Is it Time to Replace Your Toilet?

Toilets are some of the most essential pieces of hardware in our home. But just when should you replace them? This guide lists a few signs that it could be time to replace your toilet. 

Your toilet is over 25 years old

Toilets have come a long way in the last 25 years. If your toilet is older than 25 years, it probably looks dated. This is also the age when most toilets start to encounter regular plumbing problems. While it’s true that there are still some toilets in action around the world that are over 100 years old, these tend to be pieces of history that are deliberately preserved. A toilet from the turn of the millennium is generally not worth preserving unless it’s very unusual in style. 

It’s the wrong colour/shape

From the 1950s to the 1970s, it became popular to install coloured bathroom suites. Such fixtures are much rarer now, but there are still some homes with pastel pink and olive green toilets installed. Such fixtures are not to everyone’s taste and can often devalue a property. If you’ve got one of these fixtures and you don’t like it/want to add value, consider replacing it with a white toilet. Similarly, toilets come in different shapes. Elongated oval shapes are often regarded as the most comfortable, but some people prefer round bowls (which tend to also take up less space). Consider if the shape of your toilet is right for you. 

There’s a lot of wear and tear

Toilets can start to develop visible signs of wear and tear over time. This includes scratched/chipped bases, corroded flush handles and stained/scaled bowls. While this wear and tear may not affect the function of the toilet, it doesn’t look nice and cannot always be easily repaired. Therefore, this could be a good sign that your toilet needs replacing. If other bathroom fixtures are equally worn, you may even want to look into new bathroom suites. In some cases, you may even be able to save money by buying matching fixtures together, allowing you to affordably replace all your worn bathroom fixtures at the same time. 

You keep having to call out the plumber

Constant leaks, blockages or flushing issues are not a good sign. You could quickly end up spending hundreds on repairs. This could all be money literally down the drain – especially considering that you can buy a decent toilet for less than £300. If you’ve been encountering frequent problems, start looking into replacements and save yourself some money.

You’re using too much water

Toilets use more water than any other hardware in your home. In fact, in the average home, toilet flushing makes up 30% of all water consumption. Modern toilets are much more economical than older toilets. Many have dual flush options, allowing you to use a lighter flush for liquids. Consider upgrading to one of these toilets if you don’t already have one and you want to reduce your water bill.

This is a collaborative post.