Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Toilet "spontaneously" cracked

My neighbor told me that his toilet "spontaneously" cracked. He said it's a common occurrence for older toilets. The toilet was on the second floor and the water leak flooded the first floor. His HO insurance covered considerable damage, and he had walls/ceilings repaired and painted, and new carpets and flooring for the entire 1st floor. Hmmmmmmm.....

OK, I'm a little cynical, but a "spontaneously" cracking toilet sounds a little fishy. I have two toilets on my second floor that are at least 25 years old. I'm not interested in scamming my insurance company, but should the old toilets be replaced???

Have to wait on the experts to weigh in, but that's a new one to me.:coffee:

I, too, have never heard of this. The only reason I can see for a toilet suddenly breaking (on it's own) would be if it were cracked beforehand.

I suspect, but I could be wrong, the person who claimed it spontaneously broke had a hand in the breakage.
If you are worried about your own toilets, then make a careful inspection for any hairline cracks.

My understanding is the toilet was original to the house. The house is about 25 years old or older. I don’t think a toilet would last 25 years with a factory defect (crack). I have to assume the toilet was cracked by an accident just before the mysterious “spontaneous” crack occurred.

Thanks!

I did have a toilet bowl crack in an apartment rental a couple years ago... water all over the place in the bathroom but the tenant was there so it didnt flood the place. The toilet was from the early 1960's. The story i got is that it cracked as he went to sit on it. Did he perhaps rock back on it or there was too much play off the floor? not sure... I replaced it that night and all is well since.

I've heard similar stories. "It broke all by itself" or "It broke while flushing" or "I didn't do anything".
How many times has everyone heard "it clogged-up all by itself" or "I didn't throw anything down there".

Such stories have a striking similarity.

Good luck to all.