It’s probably the one appliance in your home that gets used multiple times a day, yet is typically overlooked when you talk about remodeling or upgrading. Your toilet.
The life expectancy of a toilet can vary greatly, but like everything in our homes, there comes a point in time when replacing it is the better solution. How do you know if you’ve reached that point? Here are four key indicators:
Cracks
Cracks can occur either in the tank or in the bowl. In many cases, they are hard to spot. If a crack goes unnoticed, it can quickly grow and build, releasing a flood of water in a short period of time. A simple way to determine if you have a crack is to drop a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Wait a few minutes. If the food coloring seeps into the bowl, you have a leak and it may be caused by a crack.
Age
If your home was built in the 80s or before, and the toilet has never been upgraded, you are still operating with a full flush toilet. Toilets from this era used 3.5 gallons of water or more with every flush. In 1992, the Energy Policy Act was signed into law, making 1.6 gallons per flush a maximum for all new toilets produced. With today’s technology, you can find low flow toilets at this water level and below – ever considered a dual flush toilet in your home? You may be surprised by all the options available to you.
Cost
When a toilet reaches a certain point, you may be spending more on replacement parts then you would be replacing the entire toilet. If you’ve replaced a part more than once per year, its time to look at replacing the entire unit rather than working your way through part by part.
Clogs
If you have a toilet that constantly clogs, it may be time for an upgrade. Especially with an older low flow toilet, if you find yourself consistently plunging, or flushing more than once on a regular basis, it’s a wise decision to upgrade.
If you have any questions about the toilets in your home, one of our plumbing technicians can assess their condition and give you the best options for replacement if need be.