The average toilet is flushed about 5 times a day — more than any other fixture gets used. When it runs constantly, rocks on the floor, or clogs weekly, it wastes water and money fast: a running toilet can waste 200+ gallons a day. This section covers toilet installation costs ($150–$500+ for the install alone), the common repairs every homeowner can learn, and how to choose a replacement that actually flushes well.
The 10-minute fixes
Most running toilets are fixed with a $10 flapper or a fill-valve adjustment — our troubleshooting guide walks through the diagnosis in order so you replace the right $10 part the first time.
When to replace instead
Cracks in the tank or bowl, frequent clogs despite proper use, and pre-1994 water-guzzlers (3.5+ gallons per flush) are replacement signals. Modern 1.28 gpf models flush better than the old water-wasters ever did.