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In most cases, it’s better to repair a toilet than to replace it. Fixing issues like low water levels, running water, and flushing problems is less expensive than buying a new unit. Start thinking about replacement if the toilet is cracked, using excessive amounts of water, or is over 15 years old. Newer models are more water-efficient and clog less often than older models.

Toilets typically connect to your main vent stack, a vertical pipe that runs through all finished levels of your home and exits through the roof. It’s located behind the walls, but if you have an unfinished basement or a utility closet, you may find a portion of it running the vertical length of the space. Some basement toilets use an air admittance valve instead, which is a small vent located in the wall directly behind the toilet that extends upward a few feet from the drain.

If a toilet is not properly vented, you could experience issues like poor drainage, slow flushing, frequent clogs, malfunctioning traps, gurgling noises, and the release of sewer gasses. If left untreated, all of these issues could lead to longer term structural damage or (in the case of sewer gasses) harmful health side effects.

Technically, you can put an elongated toilet seat on a round toilet, but it’s not a good idea. Elongated toilet seats are a few inches longer than round toilets, so they will hang over the front edge of your toilet, which isn’t appealing. Additionally, an unsupported toilet seat or portion of a toilet seat is more likely to crack and shift, which could result in injury to whoever uses the toilet. Always match your toilet seat style to your toilet, or replace the toilet entirely if you’re looking to switch styles.