Toilet Repair in Montgomery Village, MD

Why do toilets in Montgomery Village homes leak at the floor?

Kettler Brothers began this planned community in the late 1960s, and the 1970s were its biggest building decade; roughly half the homes in the 20886 ZIP code predate 1980. Many toilets in those townhouses and single-family homes have been replaced at least once, often on the original flange. Over time that flange can crack, corrode or end up lower than a newer floor, and the wax ring can no longer seal tightly. The result is water seeping out under the bowl, a stain on the ceiling below, or a toilet that rocks. A plumber lifts the toilet, inspects the flange and repairs or replaces it before setting the bowl on a new seal.

Who handles a sewer backup here, the utility or the homeowner?

Montgomery Village is an unincorporated community, and homes use Gaithersburg mailing addresses, but water and sewer service comes from WSSC Water. If sewage is coming up outside or from several drains at once, call WSSC Water's emergency line at 301-206-4002. If only one toilet is clogged and the rest of the house drains normally, the blockage is in your plumbing and a plumber is the one to call. The Montgomery Village Foundation is a homeowners association, not a utility, though your own neighborhood association may have rules for work in shared buildings.

Is it worth fixing an old toilet or should I replace it?

A toilet from the 1970s or early 1990s that only needs a flapper or fill valve is usually worth repairing. Replacement makes more sense if the porcelain is cracked, if it's an early low-flow model that clogs constantly, or if parts are hard to find. Plumbing work in Montgomery County, including toilet replacements that need a permit, goes through WSSC Water Permit Services, and most of it must be done by a plumber registered with WSSC. If the shutoff valve behind the toilet is original, it's a good time to replace it too, since old multi-turn valves often won't close when you need them.

One local note

In attached townhouses, a leak at a toilet base can show up in a neighbor's ceiling or a shared wall before it shows in your bathroom. If someone next door mentions a stain, check your toilets with a few drops of food coloring in each tank and look around every base.