So, they came out last week, and I told them the water heater was working just fine. Then they began looking around, inside and out, to see what else might need their 'attention'.
The home has two bathrooms. Each bathroom was remodeled when my dad moved in around 1987. The toilet colors match the tub and counter colors, which is not white. One is grey, the other is sort of pinky- beige. They both look nice in their surroundings, and really don't look dated. (I wouldn't care if they did.)
Anyway...I think the toilets work just fine. I replaced the tank innards about a year or so ago, when I started taking care of my dad's house. Big Brown told me that both toilets should be replaced because they flushed slow. Huh? Looks fine to me, especially since they always work. Only very infrequently do I ever have to plunge a toilet, but when I do, I can see why. Big Brown told me that the throat of the toilets was getting build up and that makes them begin to flush slower. I said if that's true, why not just take the toilet out, clean the throat, and reinstall. Well ,Big Brown was of course prepared for every do-it-yoursself homeowner's objection. "That only works for a while, you can't all the built up gunk out, you might crack the bowl, and it's just plain old and the newer ones are much better and use less water. I'm not worried about any of that.
They would replace each toilet with their low end, elongated Toto, in white (wouldn't match colors in bathrooms). The cost would be $750 each.
I have a $650 Toto toilet in my own home, installed by me two years ago. It flushes great. It's only clogged twice by my kids. It doesn't have a heated seat, it doesn't was butts, and it doesn't light up, but it does have a slow close lid.
So, if I HAD to replace a toilet, I would get one that has a good reputation, but not because some toilet salesman told me it was flushing slow.
Do toilets wear out like Big Brown said?