Time For a New Toilet? Here’s How To Tell.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the toilet is an essential fixture inside your home. We are long past the days of using out-houses, and we don’t know any families that want to choose that option for their home. Because you rely on your toilet multiple times a day and it is usually reliable, it is easy to assume that your toilet will last forever. However, just like everything else – toilets have a lifespan. It is very beneficial to you (and those you share your home with) to recognize the warning signs that it’s time for a new toilet. Knowing when to replace this necessary fixture will help prevent a very unpleasant surprise in the future.

If you stop and think about how often your toilets are used every day in your home, you may be surprised by the heavy workout they get on a daily basis. On average, a person who is home all day long will flush the toilet five times a day. Multiply that daily average, per person, times 365 — that’s a lot of usage over a single year. While most toilets can last up to 50 years under standard conditions, many families are seeing an influx in the use of their toilets.

Changing lifestyles have put more strain on toilets. With many adults working from home and children doing school virtually, there is a greater demand and more wear-and-tear on a home’s toilets. A larger family, with two parents and three or more children, can expect to replace at least one toilet in their house sooner than the half-century mark with typical “pre-COVID” usage. With the increased demands of being home more, toilets may have an even shorter lifespan for larger families.

Knowing whether your toilet is at the end of its life is not all that difficult. A toilet is a relatively uncomplicated fixture, so these are the basic things to look out for:

• Cracks in the tank
• Toilet leaking
• Toilet clogging frequently
• Toilet needs to be repaired frequently
• Toilet was installed before 1994 and is not water-efficient

At Absolute Best Plumbing, we can handle any plumbing emergency. We always prefer to help people keep their fixtures and pipes in good working order to avoid expensive repairs and unsanitary messes. Call us with any of your plumbing concerns.