If you’re thinking about toilet repair in Covington, you might want to consider a few facts first.
When your throne goes south, it makes sense to consider toilet repair in Covington. Why wait to get your bathroom back into proper working order?
That’s good thinking, as far as it goes. However, many people assume that when something’s out of whack, they need repair. They don’t look past that to a possible replacement. Many people try to avoid one, in fact, presupposing that a new toilet is automatically more expensive than a repair.
That line of thinking may be a bit too simplistic, though. It’s true that an apples-to-apples comparison of a plumbing repair versus a replacement will come out in favor of the repair, but that’s only in the exact moment you are stressing out about the cost involved. If you take a longer-term view of the issue, you might find the opposite is true: A repair when what you really need is a replacement only endangers your plumbing and could end up costing much more over the long haul.
What’s the bottom line? Toilet repair isn’t always the best option. Knowing this, you’re probably wondering what the heck you should do instead. Here’s a quick look at the hows and whys of fixing versus replacing that john.
When Do You Need Toilet Repair?
When you walk into your bathroom on a cold winter morning, eager to get into the shower and not eager to start your day, the last horror you want to discover is that the toilet is clogged. Ditto that on the handle won’t move, that it has somehow detached from the tank components, that the base is leaking … or any number of other crappy scenarios. (Get it?)
What you want is a functional toilet, plain and simple. You want a toilet that blends into the background to the point you don’t really have to think about it, so you can just grumble on into that shower and face the day.
Sadly, that is not currently your lot, or you wouldn’t be reading this page. Most likely, if you have to ask, you need either a repair or a replacement. The question becomes: which one?
The answer depends on a variety of factors, of course, including the age of your toilet, the state of your plumbing, the number of repairs it has already undergone and the opinion of your plumber. Broadly speaking, however, you should plan on repairing your toilet if:
- It’s running, but you haven’t noticed the problem before
- There’s a clog that you can’t remove
- The handle feels loose, jiggly, gets stuck or otherwise malfunctions
- The chain in the tank frequently catches, the flap won’t stay down or other parts malfunction
- You see water on the floor
- The seat is jiggly and you can’t seem to tighten it
In other words, if the problem seems pretty basic, go ahead and call in a plumber to repair it. Chances are, that’s all you need, though your plumber may tell you otherwise.
What Requires Replacement Instead?
This is where we lecture you about when repair is a bad idea. We get it. You don’t want to have to shell out for a new toilet. They can range anywhere from $300 to $1,000 for a really nice one, and that’s a lot of money you’d rather save. The monster-in-law is coming to town, and you need that cash in case you have to ship her to a desert spa for three days to get some peace, right? Right. You can’t afford that toilet.
But can you really afford to wait? That’s the real question.
For one, if you insist on “fixing” a toilet with a systemic issue that causes the same problem to crop up over and over again, you’re not really saving yourself money. For another, some issues can cause serious damage if they don’t get help. This includes:
- Cracks in the bowl
- Leaky or poorly sealed pipes
- Built-up obstructions in the toilet
- Poor wall fittings
- Unstable toilet base
- Running that never ends
- … and anything else that seems systemic rather than symptomatic of a minor break
Good news, though: There are some major perks of getting that replacement when you need it.
What Are the Benefits of Toilet Replacement?
Toilets account for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Chances are, your first thought on reading that sentence was something along the lines of “Dang, son! That’s a lot!” Because it is a lot. When you consider the washing machine, sink, shower, garden watering and other water-using appliances, it’s pretty shocking the humble toilet still accounts for that much water.
Not only that, but inefficient older toilets can use as much as six gallons of water per flush, says the EPA. For a family of four, that number can run up into the hundreds. Think about how much wasted water that represents on your bill. Not to mention, there are millions of people in the world who lack access to fresh, clean water and would love to have the liquid just running down the bowl of a toilet.
If that doesn’t do it for you, how about this? Every time you call in a plumber to repair the john, you’re paying about $100, and sometimes more, depending on the length of the repair time and the number of parts your plumber has to buy.
Plus, a bum toilet (sorry, we just can’t help ourselves) can wreak untold havoc on your bathroom if left unchecked. Even the slightest leak can cause mold and mildew to build up around the base of your toilet and along the wall behind it. Sometimes you’re not lucky enough to see the leak, and it can drip down into your foundations instead. That can cause structural damage, weaken your foundations and make for majorly dangerous conditions. Not good.
So the benefits? Let’s see: safety, cost-efficiency, environmentalism, all-around awesomeness … did we miss anything?
Doesn’t look like it.
How Can a Plumber Help with Toilet Repair in Covington?
We’re guessing you don’t routinely replace toilets, which is where a plumber comes in. Although really, who knows where you funnel that weekend warrior energy? Assuming you don’t moonlight as a maverick toilet replacer, though, you’re going to need a little help. That’s where a good old-fashioned plumbing professional comes in.
Now, you can make all the jokes you want about the waistbands of our jeans, but the truth is no one else can do what a plumber can. Dealing with the confusion of pipes and fittings, effectively using the right tools and sealing parts are difficult jobs for which most homeowners are not prepared. Ditto selecting a new toilet, buying all the necessary parts and getting it installed – all without nuking the bathroom. If that doesn’t sound like your bailiwick, it’s time to call in the big guns.
If you’re ready for toilet repair in Covington from a solid, reputable plumber, give us a call here at Anthony Wimpey Plumbing. With decades in the business, we know exactly what we’re doing. We guarantee fast service, excellent work, minimal disruption of your already cranky morning, and a long-lasting replacement that won’t let you down. And if it does, we’ll be there to fix it. So don’t wait to call or connect with us online today!