How long do toilets last? Toilets are built to withstand the test of time, and sometimes they do, but when is it time to replace a toilet? We all know or have seen that old toilet that still flushes every time. However, every toilet’s lifespan will come to a time when it must be replaced. You may need to replace your toilet, but there will also be quite a few reasons you may be able to repair it instead. We will cover many scenarios, discuss whether you should replace or repair them, and give examples. You may contact plumbing professionals to help you with this issue.
Do toilets go bad?
Depending on where you look on the internet, people may tell you that a toilet should be changed after 15 years or 25 years, or they may mention that they have a 50 or 100-year-old toilet. But how long do toilets last? The truth is that the toilet itself is an exceptionally durable item. A toilet lifespan can be incredibly long, but there are many reasons that you may want to replace it before then.
The base of the toilet, the part you see, may last a long time, but there are many components that you do not see that will not last that long. Everything from the wax ring to the flush handle and everything in between has a much lower life span than the toilet itself.
Why should you repair your toilet?
To start, there are a lot of affordable components that make up the functional components of your toilet. Things like the fill valve, flapper, wax ring, and handle are easily changeable. None of these items are costly on their own, but if they are not something that you can replace yourself, you will need to call a professional, and that cost can quickly outweigh the price of a new toilet.
When to replace a toilet?
Repairs: The first reason that we will discuss is if there have been too many of the repairs previously listed. If it has gotten to the point that you constantly must replace components, then it may be time to replace the entire toilet. If you want to read about some more repairs, such as how to fix a weak flushing toilet, then check out this article.
Cost: If the toilet repair cost is more than or close to the cost of having a new toilet installed. For example, if the seal between the toilet and the floor, the wax seal, is leaking, then the professional will have to pull your toilet to repair it. At that point, it may be worth considering just having it replaced with a new one.
Efficiency: If your toilet was produced before 1994, you might want it installed for efficiency. According to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, bathrooms installed after 1994 must be limited to a flush volume of 1.6 gallons. The toilets manufactured previously were flushing around 3 to 5 gallons per flush.
Your old toilet would use twice as much water per flush or more. Installing a new toilet could save you a decent amount of money per month simply by having a more efficient toilet flush. Depending on which new toilet you pick, some have a #1 flush with less water and a #2 flush with a little more water. But that means that you would have the opportunity to use even less water.
Damage: Your toilet has sustained some damage. Whether it affects the performance of your toilet or not, you do not want to have a damaged toilet. It could range from a broken tank lid, a cracked tank, or a cracked base. These are all excellent reasons to have a brand-new toilet put in your bathroom.
Appearance: This may be as simple as just wanting a better, newer-looking toilet. Or it could mean that you have a home from the age of matching-colored sinks, bathtubs, and toilets. If that is the case, you are ready to enter the 21st century and get a new white toilet instead of the oddly colored model.
Performance: We talked about how the newer toilets could save you money by flushing with less water, but the newer toilets have more to offer than that. There have been advances in the ergonomics of toilet seats that will make them more comfortable. The height of some toilets has changed, some of which even boast that they can help prevent colon cancer. Of course, we will consider that you may want a bidet. A thing that was a dream back when your toilet may have been installed could be in your bathroom beckoning in the future of toilets.
Other problems: There are plenty of reasons you may want to replace your toilet. If your toilet is wobbly, that may be an excellent time to have a professional plumber replace it and install the new one correctly. If it is constantly running, it could cause a high electric bill, or it may be leaking water out from under it. You can read more about the issue of a broken toilet flange here. Even something like having a round seat may be enough for you to want to replace it. Round seats were quite common on the older models, but more people opt for elongated toilet seats today.
Final thoughts
Although your toilet may be able to last for half a century or more, you should not ask it to. If your toilet is already at this point, it may be time for you to consider a new one. As we have listed above, the benefits range from money saved to more comfortable sitting.
If you go to your local big-box hardware store, you will see how far toilets have come and how many options you must choose for your next toilet. Call a professional today and have them consult you on getting you a new toilet before something goes wrong.
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