You might not put a lot of thought into your toilet because as long as it flushes, what’s there to think about? According to the World Toilet Organization (yep…that’s a real thing), the average person uses the toilet 8 times a day, making it a very important fixture in your home. If your toilet gets continuously clogged, runs constantly, or lacks flushing power, those 8 trips to the bathroom can be the most frustrating part of your day! So when it comes to issues with your toilet, should you repair it or replace it? We’ve got some tips to help you decide!

Repairs & Maintenance 

Homeowners might feel that a problem toilet isn’t worth repairing, but that’s just not true. Depending on the issue, if you repair and maintain a toilet, it can last for decades! Plumbers are often able to make repairs on toilets that clog, run, or leak, as these are fairly common issues. Once a plumber has identified and fixed the issue, the thing to do is maintain it! There are steps that you can take to keep your toilet looking good, smelling clean, and staying in good shape for years to come:

• Clean inside the bowl regularly using a toilet bowl cleaner. There are a lot of options out there. Keeping it clean will help to prevent hard water stains, bacteria, and buildup that would make your toilet look dirty and smell even worse. We recommend cleaning your toilets at least once a week for a sparkling bowl!
• Clean the outside, too, and don’t neglect the base of the toilet. It’s a bathroom, so things can get nasty, but if you maintain your porcelain express, your cleaning days won’t be so bad!
• Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper. Avoid tossing wipes (even if they say they’re flushable), feminine products, paper towels, or anything other than good old TP.
• Check the inner workings of the toilet tank. If your toilet keeps running or has problems flushing, remove the lid of the toilet tank and check the parts. The chain might be tangled up or need adjusting, or you might need a new float ball or fill valve. These parts are cheap and simple for homeowners to replace. 
• Have an annual plumbing inspection where your plumber checks all of the components of your toilet to prevent leaks, breakdowns, and even flooding.

Know When Your Toilet Has Made Its Final Flush

Sometimes the repairs just aren’t worth it, and if your toilet is over a decade old, you should consider switching to a high-efficiency model anyway! Here are some signs that it’s time to replace your current toilet:

1. If you’ve had to call in the experts more than twice in a year to repair a running, leaking, or poorly functioning toilet, it might be time. If repairs have been made and parts replaced, and there are still issues, it’s financially smarter to replace the toilet.  
2. It’s dingy and downright gross. Over the years, your toilet will develop scratches and wear in the porcelain. Sometimes a new seat will be the face-lift it needs, but if the dings run deep and dirt has collected to the point where you can’t even clean it anymore, it’s time to replace it with a new model.
3. If the porcelain has a crack in the bowl or base, that’s an immediate cause for replacement. What may start off as a small fracture could lead to floodwaters in your bathroom!
4. Going green! If your desire is to conserve water and save money on your water bill, a new, energy-efficient toilet will help you do this. Most older toilets use 3.5 gallons per flush, while newer models only use 1.6. The newest designs still provide the same amount of flushing power, and some high-efficiency models even have dual flushing systems that use as little as 0.9 gallons per flush! Good for the environment and your pocketbook!

At F.H. Furr, our plumbers are trained to handle your home’s plumbing needs! We can help you determine whether a repair or replacement is the best option for you!