Prime Plumbing technician installing a new toilet in a Greater Boston bathroom

Woburn, MA · Residential

Toilet repair & installation for Greater Boston homes

A toilet that runs, rocks, leaks at the base, or barely flushes is a daily annoyance and, in the case of a leak, a slow source of real damage. Prime Plumbing repairs the common toilet problems and installs new toilets for homes across Woburn and Greater Boston. Call (617) 354-4545.

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Licensed & insuredRepair or replaceWoburn-based

Most toilet trouble is predictable

A toilet fails in a few common ways

A toilet is a simple machine, and knowing which failure you have helps us bring the right parts and fix the actual cause rather than swapping parts and hoping.

It runs on its own

Almost always a flapper that no longer seals or a fill valve that will not shut off, trickling water from the tank into the bowl or out the overflow. Inexpensive parts, quick repair, and a surprising amount of water saved.

It leaks at the base

The one to take seriously. Water appearing after a flush usually means a failed wax ring, and left alone it works into the subfloor and framing, turning a cheap seal into a floor or ceiling repair.

It flushes weakly or clogs

A weak flush is often a partial clog, a low tank level, or mineral buildup blocking the rim holes. Repeated clogs can mean the drain line, not the toilet, is the real problem.

The two repairs we make most

The running toilet, and the base leak

One wastes water quietly; the other quietly damages the floor. Both are straightforward when the fix matches the actual cause.

Prime Plumbing technician adjusting the flapper and fill valve inside a toilet tank in a Greater Boston home

A running toilet is a tank part that no longer seals

A toilet that runs almost always has a worn flapper that no longer seals or a fill valve that will not shut off, so water trickles continuously from the tank into the bowl or out the overflow. Both are inexpensive, quick repairs.

The reason to handle it promptly rather than living with it is the water: a running toilet quietly wastes a real amount across a month. We match the correct part to your toilet and set the water level right so it stops for good.

Worn flappers and fill valves that will not shut off
A tank water level set too high, running out the overflow
Mineral buildup blocking the rinse holes under the rim

Prime Plumbing technician setting a toilet onto a fresh wax ring over the floor flange in a Greater Boston bathroom

A base leak means the seal, and it is worth fast attention

Water around the base after a flush usually means the wax ring, the seal between the toilet and the drain flange in the floor, has failed, so water escapes under the base each time the toilet is used. Left alone, that water works into the subfloor and framing below.

The repair is straightforward: we pull the toilet, replace the wax ring, check the flange and closet bolts, and reset it properly so it does not rock, which is often what broke the seal in the first place.

A failed wax ring, not a tank problem, is the usual cause of a base leak
A rocking toilet breaks the seal over time and needs the flange and bolts addressed
A slow leak under a second-floor toilet is a common source of first-floor ceiling stains

Prime Plumbing technician inspecting a branch drain line behind a repeatedly clogging toilet in a Greater Boston home

When a clog is really a drain problem

A toilet that clogs once and clears is normal. A toilet that clogs repeatedly, or backs up while other drains gurgle, is often not a toilet problem at all but a sign the branch drain or the main line is restricted. Wipes labeled flushable are a frequent culprit because they do not break down the way paper does; so is a partial blockage further down the line that catches everything that passes.

We sort out which one you have. If it is the toilet, we fix the toilet. If the toilet is just where a larger drain problem is showing up, that is a drain cleaning job, and clearing the actual blockage is what stops the repeat backups. For a toilet that is overflowing right now, shut off the supply valve behind it and, if water is spreading, treat it as an emergency.

What to expect

What a toilet call looks like

We fix the actual problem and, when a new toilet is the better value, set it properly so it works for years.

We identify the real problem

Running, weak flush, base leak, rocking, or a repeat clog, so the fix addresses the cause and not just the symptom.

We repair it or install a new one

The correct part for a repair, or a new toilet that fits the space and rough-in when the fixture is past worth repairing.

We set it so it lasts

Level, sealed at the flange, bolted without cracking the base, and connected to a working shutoff, because a proper set is half of a toilet that works for years.

From our customers

Greater Boston on Prime

Great plumbing company! They are very responsive and quickly helped me fix my clogged sink. Tony and everyone else I talked to were very kind and professional. Highly recommend!

Sarah L. Fast, responsive repair

Great prices and good work. As plumbers go these days it is hard to find good labor that isn't doing large new builds. Rich and Rob are great at taking care of your problem for you. I've used them on rentals almost exclusively.

Nat Yong Rental property owner

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Greater Boston bathroom with a newly installed toilet set by Prime Plumbing

When a new toilet is the better answer

Sometimes replacing the toilet beats repairing it. An old toilet that clogs constantly, wastes water with every flush, is cracked, or has become impossible to find parts for is a candidate for replacement rather than another repair. Newer toilets flush more completely on far less water, which matters over the life of the fixture, and a taller comfort-height bowl is an easy upgrade for a lot of households.

We install the toilet you choose, or help you pick one that actually fits the space and the rough-in, and we set it correctly: level, sealed, bolted without cracking the base, and connected to a working shutoff. A surprising number of toilet complaints trace back to a fixture that was never installed quite right. Prime Plumbing works out of 271 Salem Street in Woburn and holds Massachusetts plumbing license 17347. To get a toilet repaired or replaced, contact us or call (617) 354-4545. For other fixtures, see our faucet & fixture repair page.

Before you call

Common toilet questions.

Telling us whether it runs, leaks, or clogs, and whether it is one toilet or several drains, helps us come prepared.

Why does my toilet keep running?

A toilet that runs on its own almost always has a worn flapper that no longer seals, or a fill valve that will not shut off, so water trickles from the tank into the bowl or out the overflow. Both are inexpensive, quick repairs. A running toilet wastes a surprising amount of water over a month, so it is worth fixing promptly rather than living with it.

There is water around the base of my toilet. What causes that?

Water at the base after a flush usually means the wax ring, the seal between the toilet and the floor drain, has failed. It is worth prompt attention because the escaping water works into the subfloor and framing, turning a cheap seal into a floor or ceiling repair. We pull the toilet, replace the seal, check the flange and bolts, and reset it so it does not rock.

Should I repair or replace my toilet?

Repair is usually right for a toilet that just needs internal parts. Replacement makes sense when it clogs constantly, wastes water, is cracked, or has parts you can no longer buy. Newer toilets flush better on less water, and comfort-height bowls are an easy upgrade. We will give you the honest call and install the replacement properly if that is the better value.

My toilet flushes weakly. Can that be fixed?

Usually. A weak flush often comes from a partial clog, a low tank water level, or mineral buildup blocking the rinse holes under the rim. Each has a specific fix. If the toilet is old and flushes weakly even after servicing, replacing it with a modern, better-flushing model is sometimes the more sensible answer, and we will tell you which applies.

My toilet clogs all the time. Why?

Occasional clogs are normal. Repeated clogs, especially with other drains gurgling, often mean the branch drain or main line is restricted rather than the toilet being at fault. Flushable wipes are a common cause because they do not break down like paper. We determine whether it is the toilet or a drain-line problem and fix the actual cause.

Can you install a toilet I bought myself?

Yes. We install customer-supplied toilets and make sure the shutoff, supply line, flange, and seal are all sound so it is level, sealed, and does not rock. Many toilet complaints come from a fixture that was never installed quite right, so a proper installation is a big part of a toilet that works for years.

Ready when you are

Toilet running, leaking, or clogging?

Tell us what it is doing. Schedule an appointment online or call our Woburn team at (617) 354-4545, and we will repair it or install a new one.

Schedule an Appointment (617) 354-4545