Toilet repair and replacement - how much?

Typical toilet repair and replacement works include:

• Replacing ball valve on a cistern
• Replacing a cistern and /or bowl
• Repairing a leak on the inflow (water feed ) pipe
• Repairing a leak on the outflow pipe.
  

Replacing a ball valve is a simple task as long as the water to the valve can be turned off! In many cases, particularly in hard water areas, it's just as simple to replace the entire ball valve mechanism than just the washer as the cost of the mechanism is small. If an isolating valve to turn off the water has been fitted then the handyman's work is made much easier. If not turning off the supply at the stop cock is required. Stop cocks are the culprits which can turn this simple job into something longer winded. If the stop doesn't work then that will most likely need repairing first.

• Typical recommend time - 1 hour.
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.

Replacing a cistern and / or bowl. There are two main types of cistern: loose coupled meaning there is a pipe between the cistern and the toilet bowl and close coupled, meaning the cistern sits on top of the back of the bowl. As per the ball valve replacement the water supply needs to be turned off. In addition any adjustments required to the pipe work (water in and possibly an overflow) will need to be made. So like for like pipe connections make the job faster. Close coupled cisterns will require a new 'doughnut' fitting (this is the rubber seal between the cistern and bowl). If the toilet bowel is also to be replaced then it is likely that a new outflow connection will be required as the seals on these deteriorate over time.

• Typical recommend time - cistern and bowl - 4 hours (like for like pipe work)
• Typical recommend time - cistern only - 2 hours (like for like pipe work)
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.
  

Repairing leaks on the inflow pipe may mean either tightening or replacing joints/couplings to the ball valve or replacing the valve as described above. Leaks on the outflow pipe (that's the smelly end) are more often than not caused by deteriorating seals and can mean the entire toilet needs to come out. Typically this involves disconnecting the water supply, overflow and outflow connections and getting those rusty old screws out which hold the bowl down!

• Typical recommend time - from 1 hour for an inflow pipe
• Typical recommend time - from 2 hours for an outflow pipe.
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.

Please note: these articles assumes the cistern and pipe work has not been boxed in. If there is boxing in the time taken to do the work will be impacted by the need to access the affected parts, remove boxing in and / or tiling and making good.

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