Waywest Mechanical repairs and installs toilets in homes and businesses in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. Licensed plumbers fix running toilets, leaks at the base or tank, weak flushes, stubborn clogs and loose toilets, and install new standard, low-flow, dual-flush, comfort-height and wall-hung toilets. A leak at the base is repaired promptly because it can damage the subfloor below.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Toilet problems we repair
Running toilets. Worn flappers, failed fill valves, misadjusted floats and flush chains. A toilet that runs or refills on its own every so often is wasting water continuously.
Leaks at the base. A failed wax ring or foam seal, a cracked or corroded flange, or loose closet bolts. We pull the toilet, inspect the flange and subfloor, and reset it properly.
Leaks between tank and bowl. Worn tank-to-bowl gaskets and bolts.
Weak or incomplete flushes. Low tank water level, mineral buildup in the rim holes, or a partial clog.
Clogs that will not clear with a plunger, including objects lodged in the bowl outlet. If several fixtures are backing up together, the problem is likely further down — see drain cleaning.
Rocking toilets. A toilet that moves has almost always broken its seal. We level and secure it, and repair the flange if needed.
Supply line and shut-off valve leaks. Old braided lines and seized shut-off valves replaced.
Toilet installation
We install:
- Standard two-piece and one-piece toilets
- Low-flow and dual-flush toilets that use significantly less water per flush than older models
- Comfort-height toilets for easier use
- Wall-hung toilets with in-wall carriers and tanks — typically part of a bathroom renovation
- Bidet seats and bidet toilets, including adding an electrical outlet requirement to your plan
- Commercial and accessible toilets for businesses and multi-unit buildings
What a proper toilet installation includes
- Shut off water and remove the old toilet
- Inspect the closet flange and subfloor for damage or rot
- Repair or replace the flange if it is broken, corroded or set too low
- Install a new seal, new closet bolts and a new supply line
- Set the toilet level and secure it without cracking the base
- Replace the shut-off valve if it is old or seized
- Test flush, check for leaks and adjust the fill level
- Take away the old toilet
Skipping the flange inspection is the most common reason a new toilet starts leaking within a year.
Check the rough-in measurement before buying
Toilets are made to fit a specific distance from the finished wall to the centre of the drain — most commonly 12 inches, but 10 and 14 inch rough-ins exist in older homes. Measure from the wall (not the baseboard) to the centre of the bolts before buying a new toilet, or ask us to confirm it.
Service area
Waywest repairs and installs toilets in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan and across our Vancouver Island service area, for homes, rental properties and commercial buildings.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
Why does my toilet keep running?
A constantly running toilet is usually caused by a worn flapper that no longer seals, a fill valve that does not shut off, a float set too high so water spills into the overflow tube, or a flush chain that is too short. Most are inexpensive repairs, and fixing them can save a significant amount of water.
Is water around the base of my toilet serious?
It should be fixed soon. Water at the base usually means the wax ring seal has failed, and each flush can push water under the flooring and into the subfloor. Left alone, it rots the floor around the flange. Condensation on the tank can look similar, so check whether the floor is wet only after flushing.
Should I repair or replace my toilet?
Repair a toilet that has a failed flapper, fill valve or seal. Replace one with a cracked bowl or tank, repeated problems, or an old high-volume flush you want to reduce. Older toilets can use far more water per flush than modern low-flow models.
What is a comfort-height toilet?
A comfort-height toilet has a taller bowl, closer to chair height, which makes sitting and standing easier. It is a common choice for accessibility and aging in place, and it installs on the same drain as a standard toilet.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.