Maintenance and repairs
Bathroom maintenance and repairs: seals, toilets, taps and drains
Most bathroom faults can be fixed by replacing a small part for a few euros: leaking toilets with a fill or flush valve, dripping taps with a cartridge, shower doors with seals or wheels, and mouldy silicone with new silicone. On this page, you will find step-by-step guides, a regular maintenance plan, and situations when you need a professional.
Illustrative image: bright bathroom with a shower, wall-mounted toilet and sink, tools and spare parts on the shelf
You use the bathroom every day, which is why it wears out the most small parts. Seals harden, wheels wear out, silicone gets mouldy, and limescale clogs valves and taps. However, most of these faults are not a reason for renovation. You just need to know which part to replace and where to buy it.
On this page, we have summarised all our maintenance and repair guides for the bathroom. For each fault, you will find the most common cause and a link to a detailed guide. Most of them you can handle yourself; where a professional is needed, we indicate that directly in the table.
What commonly breaks in the bathroom
| Problem | Most common cause | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| WC keeps leaking | filling or flushing valve | WC keeps leaking |
| tap is dripping | worn ceramic cartridge | Dripping tap |
| weak flow from tap or shower | limescale in aerator or head | Dripping tap |
| sliding doors are sticking | dirt in the track, worn wheels | Shower cubicle wheels |
| water is leaking from under the shower door | old bottom or magnetic seal | Shower cubicle seal |
| black silicone | mould in silicone | Silicone replacement |
| water drains slowly or smells | hair and soap in the siphon, dried trap seal | Blocked drain |
| white spots on glass and profiles | limescale | Limescale in the shower cubicle |
| mould on the ceiling and in the corners | humidity and poor ventilation; for large areas, call a professional | Mould in the bathroom |
| wet wall, water in the neighbour's property | damaged waterproofing or leaking pipes – call a professional | Mould and leaking in the shower |
Step-by-step repair guides
- WC keeps leaking: filling and flushing valve – how to find out which valve is leaking, adjust the float, and replace the valve in a combined tank or behind the wall.
- Dripping tap – replacing the ceramic cartridge and head, cleaning the aerator and shower head from limescale.
- Shower cubicle wheels – upper and lower runners, eccentric and double, how to measure and replace them.
- Seal for shower cubicle and bath – bottom, magnetic, and vertical seals, glass thickness and replacement.
- Silicone replacement in the bathroom – which silicone and colour to choose, how to remove the old one and apply a new one around the bath and shower tray.
- Blocked drain in the shower, bath and sink – strainer, siphon, shower channel and drain, drain cleaners and odours.
How to turn off the water before repairs
Before you start disassembling anything, turn off the water. It will save you a wet floor and nerves.
- Corner valves – small valves on the wall under the sink and behind the toilet or inside the concealed cistern. You can turn off the water to just one device with them.
- Main shut-off valve for the flat or house – usually located near the water meter. Use it when the corner valve is missing or the valve is leaking.
- Riser in the apartment building belongs to the administrator. If you need to turn off the water for the entire entrance, contact them.
After turning off the water, open the tap or flush the toilet to let out any remaining water and relieve pressure in the pipes.
Where to find the type and code of the device
The spare part fits the first time when you know the type of device. Look for it here:
| Device | Where is the type or code |
|---|---|
| shower cubicle | installation manual, invoice, label on the profile or order from the e-shop |
| concealed toilet cistern | label inside the cistern behind the control button |
| WC combo | brand on the bowl or cistern, type in the manual |
| tap | brand on the body of the tap, type in the manual or on the invoice |
| siphon and outlet | connection size, for example, 5/4" for the sink and 6/4" for the bath |
If you don't know the type, no worries. Bring the old part or its photo to the studio TGB Kúpeľne in Senec and we will help you find a replacement.
Cleaning and prevention
The cheapest repair is the one you don't have to do. Regular cleaning and ventilation will extend the life of seals, silicone and taps:
- How to clean the shower cubicle from limescale – glass, profiles, shower tray and shower head,
- Protective treatments for shower glass – when they are worth it and how to care for such glass,
- Mould and leaks in the shower – seals, silicone and when to call a professional,
- Mould in the bathroom – causes, removal and prevention throughout the bathroom,
- Shower cubicle lifespan – what wears out and when to replace the cubicle,
- Maintenance and cleaning of the bathroom and Grouts and silicone – brief chapters from the guide Bathroom from A to Z.
Bathroom maintenance plan
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| after every shower | wipe the glass with a squeegee, leave the shower doors ajar, ventilate |
| once a week | clean the glass, profiles, taps and silicone with a mild cleaner, remove hair from the strainer |
| once a month | clean the tracks of sliding doors, bottom seal, channel and trap |
| once every few months | descale aerators and shower heads, check the toilet cistern |
| once a year | clean and lubricate the rollers and hinges, check silicone, seals and connection hoses |
With hard water and in a large household, descale more often. How to clean individual surfaces without damaging them can be found in the chapter Maintenance and cleaning of the bathroom.
What is worth having at home
- glass squeegee – the best prevention against limescale,
- adjustable wrench and screwdrivers – for siphon nuts, valves, and cartridges,
- plunger and drain cleaning spiral for a blocked drain,
- caliper – for glass thickness, wheel diameter, and cartridges,
- caulking gun and sanitary silicone in the colour of your grout,
- citric acid for descaling aerators and shower heads,
- bucket and old towels – water is involved in every repair.
Fan for the toilet and bathroom
Mould, fogged mirrors, and odours in the toilet are solved by a fan. For a separate toilet, a capacity of 25 to 50 m³/h is sufficient, for a bathroom at least 50 m³/h, preferably around 90 m³/h. In a windowless room, choose a fan with a timer or hygrometer that continues to run after the light is turned off. We describe the performance calculation, types, and quiet operation in the article Fan for the bathroom.
When to call a professional
- water in the wall or at the neighbour's – wet spots, peeling tiles, odour from a damp wall; new silicone or seals won't fix it,
- stack and main shut-off in a residential building – belong to the property manager, contact them before any intervention,
- electricity – fans, lights, sockets, and electric heating should be connected by a qualified electrician,
- gas – heater and boiler should only be handled by a qualified professional,
- cracked ceramics or glass – do not use them, sharp edges can cause injury,
- corner valve that is leaking or cannot be closed.
A bathroom that is easy to maintain
If you are planning a new bathroom, consider maintenance from the design stage:
- large format tiles – fewer joints to clean, see Large format tiles for the bathroom,
- wall-hung toilet – the floor can be easily cleaned underneath, see Wall-hung or combined toilet,
- glass with protective treatment and as few profiles as possible – fewer places for limescale,
- drain with hair strainer, which is easy to remove and clean,
- taps with ceramic cartridges and readily available spare parts,
- fan with a timer planned in the project, not just after tiling.
Bathrooms in our visualisations
Bathrooms with large format tiles, walk-in showers, and wall-hung toilets that we have prepared in the TGB studio with tiles from specific manufacturers. Click on the photo to view the entire series.
Repair or new bathroom?
Repair is worthwhile as long as parts are available and the base is sound. Consider a new bathroom if the waterproofing is compromised, tiles are peeling, the plumbing is old, or you are changing multiple fixtures at once. Bathroom renovations usually take 2 to 4 weeks. You can find the process in the article Bathroom renovation step by step, smaller changes without demolition in the article Bathroom renovation without demolition. You can see what your new bathroom will look like in advance in the free online 3D design.
Repairing toilets and bathrooms in Bratislava and surrounding areas
We do not offer a separate visit for minor repairs – replacing valves, seals, or silicone. However, we can help you choose the right part: bring the old part or a photo of it to the TGB Kúpeľne in Senec at Bratislavská 71 and we will find a replacement for you. Spare parts can also be found on vkupelni.sk in the categories Installation materials and Seals and spare parts.
We carry out installations when you are changing fixtures, such as a toilet or shower, and during complete bathroom renovations through kupelnesenec.sk. We will measure your bathroom at your home and send workers to Bratislava and surrounding districts including Trnava and Galanta.
Related: Toilet keeps leaking · Dripping tap · Shower cabin wheels · Shower cabin seal · Silicone replacement · Blocked drain · All advice and tips
Sources: our guides in the Maintenance and Repairs section and articles Fan for the bathroom (performance for toilet and bathroom), Mould in the bathroom, and Bathroom renovation step by step, manufacturer guides for shower maintenance (lubricating wheels and hinges once a year), e-shop vkupelni.sk (spare parts categories, November 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What breaks most often in the bathroom?
Leaking toilets, dripping taps, worn seals and shower door wheels, mouldy silicone and clogged drains. Most of these faults can be fixed by replacing a small part.
Can you fix my leaking toilet?
We do not offer a separate visit for minor repairs. However, we can help you choose the right valve – bring the old part or a photo of it to the studio in Senec. We can provide a new toilet with installation when replacing equipment or during a complete bathroom renovation.
Where can I buy spare parts for the bathroom?
At vkupelni.sk in the categories Installation materials (toilet valves, siphons, silicones) and Seals and spare parts (seals and shower door wheels), cartridges and aerators among taps. We can also assist you in the studio in Senec with your selection.
How often should I maintain the bathroom?
Wipe down after each shower, clean glass and taps weekly, clean tracks, drains and filters monthly, and check silicone, seals and hoses annually and lubricate wheels.
What fan for the toilet?
For a separate toilet, a performance of 25 to 50 m³/h is sufficient, ideally with a timer that runs on after the light is turned off. Details are in the article Bathroom fan.
When is it worth renovating instead of repairing?
When the waterproofing is damaged, tiles are falling off, the plumbing is old, or you are changing multiple fixtures at once. A bathroom renovation usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.
When should I call a professional?
When there is water in the wall or in the neighbour's flat, at the riser and main shut-off in the apartment building, with electricity and gas, and with cracked ceramics or glass.
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Bathroom design
These are tips. We will draw your bathroom for you.
In the 3D bathroom planner, you can design your bathroom yourself – for free and without registration. If you want assurance, we will prepare a photorealistic custom visualisation based on actual dimensions and specific tiles in the studio. It's free with a purchase.
Online design for free Custom visualisation
TGB Kúpeľne Studio · Bratislavská 71, Senec · Mon–Fri 8:00–12:00 and 12:30–17:00, Sat 9:00–12:00 · Map
