5 Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Toilet

A well-running toilet is essential to a bathroom that’s clean, useful, and odor-free. But toilets aren’t invincible. Like other parts of the home, toilets need intermittent repairs, especially to their valves, gaskets, and flanges—not to mention the occasional toilet unclogging.

But sometimes, toilets simply need to be replaced. We spoke with Allison Harrison, co-owner of Goodbee Plumbing in the greater New Orleans area, on the signs that it could be time to replace your toilet.

Age of the Toilet

Toilets can last quite a long time—up to 50 years, in fact! But most toilets should be replaced every 25 years. But this isn’t because toilets stop working after a certain point—instead, it’s because toilet and plumbing efficiency standards change over time.

“Older toilets from before the ‘90s tend to be less water efficient, which could be adding to your water bill,” says Harrison.

Toilets from 1980s typically use about 3.5 gallons of water per flush, while modern-day toilets use as little as 1.28 gallons of water per flush. This is thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which mandated that toilets use less than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.

Visible Cracks and Leaks

While the ceramic makeup of toilets should be quite durable, occasionally the ceramics’ glazing can fail. And what starts out as a few hairline cracks can grow into something much larger. “Even a small crack can start to leak, damaging your wall or floor,” says Harrison.

To spot tiny cracks, look for beads of water on the outside of the toilet bowl, especially near the tank or basin. If you find some, it’s likely time to replace the toilet, especially if they’ve already begun to leak water. Not doing so risks high water bills, water damage, or signs of mold.

Frequent Repairs

Most toilets need the occasional repair. But a toilet that needs constant repairs is probably one that should be replaced. “Frequent repairs to [the same] toilet across multiple parts can add up, and at some point you may be better off replacing the entire toilet,” says Harrison.

Common repairs include faulty flapper valves, toilets that don’t stop running, corroded bolts and gaskets, or broken flanges. While most of these repairs are fairly low cost (under $100), having to do more than one or two of them over a few months suggests you might be better off just buying a new toilet.

Non-Functioning Flush

A toilet that won’t flush is essentially useless—after all, the entire purpose of a toilet is to quickly and safely remove waste. If your toilet stops flushing, take off the tank lid and investigate the parts connected to the handle to see if anything is disconnected or broken.

If everything looks good and the toilet still isn’t flushing, replace it with a new one.

Constant Clogging

Clogs are not fun to deal with. While the occasional clog is to be expected, a toilet that gets stopped up at least once a month may need to be replaced. “Clogging your toilet multiple times a month could mean that its flushing mechanisms are weak, and it’s time to replace the entire toilet,” says Harrison.

A clog or backup that’s localized to a singular toilet is likely caused by that toilet or its pipes. However, if every drain or toilet in your home starts to malfunction, you likely have a larger plumbing issue—contact a plumber ASAP.