When is the Right Time to Replace a Toilet?

While a toilet can last for decades, there are times it’s more practical to install a new model than repair your old one.

Your Toilet is Damaged or Old

Occasional minor repairs, such as replacing the flapper, are a normal part of home maintenance. On the other hand, when you have a worn flapper, fill valve seal, and flange along with a broken tank handle and flush lever, it’s probably more cost effective to replace the whole thing. Cracks in the bowl or tank are another reason for replacement. These cracks can’t be completely repaired, so they’re constantly at risk for breaking open and flooding your bathroom.

Replacement is sometimes a practical way to solve the problem of frequent clogs. Older low-flush toilets weren’t well designed and are prone to clogging. The design of newer low-flow toilets solves this problem while still using minimal water for flushing.

You Want to Make Some Improvements

Damage and performance issues aren’t the only reason to install a new toilet. If you have an older toilet, it could be using as much as 6 gallons of water per flush. New toilets use just 1.6 gallons, and low-flow, WaterSense-labeled models bring that number down to 1.28 gallons. Unlike older models, these aren’t likely to clog. By upgrading to one of these, you’ll lower your water bill and reduce your impact on the environment.

Even if your toilet is in perfect condition, it can still be uncomfortable to use if the height or bowl size and shape aren’t ideal for you. You can solve this problem by switching to a model with a more comfortable design.

Bathroom renovations are another good time to consider an upgrade. The color of your bathroom fixtures may not suit your bathroom’s new color scheme or you may want something other than the usual white or beige.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.

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