A toilet that keeps running is almost always a worn flapper ($5 part) or a failing fill valve ($20 part), and either is a 20-minute fix. Call (201) 676-3099 or book a free estimate.
A toilet that keeps running is almost always a worn flapper ($5 part) or a failing fill valve ($20 part), and either is a 20-minute fix. A toilet that keeps clogging is usually one of three things: a first-generation low-flow toilet from the 1990s that never had enough push, something stuck in the trap that lets water through but catches paper, or a problem in the drain line past the toilet that a plunger cannot reach. A running toilet can waste 200 gallons a day, so it is worth fixing this week.
Here is how to figure out which one you have and what to do about it.
Running toilet: the 3 causes
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If color shows up in the bowl in ten minutes without flushing, the rubber flapper is not sealing. Turn off the supply, flush, unhook the flapper, take it to the hardware store, match it. $5 to $15 and ten minutes.
If the tank keeps filling and water runs into the overflow tube, the fill valve is set too high or has failed. Adjust the float first. If it still runs, replace the valve; a universal one is $15 to $25 and takes 20 minutes.
A chain that is too short holds the flapper open a crack; too long and it gets stuck under the flapper. Adjust it so there is about half an inch of slack. Free.
Clogging toilet: the 3 causes
The first 1.6-gallon toilets from 1994 to about 2002 were the old bowls with less water, and they never flushed well. If yours needs two flushes and clogs weekly no matter what, the toilet is the problem. A modern toilet with a MaP score of 800 grams or higher flushes better with less water. Replacement: $450 to $1,200 installed.
A toy, a comb, a wipe wad, or the deodorizer clip that fell in. Water gets by it but paper does not. A plunger with a flange (the kind with the extra lip) and a closet auger usually clears it. If it clogs again within days, the object is still there and the toilet may need to come off to get it out: $150 to $350.
If the shower or tub gurgles when you flush, or the toilet clogs along with other drains, the problem is in the branch line or main sewer. Plungers cannot reach it. A cable clears it for $175 to $450; if it keeps coming back, a $275 to $550 camera inspection shows why.
What a plumber charges in NJ (2026)
Our minimum visit covers up to two hours, so a toilet repair usually comes with time left to fix the dripping faucet in the same bathroom. Ask.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Flapper, fill valve, handle, chain, or flush valve repair | $150 – $300 |
| Rebuild the whole tank (all internal parts) | $200 – $350 |
| Clear a stubborn toilet clog with an auger | $150 – $300 |
| Pull the toilet, remove an object, reset with a new wax ring | $250 – $450 |
| Replace the wax ring (leaking at the base) | $200 – $400 |
| Replace the toilet, standard model, you supply | $350 – $600 |
| Replace the toilet, quality model, we supply | $450 – $1,200 |
| Cable the branch drain or main line | $175 – $900 |
Do this before you call
- Food coloring test for a running toilet. Ten minutes, tells you if it is the flapper.
- Lift the tank lid and watch a flush. Does the flapper drop fast? Does the water stop about an inch below the overflow tube?
- For clogs: a flange plunger, ten firm pushes with the cup sealed, then a closet auger if that fails. No chemical drain cleaners in a toilet; they do not work on paper and they burn the plumber who comes next.
- Note whether other drains gurgle or back up. That one detail tells us whether to bring an auger or a cable machine.
When to just replace it
- It is a 1990s low-flow that clogs weekly. No repair fixes a bad bowl design.
- The porcelain is cracked anywhere, especially at the tank. A cracked tank lets go all at once, usually at night.
- It rocks, and the floor around it is soft. That is a wax ring that failed long ago and a subfloor that needs attention.
- You are paying for the second or third repair in a year. A new comfort-height, well-flushing toilet is $450 to $1,200 installed and uses less water than the one you have.
Questions people ask next
Why does my toilet keep running?
Nine times out of ten it is a worn flapper that does not seal, or a fill valve set too high. A few drops of food coloring in the tank tells you which. Both are cheap parts and a 20-minute fix.
How much water does a running toilet waste?
Up to 200 gallons a day for a steady leak, which can double a water bill in a month. It is the most expensive 'small' problem in a house.
Why does my toilet keep clogging?
Usually a 1990s low-flow toilet with a weak flush, an object stuck in the trap, or a clog in the drain past the toilet. If other drains gurgle when you flush, it is the drain line and needs a cable, not a plunger.
How much does a plumber charge to fix a running toilet in NJ?
$150 to $300 for a flapper, fill valve or handle, and $200 to $350 to rebuild everything in the tank. A new toilet installed runs $450 to $1,200.
Can I use Drano in a toilet?
No. Chemical cleaners do not dissolve paper or objects, they can crack porcelain from heat, and they make the job dangerous for whoever opens the toilet next. Use a flange plunger or a closet auger.
Need toilet repair near you?
If you searched “toilet repair near me” anywhere in New Jersey, that's us. First Call Contracting is based in Paramus and sends its own licensed crew to all 21 counties — written price before work starts, no deposit, a real person on the phone 24/7.
Still running or clogging?
Text us a photo or call. Most toilet fixes are done in one visit, with the price before we start.
Or call Alex direct: (201) 676-3099