In yesteryear choosing a toilet was a no-brainer because there were a limited number of toilets to choose and they pretty much all functioned the same way. Welcome to the future my friends where there are tons of different models and styles to choose from. They come in various heights and sizes and colors – oh my! Along with the variety comes different performance levels and water usage. This toilet selection guide will help you separate the choices you have when it comes to installing a new toilet in your home.
All toilets come in two flavors: the one piece toilet and two piece toilet. The one piece toilet come in one complete unit without any seams between the tank and bowl for easy cleaning. With a one piece toilet, you usually get the all the fixins’ in one package, like the toilet body, lid, seat, wax ring, bolts, and bolt caps. A benefit to the one piece is that you lessen the chance of leaks between the tank and the bowl. Two piece toilets feature a separate bowl and tank that are purchased together or individually, plus the seat is typically sold separate. The most common toilet in U.S. home is the two piece.
The toilet bowls themselves come in two shapes, either round front which is the most common or elongated. Round front bowls are good space savers for smaller bathrooms. Elongated bowls have an egg shape and considered more comfortable than round bowls, this is due to them being around 2″ longer, which give a longer seating area.
Some things to look for when picking out your perfect commode are whether it is has a sanitary bar. This bar keeps liquids from collecting beneath the bank at the back of the bowl, which makes it more sanitary. Keep an eye out for a bowl that has a larger trapway, which is the ceramic shoot on the back of the toilet bowl that your waste flows down. This is a common trouble spot for blockages and clogs and smaller trapways clog more often.
Companies like American Standard have a toilet called the Champion 4 which has the industries largest trapway at 2-3/8″ and can flush down a bucket of golf balls no problem. For those with limited mobility or for the elderly, there are toilets out there that conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA. These bowls are taller and allow for easier accessibility and if you need one of these latrines then look for the ADA logo in the product description.
Nearly all toilets have the same or nearly the same tank capacity, and I’m sure most of us guys have that number memorized from starting at the bowls our entire lives. The government regulates this one as well by with a limit of 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
When choosing a new toilet consider what kind of flushing system you want. What?! There’s more than one type of flushing system? Yes, there are single flush toilets, dual flush toilets and pressure assisted. (you know the ones on the airplane that are deafening.) Single flush toilets are what’s most common in the states and what we mostly have in our homes. Dual flush toilets are big in Europe and other countries for their water saving properties. They have two buttons, one for “Number 1” and another for “Number 2”. The “Number 1” button uses less water than the “Number 2” button, which makes sense and helps conserve water. It’s a really good idea and if you have a little more money in your budget for a nice commode check out Caroma Two-Piece Toilets.
Toilet seats have also come a long way in the technology department. If you want to treat your derriere to a nice seat, there’s a few good options to choose from. Top of the line toilet seat have heated seats, heated water washes, heated air dryers and a wireless remote controls. The wireless remote option alone is worth it for me in the practical joke department! The price on these seats start around $270 and can reach upwards of $1400! Talk about sitting on your own personal throne!
As you can see, there are plenty of options in the porcelain god department and plenty of ways to spend your money. And if you’re looking for just a regular plain ol’ toilet and don’t care about any frills, you can find one for around $125 bucks. But remember you get what you pay for and the last thing you want is your toilet acting up at your daughter’s birthday party. It’s well-known that faucets and showers are fun to shop for and toilets always get a bad wrap. There’s no reason not to have fun shopping for a toilet and more important, enjoy your toilet. After all, it’s one (If not “The”) most important element in your home.