It can be difficult to know when it’s time to invest in a new toilet or repair the one you’ve got. While fixing your toilet seems like the easiest and quickest solution, it’s not always the case. Sometimes, simply replacing your toilet is the best choice for saving money – and time. 

On the other hand, there are times when the problem isn’t the toilet at all. If you replace yours without knowing this, you’ve just flushed money down the, well, toilet.  

Below is a guide to help you determine the best next steps to take if you’ve got a toilet plumbing issue and whether you should replace yours or have it repaired. 

When to repair your toilet 

There’s water at the base of the toilet

If you’ve noticed water collecting at the base of the toilet, the culprit is likely a leaking seal. Yours might be older and brittle or otherwise damaged. Replacing the seal could be all you’ll need to do to fix the problem. Remember: you’ll want to do this as soon as you can. Otherwise, your water bill might be higher than usual. 

The toilet won’t flush properly

If you’re pushing the toilet handle down, only for there to be a delay in the flush, or if the toilet doesn’t flush at all, it could be for a variety of reasons. Often, the cause is a bad flapper, or a clog in the vent pipes, trap, or even the sewer. 

Repairing your toilet won’t fix this problem. Instead, it’s best to call an experienced plumber who can identify the issue and perform the needed repairs. 

The toilet bowl isn’t filling with water

Take it from us, this is an extremely common plumbing problem. Usually, the issue stems from a faulty fill valve. You can find fill valves at your local home improvement store, and the repair can be relatively easy to do. Just make sure you purchase the proper fill valve for the make and model of your toilet. 

Reasons to replace your toilet 

The toilet always needs to be repaired

If you’re constantly running to the hardware store, buying new parts to fix your toilet, or always unclogging it with the plunger, it may be time to simply get a new one. We recommend talking this over with a plumber, who can not only help you make the right decision, but help you choose – and of course install – a new toilet, too. 

It’s always clogging

It’s not just a nuisance to have to unclog your toilet every day (or even every week), it can also lead to a sanitary issue and even raise your water bill. 

As we mentioned, toilet clogs happen for a variety of reasons. Most occur when something is stuck somewhere in the toilet or pipes, however, sometimes clogs occur after mineral deposits have developed at the top of the drain. The deposits accumulate overtime, and once there’s a buildup, it can lead to clogging. 

To know for sure if deposits are the culprit of the clogs, have a plumber inspect the drains. If they clean out mineral deposits and your toilet continues to clog, it might be time to replace it. 

The toilet bowl or tank is cracked

While porcelain is extremely durable, your porcelain toilet can still crack. Even a small hairline crack can cause a serious leak or even worse, the toilet could break completely and cause flooding on your floor. We recommend inspecting your toilet regularly for any cracks. If you see one, it’s time to replace your toilet. 

Don’t wait if you’ve got a problem with your toilet. Instead, call the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter a call at 513-396-5300, or contact  us via our website.   We’ll eliminate the guess work by determining whether your toilet needs to be replaced or can be repaired to save you time and money.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.