Leaking & Running Toilet Cistern Repairs
Tap Doctor Plumbing & Gas, trusted since 1985
Licensed plumbers for running and leaking cisterns: inlet valves, outlet seals, flush buttons and cistern replacements. We agree a firm price before we pick up the tools, and there’s no call-out fee during business hours.
- 1Tell us what needs doing
- 2Pick a day and time that suits
- 3We confirm and send a licensed Tap Doctor plumber
- 4Job done, problem solved
- Trusted since 1985
- Fully Licensed & Insured
- No call-out fee in business hours
- Locally Based Plumbers
- ★★★★★2,000+ Google reviews
- Trusted since 1985
- Licensed plumbers, fully insured
- Cistern repairs and replacements
- Phones answered 24/7
Toilet running non-stop or leaking?
A cistern that won’t stop running wastes water around the clock, and a leak from under the cistern can soak the floor. Here’s what to do until a plumber gets there. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to do first
- Turn the water off at the small isolation valve (stop tap) on the wall behind or beside the toilet. Turn it clockwise.
- Water on the floor? Mop it up and keep the valve off. Turn it back on only to flush, then off again.
- No isolation valve, or it won’t turn? Turn the water off at the meter.
- Call 1300-655-827 or book online. Our phones are answered 24/7.
Signs your cistern needs a plumber
- Water trickling into the bowl long after a flush
- A cistern that hisses or refills on its own
- Water running into the overflow pipe
- A flush button that sticks, or a weak or half flush
- Water on the floor under the cistern
- A cracked cistern or a water bill that has jumped
After-hours call-out fees vary based on the day, time and location.
Call 24/7: 1300-655-827Leaking and running cistern repairs
Leaking and running cisterns are one of the jobs we’re called for most. These are the faults we find and fix, starting with the most common.
Inlet (fill) valve replacement
The inlet valve lets water into the cistern and should shut off when it’s full. When it wears, the cistern hisses, keeps filling or runs into the overflow. We replace the valve and set the water level so it stops where it should.
Outlet seal and outlet valve repairs
The outlet seal at the bottom of the cistern holds the water in until you flush. A worn seal lets water trickle into the bowl all day and night, so the cistern keeps topping itself up. We replace the seal, or the whole outlet valve if it’s worn.
Flush buttons and weak flushes
Buttons that stick, feel loose or do nothing, and flushes that don’t clear the bowl. We replace the worn button and linkage and check the full and half flush both work.
Leaks under the cistern
Water on the floor or down the back of the toilet usually comes from the cistern bolts and washers, the flush pipe or the connector to the pan. We find where it’s coming from and fix it before it damages the floor.
Cistern stop taps and flexi hoses More →
The isolation valve behind the toilet and the flexi hose to the cistern wear out too. A valve that drips or won’t turn off, or a bulging or rusty flexi hose, is worth replacing before it bursts.
Cistern replacement
A cracked cistern, or one that’s past repair, is replaced. We fit and connect the new cistern, check it for leaks and take the old one away.
In-wall (concealed) cisterns
We repair and service in-wall cisterns through the opening behind the flush plate, including inlet valves, outlet valves and flush plates, so the wall usually stays as it is.
The rest of the toilet More →
New toilets, leaks around the pan and other toilet repairs are on our toilet page. If the toilet is blocked rather than leaking, see blocked toilets.
Recent cistern jobs
Short videos from recent Tap Doctor toilet jobs: a cracked cistern replaced and a leak on every flush traced to the flush pipe.
Toilet dripping non-stop: cracked cistern replacedAtwell
Toilet leaking every flush: flush pipe cut too shortShelley
Is your cistern leaking? A quick check
A slow leak into the bowl is easy to miss, but it runs day and night and shows up on your water bill. This takes half an hour and costs nothing.
1. Colour the cistern water
Lift the cistern lid (or flush plate on an in-wall cistern) and add a few drops of food colouring to the water in the cistern, not the bowl.
2. Wait without flushing
Leave it for 20 to 30 minutes and don’t use the toilet in that time.
3. Check the bowl
Colour in the bowl means the outlet seal is leaking. Water running into the overflow pipe in the cistern points to the inlet valve.
Still not sure?
If your water bill has jumped and the cistern looks fine, the leak may be somewhere else. See leak detection.
Why people call Tap Doctor for cistern repairs
A running toilet is a small job that’s easy to put off. We make it easy to get fixed. This is how we handle every job.
Licensed plumbers
Every job is done by a licensed plumber, and Tap Doctor is fully licensed and insured.
A firm price before any work starts
Your plumber finds the cause, explains what’s needed and gives you a firm price. Nothing starts until you agree.
No call-out fee in business hours
You don’t pay for us to turn up and look. If you decide not to go ahead, you owe nothing during business hours.
We call ahead and arrive on time
We confirm your booking, then call before we arrive so you’re not waiting at home all day.
Repair or replace, your choice
If new valves and seals will do, we say so. If the cistern is past fixing, we explain the options so you can decide.
Pay when the job is done
Cash, card or Osko bank transfer, collected when the work is finished.
How pricing works
What a cistern repair costs depends on what’s worn. A running cistern might need one new valve, while a cracked cistern needs replacing, so instead of guessing over the phone a licensed plumber looks first and agrees a firm price with you on site before any work starts.
No call-out fee in business hours
You only pay for the work you agree to, and there’s no obligation to go ahead. After-hours call-out fees vary based on the day, time and location.
Firm price agreed on site
The price is agreed before we start. If we find something else that needs doing, we quote it before any further work is done.
How you can pay
Cash, credit card or debit card, or bank transfer with Osko for an instant payment. Payment is collected when the job is done.
How to choose a plumber for a leaking cistern
Whoever you call, these are the checks worth making. Here’s how we measure up against each one.
What customers say about our cistern repairs
“Rang at 8.00 am Monday morning and by 10.00 am the same morning my problem with a running cistern was fixed.”
“The plumber, Paris, was efficient and polite. He explained how the situation was to be handled and repairs done to the toilet cistern and the cost. The work was carried out effectively and the area left clean and tidy.”
“Latest was slow leak in toilet cistern, two options chose to replace and done within hour or so. Good job as always”
“The leaking tap to the toilet cistern was replaced as required and fixed the issue immediately.”
“Needed a cistern replacement and was able to do the job well. … Was given a quote and explained everything before starting the job then cleaned up as well.”
“We had a disaster over the weekend when a small drip from the toilet cistern turned into a flood. Joshua from Tap Doctor came to the rescue and quickly installed a new cistern. He was thorough, knowledgeable and left the premises clean.”
Local plumbers, since 1985
Tap Doctor Plumbing & Gas has been fixing toilets, taps and leaks since 1985. Our plumbers live and work in the areas they cover, so there’s usually someone close by, and our phones are answered 24/7.
Customers mention our plumbers by name in their reviews, from Paris and Joshua to Reece and Chris.
- Perth
- Plumbers in Perth →
- Mandurah
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- Canberra
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- Gladstone
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- Phone
- 1300-655-827, 24/7
Leaking cistern FAQs
Why does my toilet keep running?
Almost always one of two parts. Either the inlet (fill) valve isn’t shutting off when the cistern is full, so water keeps running into the overflow, or the outlet seal at the bottom of the cistern has worn and water trickles into the bowl, so the cistern keeps topping itself up. Both are common repairs.
How can I tell if my cistern is leaking into the bowl?
Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern (not the bowl) and don’t flush for 20 to 30 minutes. If colour shows up in the bowl, the outlet seal is letting water through. You may also see a constant ripple or a wet streak down the back of the bowl.
Why does my cistern hiss or keep refilling on its own?
Hissing usually means the inlet valve is letting water in when it shouldn’t. A cistern that refills every so often without anyone flushing usually has a leaking outlet seal. Either way it’s wasting water and is worth fixing.
My flush button is stuck or doesn’t flush properly. Can you fix it?
Yes. Sticking, loose or broken flush buttons and weak or half flushes are usually a worn button, linkage or outlet valve. We replace the worn parts so the cistern flushes properly again.
Should I repair or replace my cistern?
If the cistern itself is sound, worn valves, seals and buttons can usually be replaced. A cracked cistern, one that keeps leaking after repairs, or an old cistern where parts are hard to get is usually better replaced. Your plumber explains both options, with a price for each, before you decide.
Can you fix an in-wall (concealed) cistern?
Yes. Most in-wall cisterns are serviced through the opening behind the flush plate, so the wall usually doesn’t need to come apart.
How do I turn the water off to my toilet?
Most toilets have a small isolation valve (stop tap) on the wall behind or beside the cistern. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If there isn’t one, or it won’t turn, turn the water off at the meter, then call us on 1300-655-827.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
Cistern problems are hard to price without seeing them, so we don’t guess. A licensed plumber looks at the job and gives you a firm price before any work starts, with no call-out fee during business hours and no obligation.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
Not during business hours. You only pay for the work you agree to. After-hours call-out fees vary based on the day, time and location.
Are your plumbers licensed and insured?
Yes. Every job is done by a licensed plumber, and Tap Doctor is fully licensed and insured.
Toilet still running?
Book online in under 2 minutes, or call us any time.