- Take careful measurements to ensure that your toilet choice fits well in your bathroom.
- If your bathroom dimensions allow for one, choose an elongated over round seat - it’s a roomier fit.
- White, off white, and similar neutrals (actual color names vary by manufacturer) are desirable,
both in terms of current trends and home resale value.
- Choose a gravity toilet for a quieter flush, or a pressure-assisted toilet for a more powerful
one (but be sure to check that your home’s water pressure is high enough for the pressure-assisted option.)
- If you’re hiring a plumber for your installation, run your final choice by him or her – it could prevent
problems later. Better yet, your plumber might be able to use his or her trade discount for the purchase.
- Check to see if you need to buy your toilet seat separately.
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TOILET SHOPPING TIPS
People often take toilets for granted. If they aren’t clogged and are reasonably clean,
then they’re just fine. However, once you are actually shopping for a toilet, you’ll find out
there’s a lot more to toilets than you ever imagined. For one, there’s a vast price range, from
toilets under $100 well into the
thousands. For peace of mind and a sound
long term investment, it’s worth
reviewing the basic choices before you buy.
Here are some of the features and factors you should be aware of when shopping:
Before making any decisions, you need to take careful measurements of your bathroom and the area where
the toilet will be. Consider factors such as having enough space to open a shower door,
leaving enough
room in front of the toilet for comfortable seating, and balancing the size and shape of the toilet with
the size of other items, such as the bathroom sink and cabinets.
These will be key factors in determining what
works and what looks right in your space.
Most toilets are made as a one or two piece design. The typical two piece option, which is most
traditional, has a bowl and tank that are separate. Two piece designs are a bit harder to clean,
since there is a crevice where dirt can gather. A one piece toilet has a bowl and tank that are
manufactured as one unit and is typically lower in profile. One piece designs have a sleeker look
and a higher price tag. Keep in mind, with two piece toilets,
you usually need to buy the seat
separately, while one piece toilets usually have a seat included.
The best way to choose between
these two styles is to decide which appeals more to your aesthetics and then consider the price
difference.
Bowls are available in either elongated or round sizes. Elongated toilet
bowls are generally about two inches
longer in the front and oval shaped. If you have room in your bathroom, elongated bowls are recommended,
since the seat is more roomy and comfortable, and the increased water surface area in the bowl can add
power to your flush without using extra water. However, round bowls are still very common, and they
are a fine choice when space is an issue.
Color is a purely aesthetic choice but one of your most noticeable ones. White, off white, and other
neutrals are most popular with current bathroom style trends and are best for the resale value of your home.
Also, these colors make it easiest to match any future toilet seat purchase. However, various shades,
and even painted patterns, are available.
Give some thought to the toilet seat itself. If you are purchasing a two piece design, you’ll be buying
one separately, so make sure it matches the toilet in color, style, and shape (elongated vs. round.)
Also, some manufacturers, such as TOTO, offer a soft/quiet close seat, to prevent the jarring noise
of a dropped seat. Heated toilet seats,
such as those sold by Kohler, are also available and are a nice,
though costly, feature. Some are contoured for comfort.
It’s worth looking at the toilet flush levers.
They can be on the top, side, or front of the tank.
Make sure the lever seems to be comfortable and easy to reach, and that you like its appearance.
Finally, consider overall design. Most toilets are fairly similar in appearance. Some less common
options have different profiles in order to fit in different spaces; these include corner
toilets and space-saving wall mounted toilets. There is also the option of a high tank with
pull chain toilet, which gives a unique old-world feel to a
bathroom. And then there are original,
ornate, and luxurious designer toilet models, such as one literally made to resemble a throne,
the Powder Room ''Dagobert'' Wooden Toilet Throne. There are also streamline, contemporary, and
upscale choices such as the Kohler Purist Hatbox toilet.
In the mid-90s, it was federally mandated that toilets flush with 1.6 gallons of water or less. This is
compared to the 1980s typical gallons-per-flush of 3.5, and prior to that, as high as 5.5 to seven gallons
per flush. Toilet manufacturing has caught up to the environmentally-sound regulations, and most toilets
from reputable brands offer fair to excellent flushing.
Gravity toilets use the most common flushing mechanism. When you flush, water dropping from the tank
into the bowl moves waste down the drain. Your home’s water pressure is not a factor, they offer a quiet
flush, and repairs are straightforward. However, they typically don’t offer the strongest flush, which
sometimes results in clogs or the need for a double flush. Usually, if you spend a little more and choose
a quality brand, the flush on a gravity toilet will be sufficient.
Pressure-assisted toilets use pressurized air to force water into the bowl when flushed. These toilets
are often desirable because of their strong and efficient flush. The drawbacks are a loud flush,
the need for water pressure of at least 25 pounds per square inch in your house, the possibility of
more complicated repairs, and a generally higher price than gravity toilets. If you feel you need
an extra strong flush, these are the way to go.
Dual-flush toilets are another
option worth considering. Growing in popularity, these toilets
have two flush options, controlled by two buttons on the toilet: 1.6 gallons of water for solid
waste and .8 gallons for liquid waste. These models offer great water savings and often work well. However,
since less water stays in the bowl, cleaning and odors can be more of an issue than with other options.
There are some high end features that may appeal to you, and these will increase the cost
of your toilet. These include: heated seats, remote control toilets,
automatic flushing and lid
opening and closing, antibacterial bowl glazes, and more. If you’re in the market for a high
end and high tech toilet, there are many options to explore.
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