How to know if your toilet needs an upgrade
Knowing when it’s time to replace your toilet is probably not something everyone is sure of, but it is a very important bit of information to have. Toilets are underappreciated fixtures in your home, yet one of the most important seats in the house.
Here are the tell-tale signs it is time to replace your toilet and enlist plumbing services!
Your toilet is more than two decades old
You might hear people say things like “they just don’t make things like that anymore” which can be a positive or a negative. Regardless if your toilet is fully functional or not, if it’s more than 20 years old, chances are it isn’t as efficient as it should be.
Toilet technology has evolved significantly over time. The most important change was enacted back in the 90’s, reducing the amount of water that is held in a toilet tank to 1.6 gallons or less per flush. Toilet tanks manufactured before that could use upwards of 5 gallons.
By upgrading your toilet you could actually save yourself some money on your future water bills and help the environment out a bit in the process.
If you’ve sprung a leak
Sometimes a crack in the toilet tank can cause puddling under the toilet itself, but oftentimes leaks can go unnoticed for a while. If you notice water on the floor around the toilet, water damage on the wood around the toilet, or a significant increase in your monthly water bill – you might have a leak.
Sometimes these issues can be repaired by a plumber, but depending on the severity of the issue and how long it has gone unnoticed, a replacement or pipe service might be necessary.
If you notice a crack in your toilet tank, or a leak of any kind that you can’t stop on your own, be sure to enlist the help of a plumber who can tell you whether it is worth repairing or if you should consider replacing the toilet completely.
You’ve got a running toilet
Have you ever been sitting on your couch thinking “how long ago did I flush that toilet”? Only to realize that it was hours ago and the toilet is still running. This shouldn’t be something you ignore – because it could turn into a much larger problem quickly.
The cause of the running toilet is usually when the flapper valve doesn’t seal. Jiggling the handle on the toilet tank or the valve can sometimes temporarily stop the running water. Typically this issue can be resolved by replacing the flapper, but if that doesn’t work, it could mean there is a bigger problem at play.
Be sure to consult a plumber to help if the problem persists and they can tell you if the toilet needs to be replaced or not.
You find yourself having to grab the plunger more than you’d like
We’ve all been there. You flush the toilet and you see the water just keep rising and you hold your breath (for more than one reason). Sometimes it’s our fault that a toilet gets clogged, but sometimes old or damaged toilets could be the culprit.
If your toilet requires multiple flushes, or clogs for no apparent reason regularly be sure to enlist the help of a plumber. They will be able to inspect the toilet and determine if it is repairable or not.
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Now that you are an expert on all things toilet related, be sure to keep a close eye on your thrones. If any of the above issues arise be sure to contact us to schedule a visit immediately so we can assess if your toilet can be repaired or needs to be replaced.