How Do You Know When It’s Time to Replace a Toilet?
It can be fun to make changes to your home, whether it’s for function, convenience, or style. But when was the last time you upgraded your toilet? We think you’d be hard pressed to find a more essential fixture in your home.
Toilets are durable but they don’t last forever. In this article, we’ll explain how you can tell it’s time to replace an old toilet.
How long does a toilet last?
Unlike some other fixtures and appliances in your home like a water heater or furnace, there’s no standard service life of a toilet. In fact, a quality toilet can be functional for decades. That being said, there will be wear and tear over time that will reduce its performance and convenience.
Signs that a toilet should be replace
1. Small repairs are adding up
While the porcelain construction is typically very durable, some of the smaller parts of a toilet are not. Handles can break. Rubber seals inside the tank can wear down and start to leak. Many of these parts are inexpensive and easy to fix. But when you start adding up the time and money it takes to keep an old toilet running, you might decide it’s a better choice to install a brand new one instead.
2. It clogs all the time
3. Older low-flow toilets, especially those made before 1994, conserve water but aren’t always effective at flushing contents through the trap. This can lead to frequent clogs. If you’re tired of plunging, you’ll be happy to know that newer low-flow toilets have better designs and performance.
4. The tank or bowl has a crack
A cracked toilet is a disaster waiting to happen. Even if it’s a small crack in the tank or bowl, water can leak out on to your floors. Plus, if you ignore the issue, that crack can eventually break completely, causing a giant mess in your home. If you notice a crack, the smart move is to replace the toilet as soon as possible.
5. It’s using too much water
Reducing your water use is good for the environment and can save you money. Older toilets may use 3 to 5 gallons of water per flush. Compare that to newer models that can use less than 2 gallons, and the improvement is quite obvious and will add up quickly.
6. It’s too hard to clean
As we mentioned before, porcelain is a sturdy material. However, the surface can get scratched, which makes it harder to clean. Not only will an older, worn-out toilet take up more time scrubbing but bacteria can still hide in those scratches. Replacing the toilet with a new one will make your life easy and can reduce health risks.
Replacing a toilet may not be as exciting as some other home upgrades but it can be a necessary decision for you and your family. If you have an old toilet that’s ready for retirement, call Liberty Plumbing for dependable installation. We’re committed to making your experience as stress-free as possible. Call us today at (951) 760-4215.
