As homeowners, we are often faced with the decision of whether to repair or replace a problematic appliance. Often times, the decision comes down to what makes the most financial sense. But with appliances like toilets, you must also consider things like efficiency and appearance. We want to help you out with your next decision of whether or not to replace a toilet, so take a look at the four reasons below when a replacement is likely the best option.
4 reasons you might want to replace your toilet
- 1. You have old and/or inefficient toilets. Before 1994, toilets had to meet a federal efficiency requirement of 3.4 gallons per flush (gpf). Any toilet that was made from 1994 to today is required to meet a new efficiency standard of 1.6 gpf. The EPA estimates that you can cut your home’s water consumption from toilets by 20-60 percent by replacing pre-1994 toilets with toilets that were made to meet the new efficiency requirements. On average, this can save you about $110 per year from water savings! If you want to take your water savings a step further, you should also consider installing a dual flush toilet.
- 2. Your toilet requires expensive repairs. A small repair to your toilet here and there might not justify completely replacing it. But if you have issues with multiple components of your toilet or you’re facing an expensive repair, it might make more sense financially to just install a new toilet. This is especially true if your current toilet is old or inefficient as we described above. Compare the costs of repairs with the costs of installing a new toilet and decide which one makes more sense in the long run.
- 3. Your toilet is cracked or leaking. A leaky toilet can be very problematic. Not only can a toilet leak potentially damage your flooring and lead to major repairs, but even a small leak can add up to a huge amount of wasted water over time. Many toilet leaks can be fixed, but the cost of that repair might outweigh the cost of replacing your toilet. Just as we mentioned in the point above, you’ll want to compare the cost of repairs with the costs of a new toilet. No matter which route you choose to go, make sure to take care of the leak as soon as possible before it develops into a bigger problem down the line.
- 4. You’re remodeling your bathroom. New toilets are often included in plans for remodeling bathrooms. That’s because the décor of your bathroom is changing and your current toilet might not match well with the new look of the room. If your bathroom remodel includes new flooring, you’re going to have to uninstall your current toilet anyway so it’s the perfect time to install a new toilet if you need one.
If you have any questions about the right time to replace your toilet, or if you’d like a plumbing system serviced or installed in your home, contact Cabrillo, your Bay Area plumbing, heating and cooling company.