Out With the Old: How to Know It’s Time to Replace Your Plumbing Fixtures

Just like most things in your home, your plumbing fixtures will reach the end of their life and need to be replaced to operate with maximum efficiency. But if they don’t break or stop working altogether, how can you know it’s time to replace your sink, toilet, bathtub, water heater, or garbage disposal? Here’s everything you need to know about when to update your plumbing.

When to Replace Staple Plumbing Fixtures

The lifespan of each plumbing fixture varies based on its frequency of use. A guest bathroom that is rarely visited may never need new plumbing fixtures during the time you own the house. On the other hand, a kitchen sink may need a new faucet every few years.

The quality of water flowing through your home may also affect how often you need to replace common plumbing fixtures. For example, hard water can be especially tough on tubs and showerheads.

Depending on the condition and age of your plumbing fixtures, it may be time to call a reputable plumber for professional upgrades.

Toilet Fixtures

The toilet is one of the most durable plumbing fixtures in your house. The toilet bowl can last up to 100 years, but it’s often replaced much sooner than this, whether due to a crack or the homeowner wishing to restyle their bathroom.

Even though the toilet bowl can last several decades, the commode’s smaller parts need to be replaced every few years. The toilet seat, handle, flapper, valve, and other components can last about five years.

Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets

Faucets have exceptional life expectancies as well, lasting anywhere from 15 to 20 years. If they break, a plumber can often fix the problem. It’s only when faucet repairs are no longer sufficient that the fixture needs to be replaced. However, most people do not even reach this point before upgrading their faucets because they want to incorporate a new look into their kitchen or bathroom.

Sinks and Bathtubs

Homeowners frequently choose to upgrade their sinks and bathtubs well before experiencing issues with the original fixtures. Whether they want a more modern or traditional design, they find changing out the sink or bathtub can revamp their home.

You’ll know it’s time to replace your sink or tub if it is leaking, showing signs of wear and tear, is hard to clean, or has reached the end of its useful life. Stainless steel sinks need to be replaced every 15-25 years, porcelain sinks every 20-30 years, and acrylic sinks every 50 years. Bathtubs often need to be upgraded every 25 years.

Water Heaters

If you have a traditional water heater, you may be able to get 10 to 15 years of good use out of it as long as you maintain it properly. A tankless water heater can last up to 20 years. If your water heater is considered old, leaking, rusted, or requiring frequent repairs, it is likely time to schedule a water heater replacement with a certified plumber.

Garbage Disposals

A piece of plumbing that is often ignored is the garbage disposal. It’s easy to forget until we flip a switch and it doesn’t grind the food waste as we expected. Garbage disposals typically last about ten years, as long as they have been adequately maintained and haven’t come into contact with things like coffee grounds or eggshells, which damage the disposal and clog drains. However, if it’s not ten years old or older, it may still be time for a replacement if:

• It smells even after you’ve scheduled drain cleaning for your Minnesota home.
• It frequently backs up when running water.
• The food waste put down the drain takes a while to break down.

How to Know When to Replace Other Plumbing Fixtures

If you’re not the original owner of your home, you may not have any idea how old your plumbing fixtures are. When this is the case, you can schedule annual plumbing inspections to ensure every part of your plumbing system is in top working order. If there are any red flags, your plumber can point them out and recommend proper repairs.

You can also keep an eye out for these signs that indicate it’s time to replace plumbing fixtures:

• Leaks or puddles of water beneath sinks, tubs, dishwashers, or refrigerators
• Water damage, such as stains on the walls or warped ceilings
• Slow draining water
• Rusted or cracked plumbing fixtures

In With the New: Schedule Plumbing Replacement Services Today

Whether you’re having issues with a leaking faucet or want to renovate your kitchen plumbing, our licensed plumbers are here to help. We offer a range of plumbing services, including fixture replacement and faucet repair in Minneapolis. Contact Northern Services today for the highest quality care and advanced plumbing techniques.