Is It Time To Update Your Toilets? Features of New Toilets On the Market Today

You pull the lever and your toilet flushes.  It is that simple, right?

You pull the lever and your toilet flushes.  It is that simple, right?  Most people do not give a second thought to their toilet if it is working and doing what it should.  But, if your home has older toilets, or a toilet has broken in your home, you may be considering replacing one or all of the toilets in your home.  All toilets have a certain lifespan and, after years of use, there comes a point when it is better to replace the toilet than try to repair it.  Additionally, modern toilets have many features that help conserve water which saves on monthly utilities.

The most common reason someone will replace their toilet is if the toilet is broken or damaged.  This can present itself in a variety of ways.  For instance, if you notice a leak, or think one may be present, it is probably time to replace your toilet.  It is important to first detect the source of the leak.  Whether you see water on the floor, the floor feels squishy or spongey, or you see or sense a crack somewhere in the toilet’s structure – a leak is generally bad news.  If you are unable to immediately locate the source of the leak but think there may be a crack, try adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank.  Wait a little bit and if you see the colored water leaking from any locations you will know that a replacement is necessary.  If you are experiencing other frequent problems such as clogs, running or issues with flushing, it is best to have a plumber inspect to see if a repair is possible.  If the cost of repairs are high and your toilet is old, it may be a better option to replace instead of repair so that you put the money towards a lasting solution.

Aside from a situation arising the necessitates a replacement, there are other benefits that make replacing your old or broken toilet worthwhile.  First, there are many toilets available on the market with unique and interesting features including soft-closing lids, bidets, heated seats, space saving and much more.  In addition to luxury and personal-preference features, modern toilets are designed to conserve water which is better for the environment and saves significantly on utilities over the lifespan of the toilet.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains just how much water some modern toilets can save should you choose to upgrade, “By replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20 to 60 percent—that’s nearly 13,000 gallons of water savings for your home every year! They could also save more than $110 per year in water costs, and $2,200 over the lifetime of the toilets. Nationally, if all old, inefficient toilets in the United States were replaced with WaterSense labeled models, we could save 520 billion gallons of water per year, or the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 12 days.”  If you think it is time to upgrade your toilets, it is important to ensure that they are properly installed so it is best to hire a qualified plumber, handyman or contractor who can properly install your toilets and get you on your way to enjoying all of the benefits that modern toilets offer as soon as possible.