If you’ve noticed a crack in your toilet bowl, you could be on the verge of a flooding situation in your bathroom. Is it fixable? The location and size of the crack determine what to do next.
In this article, we’ll cover how to know if a cracked toilet bowl is serious enough to seek a repair or replacement.
Crack Location and Severity: How to Tell When It’s Serious
Some cracks in your toilet bowl mean your toilet is about to fail. With others, you can buy a little time with a quick repair. Here’s how to spot the difference.
Hairline Cracks in Your Toilet Bowl or Tank
Hairline toilet cracks are the products of wear and tear. While not necessarily cause for alarm, seeing a hairline crack in your bowl or tank does indicate that the porcelain is weakening.
It’s possible that the porcelain could crack over time with enough pressure and expansion. Unfortunately, that means you could come home to a shattered toilet and soaked floor one day in the not-so-distant future.
Hairline cracks often occur due to the natural wear and tear of the porcelain. While they may not immediately cause leaks, they can weaken the structural integrity of the toilet.
Minor hairline cracks can be repaired for the short term if you’re not ready for a full replacement just yet. However, it’s more than likely that the toilet will need to be replaced in the future.
Cracks in the Base or Around the Bolts of Your Toilet
Cracking in this region of the toilet is more serious. It’s typically only a matter of time before you’ll see heavy leaking caused by water seeping out of the toilet.
Unfortunately, this can quickly destroy your bathroom’s flooring and subflooring. Water may also leak into rooms or areas below your bathroom. The situation also creates serious mold risks for your home.
Is a Cracked Toilet Dangerous?
Yes, a cracked toilet poses a number of risks for your household. First, you may already know that mildew and mold caused by moisture from a leaking toilet put your health at risk.
One risk that most people don’t think about with cracking near the base of a toilet is tipping. Cracks near the toilet’s base take the toilet off its foundation.
Unfortunately, that means that even just a small amount of force or pressure can cause a heavy toilet to fall on a small child or elderly person as they lean on the toilet. With the average toilet weighing close to 100 pounds, the result can be devastating.
How to Decide If Your Toilet Is Worth Saving
Deciding if you should replace a toilet because of cracking requires a judgment call. Consider the age of your toilet as you make your decision. If the toilet is already 10, 15, or 20 years old, you may benefit from accepting that the fixture has reached its useful lifespan.
However, a toilet that’s less than 10 years old could be worth repairing if the cracking doesn’t appear to be catastrophic.
Advantages of Swapping a Damaged Toilet for a New One
Saying farewell to your old toilet might not be such a bad thing. If your toilet is more than a decade old, it was probably built with outdated technology that makes it much less efficient and comfortable than newer toilets.
In fact, your water bill may thank you after you switch to a more eco-friendly toilet that is a much more cost-effective choice. That’s because toilet manufacturers have come a long way in recent years with water-saving features and ultra-efficient flushing technology.
A new toilet can also give your bathroom a makeover. If your toilet is cracked, it’s probably also stained. You deserve a fresh-looking toilet you don’t need to be embarrassed about when company visits.
What’s the Cost Difference for Repairing vs. Replacing a Toilet?
In general, repairing a cracked toilet is relatively inexpensive. Just be aware that this is considered a temporary option until you decide to upgrade your toilet at a later date.
However, you need to weigh the cost of repeated repairs over time against simply taking care of the problem fully by having a new toilet installed. What’s more, repairing is only an option if you have minor cracks in a cosmetic area of your toilet.
Let Benjamin Franklin in Niceville, FL Help With New Toilet Installation
Do you need help deciding if your toilet cracks can be fixed? Bring in a friendly, punctual plumber from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Niceville, FL to offer an expert opinion. We’ll help you decide whether you can get away with a quick repair or it’s time to get rid of a toilet that’s on the verge of a plumbing emergency.
Don’t Ignore a Cracked Toilet Bowl
Letting cracks linger anywhere in your toilet’s bowl, tank, or base could lead to severe water damage in your bathroom down the road. Don’t risk destroying your bathroom floor or creating mold hazards in your home.
While you may not need to install a new toilet right away if cracking is minor, you do need to address the problem with help from a plumbing pro before you’re stuck paying for a full bathroom remodel you never intended to have!