Toilets - Replace or Rebuild?

If your toilet’s are starting to not work properly, should you replace the whole toilet or rebuild your current toilets?

We will explore how to make this decision. New toilets cost about $94 to $409 to purchase at the store depending on the quality, style and performance you desire. This is not the installed price, just the cost to purchase a whole toilet. Some can cost as much as $1000, but most toilets installed cost about $200.

All the functional components in a toilet can be replaced. Seat, lid, seals, handle, valves, and hardware.

The decision to replace comes down to these factors:

• Cosmetics - Are there cracks, stains, etc. on your current toilet?

• Toilet Style - Does it match the architectural style of your interior or home?

• Toilet Color - They come in many colors.

• Seat Height - There are generally two seat heights, low and high.

• Bowl Style - There are generally two bowl styles, round and elongated.

• Flush Performance - Toilet design and research has come a long way over the years, so modern toilets can work quite well with very little water.

• Water Usage - Modern toilets use less than 2 gallons per flush. Older toilets commonly used around 5 gallons.

• No Parts - Some older special style toilets no longer have parts available.

• Cost -

  • It costs about $400+ for a plumber to replace a toilet (materials and labor). This cost is for a basic no-frills toilet, with prices going up from there.

  • It costs about $250+ for a plumber to rebuild a toilet (with materials costing about $50 and labor costing about $200). This cost is for a common toilet, with prices going up for special style toilets.

Why you would keep (and rebuild) your existing toilets:

1. The bowl, tank and tank lid are in good condition? They are not chipped, worn or stained.

2. You like the style of the toilet?

3. You like the color of the toilet?

4. You like the seat height?

5. You like the size of the bowl (round or elongated)?

6. The flushing performance is acceptable?

7. The toilet uses less than 2 gallons of water per flush?

If you answered YES to all of the above, you should probably rebuild your toilet for $250.

Why you would replace your existing toilets with whole new toilets:

1. The bowl, tank or lid are chipped, worn or stained?

2. You don’t like the style of the toilet?

3. You don’t like the color of the toilet?

4. You don’t like the seat height?

5. You don’t like the bowl style?

6. You don’t like the flush performance?

7. You’re toilet uses more than 2 gallons of water per flush?

8. You can’t find parts?

If you answered YES to any of the above, you should probably replace your toilet for $400.

Enjoy this newsletter? Forward to your fellow serious homeowners!

Maintenance Reminder - Humidifier Panel

It is mid-winter throughout most of the country. If you have a pass through style humidifier on your furnace, now is a great time to refresh the performance of your humidifier by replacing the water panel. These should be replaced once per year, and cost about $20 each.

Over time, this panel wears out.

• It collects dust from the air passing through it.

• It collects bacteria and other “Germs”.

• It can become clogged.

• The fiber like material which works to hold water on the panel longer wears out.

Luxury Home Feature - Pantry Garage Door

You return home from the grocery store, park in your garage, then simply pass your bags of groceries through a small door between your garage and pantry.

You could even receive grocery deliveries this way.

The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial decisions. There are no sponsors of this newsletter.