Make it safe
Shut off the fixture stop and flush to empty the tank.
All guides
Greg’s field guide
Toilets
Stop the running, clear common clogs, and choose a toilet that actually flushes.
01
First, understand the job.
Most toilet trouble is simple, visible, and fixable without turning the bathroom into a construction site.
Step by step
Do it in this order.
Find the actual problem
Identify whether the trouble is in the tank, bowl, seal, or supply.
Make the repair
Replace only the worn part; matching the old part before buying saves a second trip.
Test your work
Restore water slowly and check every connection with a dry paper towel.
One last check
Dry everything, run the fixture more than once, and look again in ten minutes. A tiny drip now becomes cabinet damage later.