Toilets, faucets & fixtures in St. Paul, MN

Running toilets and leaky faucets

Small leaks add up. The EPA’s WaterSense program estimates that a faucet dripping about once a second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. A toilet that runs or refills on its own is often leaking through a worn flapper.

To check a toilet, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait about 10 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means a leak. We replace worn flappers, fill valves, cartridges and washers, and replace the fixture when a repair no longer makes sense.

Water-saving fixtures

Fixtures with the EPA WaterSense label are independently certified to use less water while still performing well. WaterSense toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, compared with up to 6 gallons in some older models. WaterSense showerheads use no more than 2.0 gallons per minute, and WaterSense bathroom faucets no more than 1.5 gallons per minute.

Using less hot water at the shower and sink also means your water heater works less. If you are planning a water heater replacement, it is a good time to look at fixtures too.

Disposals, shower valves and more

We repair and replace garbage disposals that hum, leak or will not turn on. Many disposals plug into an outlet under the sink, and a new one may need an outlet or circuit that our electricians can add.

We also repair and replace shower and tub valves that drip, will not shut off or swing between hot and cold, along with kitchen and bathroom faucets, sinks and supply lines.

Outdoor faucets and Minnesota winters

An outdoor faucet, or hose bibb, can freeze and split in a Minnesota winter. Before the first hard freeze, disconnect and drain your garden hoses. If your outdoor faucet has an indoor shutoff, close it and open the outdoor faucet so leftover water can drain.

A frost-free sillcock places the shutoff valve inside the heated part of the house, so the water stops before it reaches the cold outside wall. It only works if the hose is removed so the line can drain. If an outdoor faucet leaks inside the wall when you first use it in spring, it may have frozen and cracked. Shut it off and call us.

Signs a fixture needs attention

A toilet that runs, refills on its own or rocks on the floor
A faucet or showerhead that drips after it is shut off
A shower that will not hold a steady temperature
A garbage disposal that hums, leaks or will not start
Water under the sink or around the base of the toilet
An outdoor faucet that leaks inside the wall in spring

Common questions

Why does my toilet keep running?

The most common cause is a worn flapper that lets water leak from the tank into the bowl. A faulty fill valve or float can also cause it. Try the food coloring test, and call us if the bowl changes color.

Do water-saving toilets work well?

Toilets with the EPA WaterSense label must pass independent testing for flushing performance as well as water use. They use 1.28 gallons per flush or less.

How do I protect my outdoor faucet in winter?

Disconnect and drain the hose before the first hard freeze. If there is an indoor shutoff, close it and open the outdoor faucet to drain it. A frost-free sillcock helps, but only with the hose removed.

Is a dripping faucet worth fixing?

Yes. The EPA estimates a faucet dripping once a second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. Most drips come from a worn cartridge, washer or seal that can be replaced.