A toilet is likely one of those plumbing fixtures that you don’t give a whole lot of thought to until it acts up. If you’re noticing any of the signs that we’re going to go over below, it’s a key indication that it’s time to replace your existing toilet with a new one.

1. It’s Cracked

One of the most obvious signs that you need to upgrade your toilet is it has a crack in it. Toilets are made of porcelain and are susceptible to cracking under severe force. Whenever a crack develops in your toilet, it’s virtually impossible to repair it. It will need to be replaced with a whole new toilet.

2. It’s Outdated

Another reason that you may want to consider a toilet replacement is that it’s just getting up there in age. While toilets can last up to 50 years with proper care, most homeowners choose to replace their toilets more often to prevent any major issues from occurring. If your toilet is over 25 years old, you may want to consider a replacement.

3. Renovation

Home renovations are becoming common as homeowners upgrade outdated homes to include more convenient and modern features. If you’re going to be doing a renovation of your bathroom, it only makes sense to upgrade the fixtures in it. Plus, you’ll be able to save a bundle on labor costs by choosing to do a replacement when your old toilet is already going to be removed for the renovation process.

4. You Want a New Look

If you don’t want to spend the money to upgrade your entire bathroom, one feature you may want to focus on is your toilet. This holds especially true if your toilet has an outdated style. It’s also very common for those who have a round toilet to upgrade to a more elongated oval toilet. These tend to be more comfortable and have better aesthetic appeal than their round counterparts.

5. Outdated Internals

One reason that you may want to consider upgrading your old toilet is that you’re dealing with frequent repair issues due to outdated internal components. It isn’t uncommon for older toilets to have unique style fill valves that aren’t as readily available now as they were when they were new. Unfortunately, some of those older internal toilet parts can’t be retrofitted with newer more widely available parts. You’ll likely find that upgrading your toilet can be less costly than trying to track down outdated components that are scarce and expensive to obtain.

6. Better Energy Efficiency

Toilets produced before 1994 use significantly more water than newer toilets. In fact, the Energy Policy Act signed in 1992 by President Bush mandated that all toilets produced only use a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush. If your toilet was produced before 1994, it’s best to consider an upgrade to help lower your water bills. Newer toilets are even available with low-flow systems that use significantly less water than modern toilets to further reduce your annual water bills.

7. More Convenient Height

The typical toilet has a height of around 14.5 inches. This is measured from the floor’s surface to the top of the toilet bowl. Over the years, toilet manufacturers have been starting to offer taller toilets to add more convenience for consumers. You can now find toilets with a height of 18 to 19 inches, which are considered comfort heights.

This is because you have to bend over less to physically use the toilet as compared to other standard toilet models. If you want to enjoy the convenience of a comfort height toilet, then you’ll need to upgrade from your older toilet version.

8. Constant Clogging

Experiencing a clog here and there with your toilet isn’t uncommon. However, if you start to experience more frequent clogging, it’s a cause for concern. This typically means that the internal components of your toilet are starting to show excessive wear and tear. This causes less of a flushing action, which allows more clogging to occur. Upgrading to a new toilet can be a great option to help take advantage of better flushing capabilities and drastically reduce the occurrence of toilet clogs.

9. Excessive Tank Staining

Because toilets contain a tank where they house water around the clock, they have a very high risk of developing water stains. These stains are the result of mineral deposits in the water that adhere to the surface of the tank. If you don’t keep up with regular cleaning of the internal tank, these deposits can solidify and permanently disorient your toilet tank. This can lead to issues with the tank’s flapper and other parts. Replacing an excessively stained toilet tank can be a great way to reduce your risk of experiencing a leak in your toilet.

Things to Consider When Selecting a New Toilet

Once you make the decision that it’s time to get rid of your old toilet, there are many factors that you need to consider when selecting a new one. One of the most obvious is going to be the color of the toilet. White, cream, beige, tan, jade, peach, and blue are some of the most popular choices. However, modern toilets are available in such a wide variety of hues that you can get everything from black to stainless steel and even gold. You’ll also want to be mindful of the color of the flush handle and other toilet features.

Another thing that you may want to consider is investing in dual-flush technology. This offers a user the ability to use less water to flush down water waste while also giving them the opportunity to use extra water to flush down solid waste when necessary. One other awesome feature that is becoming more common with toilets is self-cleaning technology. This uses a special formulation for how water goes into the bowl alongside designated cleaning tablets that remain in their tanks to allow for optimal hygiene with every use.

If you want to take bathroom functionality a step further, you can invest in a toilet that’s combined with a bidet. This gives you the convenience of freshening up with every use of your toilet. The best part is that you don’t have to get up and move between the bidet and toilet to enjoy the cleansing feature.

You can really choose a toilet that’s customized to fit your needs and preferences. Other features that you may want to consider getting with your new toilet include:

  • Soft close seating
  • Water sense technology
  • A skirted toilet
  • A concealed trap
  • Seat warming technology
  • Automatic flushing
  • Accent lighting
  • Music integration
  • Smart technology
  • One-piece units

A Reliable Toilet Replacement Service

Our team at Cattlemans Plumbing offers reliable toilet repair and replacement service to the entire Fort Worth, TX community. We can assist with all your plumbing, commercial, and construction needs.

Call us at Cattlemans Plumbing today to schedule a service appointment with one of our highly experienced plumbing professionals.

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