You use your toilet daily, and if it’s been giving you issues, you might be wondering whether you should rebuild or replace it once and for all. While rebuilding your toilet might seem like the right solution at first glance (it’s less costly, at least for the short-term), a toilet replacement is usually a better option. Why, you might ask? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s blog post!
Obviously, a dysfunctional toilet is never fun to deal with. It puts a strain on your entire household, and can cause problems with the plumbing system within your entire property as well. There are a lot of signs that may indicate that you need to consider a toilet replacement, such as frequent clogging issues, or excessive water usage. We’ll be talking more about these signs below, and why replacing your toilet is ultimately going to save you money in the long run — especially in comparison to the money you’d probably spend rebuilding it over and over again. Let’s get started, shall we?
You’ll Save Water
If your toilet is more than 25 years old, it might not have been updated to comply with the most recent Energy Policy Act, which required toilets to flush while using less water. Of course, a toilet lasting over several decades isn’t all that remarkable. Compared to the options available today, though, an older toilet would require a lot more water to flush and function properly. This means that you are probably spending more money on water than you need to if you still have an older toilet. For this reason, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by replacing your old toilet rather than rebuilding it.
Reduces the Risk of Flooding
Flooding is the worst — especially when your toilet is the culprit of the flooding. Older toilets are a lot more likely to develop cracks and leaks, both of which can cause flooding to happen. In this way, your old toilet is very much like a ticking time bomb. It may not have sprung a leak yet, but it’s only a matter of time before the daily wear and tear gets to be too much for it. If you try to rebuild your toilet rather than simply have a plumber in Montgomery County, PA, replace it, you could potentially end up with an expensive (and frankly, gross) mess on your hands.
Plumbing Emergency Prevention
It can be awfully hard on your toilet’s pipes and fixtures when you’re consistently plunging it due to its seemingly endless clogs and blockages. Leaks aren’t the only plumbing problem you have to worry about (though, they’re certainly an issue). If a clog becomes too serious, for example, you could end up having to replace your home’s pipes — or even hire a plumber after hours for an emergency drain cleaning. Thankfully, both of these situations are avoidable. All you have to do is replace your malfunctioning toilet, and have a toilet plumber perform yearly repairs if necessary.
Adds Value to Your Home
The toilet itself is typically one of the final upgrades people think about making when redesigning their bathroom. Did you know that you could potentially save money and increase your return on your investment by including a new toilet in your next bathroom renovation? Think about it! Your new toilet will last for decades, and save you a lot of money on water, too (i.e. you won’t have to deal with the excess costs that often accompany leaks). If you’ve done a lot of bathroom renovations but have yet to replace your toilet, it may be time to consider doing so — and not just because it’ll add value to your home.
Some Signs You May Need to Replace Your Toilet
Even with frequent usage (i.e. perhaps you have a big family), the majority of toilets will last 10 to 15 years on average. Depending on the toilet type and the amount of use (and abuse) it receives over time, your toilet’s lifespan could potentially fluctuate. Usually, your toilet will start to give you warning signs that it’s almost time to replace it. The last thing you want is for your toilet to break down in the middle of the night when you have your extended family members over for Thanksgiving or Christmas, so keep an eye out for the following signs:
Cracks in the Toilet Bowl or Tank
If you start noticing cracks forming in the bowl or tank of your toilet, it would probably be wise to invest in a replacement. Oftentimes, even a small crack will cause leaks to form, which could potentially harm your bathroom floor. For this reason, you should consider replacing your toilet if there are visible cracks anywhere on it, and water has been accumulating around the base. Don’t worry! A toilet plumber should be able to help you deal with this issue fairly quickly.
Problems With Flushing
Have you noticed that your toilet frequently clogs or overflows, or that it doesn’t flush properly? If so, you might want to consider replacing it. Low water levels in your toilet might be the consequence of a blocked pipe or old toilet parts. Remember, if you’re not exactly sure what’s going on, you can always have a plumber come by to check things out. That’s what they’re there for, after all!
Chronic Problems
If you’ve been calling your plumber every other week to come and fix yet another issue with your toilet, that’s probably a good indication that it’s time to ditch the old porcelain throne and buy a new one.
Again, you’ll likely save money by purchasing a new toilet rather than having to pay for multiple toilet repairs. There are actually some fairly inexpensive toilet models out there, so you won’t necessarily have to break the bank. If you’re thinking about getting a toilet replacement, we’d encourage you to reach out to Legendess Plumbing today to schedule a consultation.