Toilet overflowing or leaking: stop the water
A toilet that keeps filling over the rim or leaks at the base is an urgent call, and our line answers 24/7. You can usually stop the flow yourself in under a minute.
- Lift the tank lid and push the flapper down, or lift the float, to halt the fill.
- Turn the oval handle on the wall or floor supply valve, called the angle stop, clockwise until it stops.
- Lay towels around the base and keep the bathroom door closed so water stays in one room.
- If the angle stop will not turn, shut the main water valve and call (855) 575-2890.
If the bowl overflowed with sewage rather than clean water, do not flush again. That points toward the main line and a different repair.
Toilet repair in Los Gatos means finding which of a few small parts has failed and replacing it, or replacing the whole toilet when the porcelain or flange is damaged. Most calls come down to the flapper, the fill valve, the supply line, the wax ring or a clog. A plumber's job is to tell those apart quickly, so you do not pay for the wrong part.
Water on the bathroom floor right now? Call (855) 575-2890, close the angle stop, and we will line up a licensed plumber.
Call (855) 575-2890Running, rocking or leaking? Match the symptom
The sound and the location of the water usually name the part.
| What you notice | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hissing or refilling every few minutes | Worn flapper or crusty flapper seat | New flapper, clean the seat |
| Water runs until the handle is jiggled | Fill valve or float out of adjustment | Adjust or replace fill valve |
| Puddle at the base after flushing | Failed wax ring or loose closet bolts | Reset the toilet on a new ring |
| Drip under the tank | Supply line or tank bolt gasket | New braided line or gaskets |
| Rocks when you sit | Loose bolts or damaged flange | Tighten, shim or repair flange |
A toilet that runs on its own
A constant trickle wastes water all day and will show up on your next bill. Drop a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait fifteen minutes without flushing, and see if color reaches the bowl. If it does, the flapper is leaking.
Fill valves wear out too. When the tank overfills, water runs down the overflow tube, and the cure is a new fill valve set about an inch below the tube's top.
Leaking around the base
Water at the floor means the seal between the toilet and the drain flange has failed, or a supply connection is dripping onto the floor. We pull the toilet, scrape the old wax ring, and check the closet flange for cracks and height before setting a new ring.
Wet subfloor is the real risk. Soft or dark flooring around the toilet means the leak has run for a while, and that may need more than a new seal. Same-day appointments are often available for base leaks that have been stopped at the angle stop.
Local water and what it does to toilet parts
San Jose Water's 2025 report shows three source types, and hardness differs a lot between them. Groundwater averages 288 ppm, mountain surface water 151 ppm, and treated Valley Water supply 99 ppm. Which source reaches your tap varies, so test your tap before assuming.
In harder water, mineral crust forms on the flapper seat and inside the fill valve, and the flapper stops sealing. Chlorine and chloramine, which the utility says may be present, also age rubber over the years. That is why a seven-year-old flapper that looks fine can still leak, and why we replace the flapper and fill valve together on an older tank.
Whether you live near the Los Gatos Creek Trail or up toward Lexington Reservoir, San Jose Water's report gives hardness by source, so check your fill valve and flapper seat for scale. Toilet repairs in Santa Clara County ZIP codes 95030, 95031, 95032 and 95033 are dispatched from this number.
A clogged toilet versus a clogged main
One toilet that will not clear, with every other drain normal, is a clog in the trap or the line right behind it. A plunger with a flange, or a closet auger, reaches it. If the bathtub gurgles or other fixtures back up too, the blockage is further down.
West Valley Sanitation District asks residents to flush only toilet paper and human waste, and to keep so-called flushable wipes out. Wipes are a common cause of stubborn toilet clogs, and they are why a repeated clog can lead to a main line cleaning once the trap is ruled out.
Repair the toilet or replace it?
Parts are inexpensive compared to a new toilet, but not every toilet deserves more parts.
| Situation | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Worn flapper or fill valve | Yes | Rarely |
| Hairline crack in the tank or bowl | No | Yes, water will find the crack |
| Repeat clogs in an older high-flow bowl | Sometimes | Often a better trap design helps |
| Failed wax ring only | Yes | No |
| Rusted or broken closet flange | Flange repair, then reset | Only if the bowl is damaged |
Replacement also lets you pick a different rough-in height or bowl shape.
Replacing a toilet properly
A good installation has a level base, a solid flange at floor height, a new braided supply line, and a working shutoff valve. If the angle stop under the toilet is seized or leaks when turned, we replace it at the same visit. Related shutoff work shows up in faucet repair as well.
If you are moving a toilet or adding a bathroom, that falls under plumbing installation, and permit rules vary, so check with the Town of Los Gatos building division. The dispatch line also covers Monte Sereno for the same repairs.
What affects the price of toilet repair
We explain what we found, then give a clear price before work starts.
Part or full replacement
A flapper and fill valve are small jobs. A new toilet adds the unit, removal and disposal of the old one.
Flange and floor condition
A damaged flange or soft subfloor adds repair work.
Shutoff valve condition
A seized angle stop may need replacing before the toilet can come off.
Clog depth
A trap clog is quick. A clog that reaches the main is a different job.
Time of the call
After-hours dispatch is priced differently from a weekday appointment.
Insurance may help if a supply line burst and soaked the floor, since sudden discharge is often covered. Wear, slow leaks and corrosion often are not. Policies differ, so check yours.
Want your real number? Call (855) 575-2890. We give a clear price before work starts.
Toilet repair questions from Los Gatos homeowners
Yes. Our dispatch line runs 24/7, including weekends and holidays. We do not promise an arrival time, but a licensed plumber will be sent and the price is clear before work starts.
Lift the float or push down the flapper, then close the angle stop clockwise. If it will not turn, shut the main water valve.
The flapper is usually not sealing, or the fill valve is set too high. Food coloring in the tank shows which one within fifteen minutes.
Yes. Movement breaks the wax seal and can crack the flange, so leaks follow. Tighten or shim it early.
It can. If other fixtures gurgle or back up as well, the blockage is likely in the main line.
A like-for-like swap is usually simple, but rules vary, so check with the Town of Los Gatos building division if you are moving or adding fixtures.