thin stream running down the back of the bowl, a cistern that refills without being flushed, or damp around the base. A quick test: note your water meter with everything off. If it's ticking over, something (often the toilet) is leaking.
Why does my toilet keep running after flushing?
Usually one of two valves: the outlet washer/valve letting water seep from cistern to bowl, or the inlet/fill valve failing to shut off. Both are standard repairs: the key is fitting the right valve for your suite from the many brands out there, which is exactly what we carry and know.
Can I fix a running toilet myself?
We'd recommend against it. Toilets are more complex than they look, and we're frequently called to homes where a DIY attempt created more damage, leaving the toilet out of action until we arrived. It's especially common in units with only one toilet, where a simple job becomes an emergency call-out.
Do you carry parts for my brand of toilet?
There are many valves and many brands out there, and we know the ones your job needs. We use high-quality parts and work closely with our suppliers to source everything required for your toilet, so most repairs are done in one visit.
When is replacement better than repair?
Cracked pans or cisterns, suites old enough that parts are scarce, or inefficient old single-flush units. Otherwise, quality valve repairs win on cost. We'll guide you to the right informed decision either way.
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Ready Plumbing is a Sydney-based and fully-licensed plumbing business with more than 20 years of experience, offering a range of residential and commercial plumbing solutions and emergency plumbing 24/7. Get in touch and we'll respond promptly.
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