Old Plumbing Sucks

The most common mistake a homeowner can make with regards to maintenance of residential plumbing systems is to continually try to fix an old fixture. So often it is more affordable in the long run and more cost effective to simply install a new water heater, toilet, faucet, or other appurtenance. Think about it this way. If your water heater is 12 or 15 years old, it has reached the end of its life expectancy. Would it be wise to spend hundreds of dollars keeping it in service or would it be better to apply that money towards a new unit? The same applies to old toilets, perhaps even more so. Did you know that the older a toilet gets the less efficiently it flushes? The reason for this is that over a period of years ... minerals such as calcium, found in hard water, clog the small holes around the rim of the bowl and increase the amount of time it takes for the water in the tank to get into the bowl. This causes a slow, swirling flush that often leaves toilets clogged. The life expectancy of a toilet is approximately 15-20 years. Your money will often be better spent simply having a new toilet installed. We often recommend updating the supply valve and supply line as well at this time.