If you want to improve both the look and functionality of a bathroom, simply replacing an old toilet can do wonders. Maybe there’s a crack in the toilet bowl or tank, which can rarely be repaired. Perhaps you are in the process of renovating an entire bathroom or building a completely new one. From light remodeling to construction, staying on budget can be challenging—but it doesn’t have to be.
Learn how much installing a new toilet costs and, more importantly, how to decrease toilet installation costs.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Toilet?
Installing a new toilet costs anywhere from $500 to $700 on average. Many factors determine the cost of toilet installation:
- Type: New toilets typically cost around $375 to $500. Traditional models, such as one-piece or low-flow toilets, are usually more budget-friendly and can be priced as low as $125. Toilets with high-tech features can raise the price to as much as $2,000.
- Location: Toilets installed in the basement or on upper levels are often more costly than toilets installed on the ground floor. You can also expect to pay more if you install a toilet in an area that needs new plumbing, such as adding a bathroom to a hallway.
- Labor: It is recommended to hire a professional to remove an old toilet, install a new one, and connect it to the plumbing. Plumbers usually charge $350 to $775 for toilet installation. Their fee will likely cover both material and labor costs.
The installation process sometimes requires additional work that can impact costs. For example, you may need to remove old tiles so the new toilet sits correctly on the floor. Or, if the new toilet is a wall mount, you may need to remove and replace drywall. Your plumber might also encounter plumbing issues that need fixing before installing the toilet.
How Can You Decrease Toilet Installation Costs?
It’s easy to see how toilet installation can quickly become very pricey. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the total cost of installing a toilet and stay within your budget, whatever your project scope.
Choose a Simple Toilet
While it might seem mundane, choosing the right toilet is essential. Before you decide, consider the toilet’s appearance, comfort level, and whether it is well-designed.
You always want to choose a high-quality model, but be cautious of unintentionally exceeding your budget with a more expensive toilet than you really need. Along with a hefty price tag, higher-end toilets may lead to extra installation costs, such as requiring new plumbing or different fixtures. A luxury toilet is just that — a luxury.
One of the most cost-effective things you can do is choose a more straightforward toilet model. The installation will likely be much easier and require fewer materials, which can also help you save money.
Take Advantage of Existing Plumbing
Installing or redoing plumbing involves breaking into concrete, which can be messy and is a massive expense. Laying entirely new pipes costs an average of $6,000. When hiring a plumber to replace existing pipes, you can expect to pay between $50 and $200 per hour. Luckily, new plumbing isn’t always necessary when installing a toilet.
If you can use your current plumbing system, take advantage of this opportunity to cut costs. It is also best to keep the bathroom’s layout the same. Even slightly changing the layout could mean rearranging the pipework to accommodate the toilet in a different area.
Opt for an Upflush Toilet System
Also known as macerating toilets, upflush toilets work similarly to traditional toilets in that waste goes into the bowl and is flushed out with water.
One of the main distinguishing features of upflush systems is that rather than relying on gravity, water gets sent to the back of the toilet and into a macerating pump. The macerator grinds the waste, which then gets moved through a pipe that connects to a sewage system or septic tank. This entire process happens in as little as three seconds.
Upflush toilets such as Qwik Jon® upflush systems make it easy and cost-effective to install a toilet — even when there is no existing pipework. If you are building a new bathroom or cannot use a home’s current plumbing system, upflush toilets are an ideal option. These units eliminate the need for extensive plumbing work, such as adding or replacing pipes, saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars in installation costs. You also won’t need to break through walls or remove flooring, which means a dust-free construction site.
Additional benefits of upflush toilet systems include:
- Simple installation: Hiring a professional is best and will make installation smoother, but installing upflush systems with no plumbing experience is possible. If you want to decrease the cost of labor, you can install this toilet yourself.
- Greater versatility: You can add a toilet to any area or rearrange a bathroom’s layout. Upflush toilets require only two pipes, a few hours of installation, and minimal planning.
- Increased flexibility: Upflush toilets are an excellent solution if you want to install a toilet in areas with low water pressure or locations below existing lateral lines, such as the basement.
- Unnoticeable differences: Even though the pump and macerator will be visible in the bathroom, most people can’t tell the difference between a traditional toilet and an upflush toilet. The comfort, stability, size, and appearance are almost exactly the same.
- Long life span: You can go a while before needing to replace any components of an upflush toilet, which can also save money in the future. Dependent on use and maintenance, these toilets can last over a decade.
- Environmentally friendly: Upflush systems use much less water than traditional toilets.
Choose a High-Efficiency Model
Installing a high-efficiency toilet might lead to a higher upfront cost because the toilet itself is more expensive than some traditional models. However, high-efficiency toilets save money in the long term and are better for the environment as they save water, too.
Toilets account for nearly 30% of the average home’s indoor water consumption, making them one of the biggest sources of water use. Older models use up to six gallons of water with each flush. Newer systems with improved water efficiency, such as upflush toilets, only use 1.28 gallons. By opting for high-efficiency toilets, the average building or residence can decrease water used for toilets by as much as 60%, which is almost 13,000 gallons a year.
With less water usage comes a lower water bill. Standard households could save over $170 each year and $3,400 over the lifetime of the toilets due to reduced water costs. High-efficiency toilets are a worthy investment that eventually pay for themselves.
Shop Upflush Toilets to Decrease Installation Costs
When you’re looking for ways to reduce the overall cost of installing a toilet, Zoeller Pump’s line of Qwik Jon® upflush toilet systems offers a solution that saves both time and money. Whether you plan to transform a closet into a half-bathroom or build an entirely new bathroom to create an ensuite, an upflush toilet system allows for an affordable installation that can usually be completed in one day.
Shop the entire range of Qwik Jon® upflush toilet systems online today or check for your nearest distributor. If you have any questions, contact us at 800-928-7867. Our knowledgeable and passionate team is always ready to assist.
