It’s time to talk turkey about toilets. The throne, porcelain god, John, Loo, Lavatory… you know, the can.
They may seem invincible, considering, but take it from our experienced Orcutt plumbers, even the highest quality commode needs to be replaced now and then. So, here are 6 signs you need to replace/update your toilet.
1. Flushing Money Down an Old Toilet
Old toilets use too much water, and that’s reason enough to head to the hardware store in search of an upgrade. The average toilet uses 3 to 5 gallons of water with each flush, while a low-flush toilet uses less than 2 gallons per flush. Those are significant savings – especially if you have a large family!
Throw in environmental considerations with California dealing with drought conditions at the moment, and a new, low-flush toilet pays for itself in more ways than one. Also, the scratches and fading paint of an old commode is a plain-old eyesore that can be easily remedied with a shiny new loo.
2. Cracks
If you’re noticing water around your commode, check for cracks in the porcelain. The toilet itself may still be working fine, but water leaks can damage your flooring, spawn mold or mildew growth over time, and waste water.
If you find a crack in your toilet, needless to say, it needs to be replaced right away before the situation gets worse.
3. Wobbling in the Water Closet
This problem might only require simply tightening the screws around the base. But if your toilet is wobbling, and the screws fastening it to the floor appear to be tight, it’s time for a replacement. The base of the toilet can degrade over time and come loose of the screws holding it in place or the floor itself might be damaged or rotting. If simple troubleshooting doesn’t fix it, it’s probably best to call the plumbing pros on this problem.
4. Clogging Constantly
There’s nothing worse than a clogged toilet, right? Well, if this is a persistent problem, it could mean some internal issues need to be dealt with. Call the pros, or just make the call on a replacement.
5. Built-up Mineral Deposits
Hard water, which we’re no stranger to here on the Central Coast, can cause minerals to build up in the inlet holes, siphon tube, or bowl stopper. This can keep water from flowing effectively. Build-ups on the stopper can prevent the bowl from filling up and cause your toilet to constantly run. You can try scraping off build-up, but the toilet probably needs replacing if it gets bad enough.
6. You Have a Round Bowl
That’s right, a round bowl might be a reason to replace the whole kit and kaboodle, and not for any other reason than comfort. Those of you who call it your “office” know what we’re talking about. An elongated bowl is just more comfortable than a plain-old round one, and they also stay cleaner and allows fewer odors to escape, according to Consumer Reports, believe it or not.
So, if you’ve decided it’s time to update your home’s toilet or toilets, the friendly Orcutt plumbers at Griffin are always a call or click away.
