How To Replace A Toilet with Cost and Details
If your toilet frequently leaks or happens to be wobbly or has developed some cracks of late, it’s time you replaced it. At times it might appear like your toilet doesn’t have any major issues at all. Some people even believe that older variants of toilets are better than their newer counterparts. Regardless, toilets can get damaged, and you might need to replace them once in a while. Typically, your average cost to get a toilet replaced would range between $224 to $550. The average cost of repairing a toilet in the US is close to $400.
As with everything else, the cost of replacing your toilet will entirely depend on how complex the project is. Other factors to be accounted for would be the brand of the toilet, the location of the installation, the way you plan to get the old toilet removed, and your overall plan for plumbing, and extra fixtures among others.
Depending on the situation, you might also need to deal with entirely unwarranted issues. For instance, the charge of labor will depend on the overall time of the installation process. In case you need an immediate fixture during a holiday or a weekend, the company or professional might charge a higher rate.
WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF REPLACING A TOILET?
When it comes to replacing a toilet, multiple factors are accounted for. In the following section, we will discuss some of them in detail.
THE STRUCTURE AND DESIGN OF THE TOILET
The design of your toilet will play a major role in affecting the overall cost of installation. If you are looking to go on the standard or average cost range, try two-piece toilet sets that come with a round or oval toilet bowl. Alternatively, if you are looking for something high-end, you might want to try the smart variants of toilets that feature seat warming capacities and bidets.
BRAND
The next thing to consider would be the toilet brand. A basic two-piece variant can start at $90 and the higher-end products with seat warming facilities and bidets can go up to a whopping $1500. If your toilet brand is on the higher end, you will naturally need to pay a higher fee to get it fixed.
LOCATION OF THE BATHROOM
This is another factor that plays a crucial role in determining the final cost of the toilet repair or installation. For instance, you might be charged a higher rate if you need the toilet fixed on a higher floor.
The moving costs of your toilet will vary depending on the city you’re living in. Usually, you’re required to shell out anything between $2000 to a whopping $3500 to get the toilet moved. Next, if you need to add a new drainpipe be prepared to spend between $1 to $35 on the vent lines.
LABOR CHARGES
The next charge that enters the picture would be the overall cost of labor. Plumbers usually have a fixed rate of $65 hourly for getting your toilet installed. If the project is a basic one without involving any complicated fixtures, it would usually take around two to four hours to complete the entire thing.
However, if you need to get a new drainpipe installed, get some leaks fixed, or valves flushed you might have to pay extra for the labor.
REMOVING THE OLD TOILET
Usually, in almost all toilet repair projects, the professionals charge an amount to remove and get rid of your old toilet. The cost to remove the toilet would range between $30 to $200. Having said that, it is best to check with a professional in your area for the latest information about toilet repair rates.
FLOORING/DRYWALL FIXTURES
If the toilet repair project is complex, it would involve multiple components like replacing the flooring drywall the cost of which starts at $200 and can go up to a whopping $500. If you want to replace your old flooring with a water-resistant counterpart you would have to shell out $8 to $24 against the tiles.
You might also need to shell out extra money for extra plumbing work like with unidentified leaks. In the same way, you will need to pay an extra amount if you want to customize the toilet with new features like a long bowl, a greater height, a lid that closes automatically, etc.
CHARGES FOR EMERGENCY FIXTURES
If you’re in a situation where your toilet has suddenly broken down and you cannot do without a new one you might need to opt for an emergency repair which usually involves higher charges. As mentioned earlier, if the professional is visiting your place beyond the usual business hours or on a holiday the price can tripe up. Depending on the plumbing company you are using, you may be charged anywhere between $100 to $400 along with their usual hourly rates.
CAN YOU SAVE MONEY ON GETTING YOUR TOILET REPLACED?
While fixing and allocating a certain budget for getting your toilet fixed might appear daunting at the outset, you can always tweak the budget by streamlining the additional costs. While you can always get the cheapest toilet brand out there to solve this problem, other ways might help you even better. Try out the following ways to save a few extra bucks on getting your toilet replaced.
The first estimate is never the right one, so research the best plumbers in your vicinity and do not settle for a company until you’ve checked multiple quotes. The next thing you need to do is create a budget and stick to it. Once you have a budget on board it is difficult to move astray.
Third, if you are keen on saving some bucks, try to get some DIY work and remove the toilet without professional help. In case of questions, you can always check out YouTube videos and consult professional plumbing companies.
Both High Efficiency and Standard toilets come at a decent budget so consider these options while getting a new toilet. Finally, hire a professional to get the job done so that your issue is thoroughly fixed and you do not incur further problems in the long run.