In Alexandria a running, leaking or clogged toilet can usually be fixed by replacing one worn part, such as the flapper, fill valve, wax ring or shutoff. A cracked tank or bowl, or a fixture that keeps clogging, is the usual case for a new toilet. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alexandria.
Toilets and local conditions in Alexandria
Inside city limits, Virginia American Water supplies water it buys from Fairfax Water, drawn from the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir. Its annual report puts total hardness between 78 and 191 ppm, and the water is disinfected with chloramine, with a temporary change to free chlorine during Fairfax Water's spring flushing from about April to June. Hardness in that range leaves deposits on fill valves and in the rim holes that rinse the bowl, which is one reason flushes get weaker with age.
The City owns the sanitary sewers, AlexRenew treats the wastewater, and part of Old Town is on a combined sewer system. The typical home in the city dates to 1974, and Old Town's 18th-century core and older neighborhoods like Del Ray hold houses far older than that. Toilets in those homes may sit on a flange that has seen several replacements, or on a floor that has shifted. Note that Alexandria mailing addresses in ZIPs such as 22306 through 22312 and 22315 are largely in Fairfax County, where Fairfax Water and the County handle water, sewer and permits.
Repair or replace?
| Problem | Usually a repair | Consider a new toilet when |
|---|---|---|
| Tank keeps running | New flapper or fill valve | The flush valve itself is cracked or parts are no longer sold |
| Water at the base | New wax ring, bolts and flange repair | The bowl's foot or the porcelain is cracked |
| Frequent clogs | Clear the trapway, check the line | An older low-flow design never flushed well |
| Weak flush | Clean rim holes and jet, adjust water level | Scale has choked the passages inside the china |
Signs to watch for
- A trickle running down the inside of the bowl long after a flush
- Stained or loose grout around the base
- A toilet that shifts when you sit
- Bubbling in the bowl when a tub or the washer drains
- Rust or green crust on the shutoff valve
Timing and seasonal notes
Heavy summer storms are the time to watch the lowest toilet in the house, especially in older parts of town where sewer lines carry more than wastewater. If water rises in a basement toilet during a downpour, stop using the plumbing and call. Humid summer days also make tanks sweat, which can leave a puddle that looks like a leak. In winter, a toilet against an outside wall in an older house can be a sign of a cold spot worth fixing before pipes freeze.
Toilet Repair questions in Alexandria
The toilet and the basement floor drain backed up together. Who do I call?
Do I need a permit to replace a toilet?
Does the hardness of the local water wear out toilet parts?
When does a new toilet make more sense than a repair?
More plumbing services in Alexandria
Toilet Repair nearby
Sources
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