Toilets are used multiple times a day, so it is important to have one in good repair, especially if your family lives in a home with only one bathroom. While toilets are designed to be durable and long lasting, the time will eventually come when your toilet needs to be replaced. Your best bet is to recognize the signs of a failing toilet so you can make arrangements to purchase a new toilet and have it installed by a plumber. This is a much better option than needing emergency residential plumbing service due to a failing toilet that needs to be ripped out and replaced. Some of the most common signs that you need to replace a toilet include the following.

Cracks in the Bowl or Tank

As a toilet ages, it is possible for cracks to form in either the bowl, tank, or both. At first, these cracks may be very small and unnoticeable, but they can eventually grow larger in size. Larger leaks can result in water leaking onto the floor of your bathroom. In the majority of cases, cracked toilets can't be fixed and will need to be replaced. If you begin noticing unexplained puddles of water on your bathroom floor around the toilet, contact a plumber to learn more about your replacement options.

Frequent Clogs

A toilet in good repair will flush freely without any issues. However, a toilet that is nearing the end of its lifespan may lose the ability to flush properly and frequent clogs may begin to form. It is frustrating to deal with a toilet that is clogged up and not flushing—no one wants to use a plunger multiple times a week for a clogged toilet. If you have a clogged toilet, you can have it looked at by a plumber to see if it can be fixed. But if you are dealing with frequent clogs and flushing problems, it is most likely time to replace your toilet.

Regular Repairs

Toilets should be pretty low maintenance; you may have the rare overflow, but usually all toilets need is to be cleaned on a regular basis. If you get to the point that you're on a first-name basis with your plumber because of frequent toilet repairs, its probably best to replace the toilet. This is especially true if you know that the toilet is many years old. There is no reason to keep flushing money down the drain for toilet repairs when you can use that cash for a replacement toilet.