Toilet Repair — Same-Day Fix or Free Re-Visit
Armor Pro Services repairs toilets across San Antonio and Bexar County the same day you call — diagnosing the exact cause (running valve, failed wax ring, cracked tank, or weak flush) and fixing it on the first visit with parts already on the truck. We're licensed in Texas under RMP #36282, fully insured, and locally owned. Repair-first thinking is the rule: we won't push a replacement when a $30 fill valve solves the problem.
Common Toilet Problems We Repair
Running toilet — the fill valve or flapper isn't sealing, so water runs constantly into the bowl. A single running toilet wastes up to 200 gallons per day. At San Antonio Water System (SAWS) rates, that's roughly $20–$30 per month straight down the drain — and it compounds fast. Phantom flush — the toilet refills on its own without anyone touching it. This is almost always a worn flapper that lets water slowly bleed from tank to bowl until the fill valve kicks on. Annoying, wasteful, and cheap to fix. Cracked tank — hairline cracks allow water to seep onto the floor. A cracked tank can't be patched reliably; it needs replacement. Cracked bowls are a different story — that's a full toilet swap. Slow-filling tank — takes more than 90 seconds to refill after a flush. Usually a partially closed shutoff valve, a clogged fill valve screen, or low supply pressure. We trace the cause before replacing anything. Rocking toilet — the toilet shifts when you sit. The wax ring seal under the toilet is compromised, which means sewer gas and water are both finding a path they shouldn't. Don't wait on this one. Weak or incomplete flush — water enters the bowl but waste doesn't clear. Common causes: clogged rim jets, a waterlogged flapper, or a partial blockage in the trap. If rim jets are the issue, most homeowners have never even heard of them.
Should You Repair or Replace?
Most plumbers won't give you a straight answer on this. Here's ours. Repair it if: the toilet is under 15 years old, the problem is mechanical (flapper, fill valve, handle, wax ring), and the repair cost is less than 40% of a new unit installed. A toilet that flushes and seals correctly has no reason to be replaced early. Replace it if: the porcelain bowl or base is cracked (structural cracks can't be repaired), the toilet is a pre-1994 model using 3.5–7 gallons per flush, you've repaired the same component twice in 18 months, or the toilet wobbles and the subfloor underneath is soft. Soft subfloor means water has been migrating under the base longer than you realize — that's now a flooring and possibly a framing issue, not just a plumbing call. The math: a standard two-piece toilet installed runs several hundred dollars depending on the model you choose. If your repair quote approaches that number and the toilet is aging, replacement is the smarter spend. We'll tell you which scenario you're in before we touch anything — no pressure either way.
What Toilet Repair Costs — and What Drives the Price
We don't publish flat prices because the same symptom (a running toilet) can cost very different amounts to fix depending on what's actually broken. Here's how to think about it. Flapper replacement — this is the cheapest common toilet repair. Parts cost under $15 and the job takes 20 minutes. If a plumber quotes you a lot for a flapper swap alone, ask questions. Fill valve replacement — slightly more involved but still a straightforward repair. Most fill valve jobs are completed in under 45 minutes including diagnostics. Wax ring replacement — requires pulling the toilet off the floor, replacing the wax seal, and resetting the toilet. Labor is the cost here, not parts. Access difficulty (tight bathroom, older flange) affects time. Flush valve or complete rebuild kit — if multiple internal components are worn, a full tank rebuild is often more economical than replacing individual parts. We stock rebuild kits for the most common brands on every truck. What moves the price up: water damage discovered under the toilet, a corroded or broken flange that needs a repair ring, non-standard rough-in dimensions requiring a special-order toilet, or second-floor bathrooms where protecting the ceiling below adds time. Contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate — we'll give you a number before we start, in writing.
When DIY Makes Sense — and When It Doesn't
Honest answer: some toilet repairs are genuinely DIY-appropriate, and you don't need us for them. DIY is fine for: replacing a flapper (two bolts, five minutes, no tools), tightening a loose handle or handle chain, adjusting the float arm to change the water level in the tank, and replacing a toilet seat. YouTube covers all of these accurately. If you've watched a video and you're comfortable, go for it. Call a plumber when: you've replaced the flapper twice and the toilet still runs — the flush valve seat is probably pitted and needs machining or replacement, which isn't a beginner job. Also call when: the toilet rocks or the wax ring needs replacement (dropping a toilet incorrectly cracks the flange), water appears at the base after every flush (active wax ring failure means sewer gas is already entering the room), you find soft flooring around the base, or the tank or bowl is visibly cracked. The failure mode that turns a $25 repair into a $1,500 call is water sitting under a toilet for weeks before anyone notices. A compromised wax ring or a slow base leak wicks into the subfloor, then into the joists. By the time there's visible damage, you're looking at a flooring repair on top of the plumbing fix. Get it checked if you're not certain.
How Our Toilet Repair Process Works
Step 1 — Same-day scheduling. Armor Pro runs 24/7, including nights and weekends. When you call 210-212-7667, you'll reach someone who can book a same-day window, not a call center routing you to a queue. Most toilet repairs are non-emergency jobs that get scheduled within a few hours; active leaks and sewer gas situations get priority. Step 2 — Diagnosis before any work. The tech identifies the root cause — not just the symptom. A running toilet has four or five possible causes, and replacing the wrong part wastes your money. We test the flapper, fill valve, flush valve seat, and supply pressure before quoting. Step 3 — Written estimate, your approval. You get a written scope and price before we touch anything. No verbal quotes. No surprises on the invoice. If the repair uncovers additional damage (a broken flange, soft subfloor), we stop and show you before proceeding. Step 4 — Repair completed, tested, cleaned up. We flush the toilet multiple times after every repair and check the base, supply line connection, and tank seams for any seepage before we leave. The truck is stocked with the most common toilet parts — flappers, fill valves, wax rings, flush valves, supply lines, repair flanges — so most jobs finish on the first visit.
How a Running Toilet Hits Your Water Bill
A running toilet isn't a minor annoyance. It's a leak measured in gallons per minute. A typical flapper failure lets water run continuously at roughly 0.1 to 0.5 gallons per minute — that's 144 to 720 gallons per day. SAWS charges roughly $4–$5 per thousand gallons for the first tier, but wastewater charges mirror water consumption, so you're effectively paying for both sides of every gallon that runs through. A moderate running toilet can add $25–$50 to a monthly bill. A severe one — a flush valve failure with high flow — can spike a bill by $100 or more in a single cycle. SAWS does offer a one-time leak credit adjustment if you can document that you identified and repaired an internal leak. We can provide a written repair record that satisfies that request. Call us, get it fixed, then contact SAWS billing with the invoice — you may get a partial bill adjustment for the affected billing period.
Frequently asked
How much do plumbers charge to fix a toilet?
It depends on what's broken. A flapper swap is a short, low-cost repair — parts are cheap and the job is fast. A wax ring replacement takes longer because the toilet has to come off the floor. A full tank rebuild with multiple worn components lands somewhere in between. We give you a written estimate before starting anything so you know the exact number before we proceed. Call 210-212-7667 for a free estimate.
How much will a plumber charge to fix a leaking toilet?
A leak at the base means a wax ring failure, which requires pulling the toilet — that's a labor-intensive job. A leak at the supply line or tank bolts is simpler. The cost difference between those two jobs is significant. We diagnose first and quote second. If water has been sitting under the toilet long enough to damage the subfloor, we'll flag that before the repair quote so you're not surprised by what's underneath.
How much would a plumber charge to replace a toilet seal?
Replacing a wax ring (toilet seal) involves shutting off the supply, draining the tank and bowl, disconnecting the supply line, unbolting the toilet from the flange, lifting the toilet, scraping and replacing the wax ring, resetting and re-bolting the toilet, and reconnecting the supply. The wax ring itself costs under $10. You're paying for labor and the care it takes to reset the toilet without cracking the flange or the porcelain. Tight bathroom access or a damaged flange adds time and cost.
What do local plumbers charge per hour?
Texas plumbers typically bill in the range of $100–$200 per hour for service work, though many — including Armor Pro — use a flat-rate structure for common repairs rather than strict hourly billing. Flat-rate pricing means you know the total cost before the work starts, which is more predictable than watching a clock. Emergency or after-hours calls may carry an additional charge. We'll be upfront about any rate differences when you call.
What do plumbers charge per hour in Texas?
Licensed plumbers in Texas generally run $100–$175 per hour for standard service calls, with after-hours and emergency rates higher. The hourly rate matters less than whether your plumber uses flat-rate pricing for common jobs. A flat-rate quote protects you from bill creep when a job takes longer than expected. Armor Pro provides written flat-rate estimates for toilet repairs, replacements, and most standard plumbing work.
Should I repair or replace my toilet?
Repair if the toilet is under 15 years old and the problem is a mechanical component — flapper, fill valve, flush valve, or wax ring. Replace if the bowl or base is structurally cracked, if you've repaired the same part twice in 18 months, or if the toilet predates the 1994 federal standard and uses 3.5 gallons or more per flush. A pre-1994 toilet that runs intermittently is wasting water in two directions — fix the leak AND consider whether a 1.28 gpf replacement makes financial sense long-term.
How long does a toilet repair take?
A flapper or fill valve swap takes 20–45 minutes including diagnosis. A wax ring replacement runs 60–90 minutes. A full tank rebuild is typically 60–75 minutes. If we discover a damaged flange, corroded supply valve, or subfloor damage, that extends the timeline — we'll tell you before continuing. Most toilet repairs are completed in a single visit because we stock the most common parts on the truck.
Do toilet repairs require a permit?
In Texas, replacing components inside an existing toilet — flappers, fill valves, flush valves, wax rings — does not require a permit. Relocating a toilet, rough-in work, or modifying drain lines does require a permit filed through the City of San Antonio Development Services Department under our license RMP #36282. If your job requires permitting, we handle the filing.
Is there a warranty on toilet repair parts and labor?
Workmanship warranty is one year — if the same repair fails due to our work within 12 months, we return at no charge. Parts warranties follow the manufacturer's terms, which vary by brand and component. We'll tell you the warranty period for the specific part installed before the job starts. We don't make blanket lifetime warranty claims because they're not honest.
Do you offer emergency toilet repair service?
Yes. Armor Pro runs 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. A toilet leaking at the base, a cracked tank releasing water, or a complete blockage backing into the bowl qualifies as an emergency. Call 210-212-7667 — you'll reach a live person, not a voicemail.