Toilets: Repair or Replace?
What to Know Before Making a Decision
Introduction
You probably don’t think about your toilet much until it’s leaking, constantly running, or overflowing all over your bathroom floor. Or maybe you’re building your dream home and feeling overwhelmed with the many options available or don’t understand the differences. You thought a toilet was just a toilet didn’t you? There are actually many things to consider whether you’re repairing or buying new. Here are a few suggestions to help you decide the best action for your situation.
Repairing
Pride Plumbing’s licensed plumbers are ready to tackle any repair issue. Our trucks are so complete with inventory they’re virtually mobile warehouses, saving you time and money. We’ll roll into your neighborhood and quickly handle any issues with upfront pricing and tidy, friendly technicians who will explain the work necessary every step of the way. No matter where you are -Brighton, Victor, Webster, or you name it in Monroe or Ontario county – we are your toilet experts.
If your toilet is showing signs of the following, give us a call:
Slow draining bowl
Won’t flush or overflows
Water runs constantly
Seat or entire toilet loose or wobbly
Leaking from tank or base
Keep in mind that if your toilet is over 5 years old it may be time to so some preventative repair. Especially if you use in-tank bleach-based cleaners. They can deteriorate seals and gaskets causing leaks or a toilet that runs all the time. Pride Plumbing can replace seals and floats to keep your toilet running efficiently. American made products are a priority for us, so we use American made parts every chance we get with names like Fluid Master, Mansfield, and Kohler. Couple this with our award-winning service and a call to Pride Plumbing will be the best thing that’s happened to your toilet in a long time.
Replacing
Shopping for a new commode can be a real “game of thrones”. You’ll have to choose between single or dual flush, gravity, pressure-assisted or touchless flushing, elongated or round front, one-piece or two-piece models, and many varying water-saving models. Then there are color, seat height, noise level, flushing capacity, and visible, concealed or skirted trapways to consider. Heck, there are even tankless toilets available. Like we said earlier, it can feel overwhelming.
The best place to start is to determine what size toilet you will need. If space is tight, consider a 10″ rough-in style which installs closer to the wall and opt for a round-front bowl saving you a couple of inches in the front.
You will also want to learn about a toilets flushing capacity. How many people in your home will be using the toilet? If you have kids you may occasionally find one of them has flushed a toy or a ball. Baby and adult wipes are also a big culprit of clogged toilets. So consider carefully a toilet’s flush ratings. These ratings will likely differ between single and dual flush models, even among the same brand. Also, keep in mind that US Department of Energy limits gallons per flush to 1.6 gallons.
Most toilets in residential homes are gravity-fed. Gravity-fed toilets are usually quieter and less expensive than a pressure-assisted toilet. Pressure assisted toilets, on the other hand, are known for their ability to disseminate waste without clogging, even large amounts of waste. But they create a rather loud whoosh when flushed and are more expensive.
Next, let’s consider height. Whereas toilets used to range in height from 12″ to 15″, new ‘comfort height’ toilets have been introduced and are roughly 16 1/8″ in height from floor to rim of the bowl. Depending on the manufacturer they may also be called ‘smart height’ or ‘right height’ toilets. This has been in response to consumer demand for a more comfortable toilet that is easier to sit on and get up from, and also to meet the needs of increasing residential elderly care and care for family members with disabilities. The American Disabilities Act mandates the height from floor to rim of bowl to be between 17″ and 19″ so if you need an ADA compliant toilet be sure you are purchasing one that meets the height requirement.
Remember, we are passionate about installing products that were made right here in the USA. We are proud to sponsor American made products from manufacturers like Toto, Kohler, American Standard and Mansfield.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, we’ve helped you decide if a toilet repair or toilet replacement is the right choice for you! As always, we’re here to help you with your plumbing services, repairs and installs. Check out our reviews then call your neighborhood plumber, Pride Plumbing of Rochester at (585) 271-7150 or click here to schedule an appointment online.
