7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Toilet
Loo, commode, privy—no matter what you call it, this plumbing fixture is part of your everyday life. Given that the average person visits the toilet 2,500 times a year, it’s important to pick one that you’ll be happy seeing—and sitting on—every day.
Fortunately, today’s Bath market offers something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking a modern or traditional, one-piece or two-piece, or white or colored toilet, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. Not sure where to begin? Let our guide walk you through the basics of selecting a toilet!
1. Measure the Rough-in
In plumbing terms, a “rough-in” is the distance from the wall behind the toilet to the bolt cap of your toilet. Toilets typically have a 10”, 12” or 14” rough-in. This distance determines the type of toilet your plumber can install.
When selecting a toilet, start by measuring your toilet’s rough-in. You’ll want to measure from wall to bolt-cap, not from molding to bolt-cap.
2. Choose a Toilet Style and Type
Toilets come in a wide range of styles, including traditional, transitional, modern, eclectic and contemporary. Once you know what you’re looking for in a style, you can then consider the type of toilet of that best suits your needs.
Toilet types include two-piece, one-piece, tankless and wall-mounted. The type of toilet that works best depends on a variety of factors:
Two-piece Toilets consist of two units: a bowl and a tank that is bolted on top. Depending on the model, you may be able to mix and match your bowl and tank. If you are interchanging your tank and bowl, make sure the tank securely lines up with your bowl’s bolt holes. Two-piece toilets work well with a variety of styles.
One-piece Toilets seamlessly integrate the toilet and the bowl as one unit. This creates a sleek, clean look that’s perfect for a modern or contemporary bathroom. One-piece toilets are easier to clean and install than two-piece toilets. One-piece toilets are typically found in modern, contemporary and eclectic bathrooms due to their sleek appearance.
Tankless Toilets omit the tank that is found in one-piece and two-piece toilets. This allows you to save space, providing a minimalist appearance that is complementary to small and large bathrooms alike. Tankless toilets are easier to clean than their tanked counterparts. They also typically flush more quickly and powerfully because they are directly connected to a water supply line. This type of toilet suits modern, contemporary and eclectic styles.
Wall-mounted Toilets, also called wall-hung toilets, are bolted into the wall, saving floor space. If you have family members with limited mobility, a wall-mounted toilet makes transfers from wheelchairs and walkers easier. This type of toilet is also ideal for smaller bathrooms. Before selecting this toilet type, make sure that your walls are thick enough to support the toilet. Wall-mounted toilets complement modern, contemporary and eclectic interiors.
3. Decide on Round Bowl versus Elongated Bowl
Next, you will want to consider your toilet bowl. Your bathroom’s layout will help determine the shape of your toilet bowl. The spherical shape of a round bowl takes up little space, making it a good solution for a small bathroom.
For a larger bathroom, consider an elongated bowl for maximum comfort and style. An elongated bowl is longer than the round bowl, taking on an oval appearance.
4. Look at Flush Performance
It’s important to select a toilet with efficient flushing power for your needs. MaP is a brand-neutral toilet-testing organization that rates flush performance based on solid waste removal. The performance threshold ranges from 250 grams to 1,000 grams (the higher the amount, the better the flush performance). While not every model is listed, MaP’s impressive database of over 2,000 toilets is definitely worth a gander!
Gravity Toilets use gravity to flush out waste. Water is stored in the tank and then released when the flush handle is activated, flowing downwards to the bowl and removing waste. This is the type of toilet most commonly found in homes.
Pressure-assisted Toilets contain a mechanical tank inside your toilet tank. This plastic tank forces a stream of water out when the toilet is flushed, efficiently removing waste while conserving water. This type of toilet is frequently found in commercial buildings. Although pressure-assisted toilets are more water-efficient than gravity toilets, they are trickier to install. It’s recommended that you call a plumbing contractor to install this flushing system.
5. Consider Water Efficiency
Selecting a water efficient toilet helps the environment and enables you to save $110+ a year on your water bills. Whereas the federal flush standard is 1.6 gallons per flush, a water efficient toilet uses only 1.28 gallons per flush.
Dual flush toilets are another water-conserving option. This type of toilet contains a flush handle that uses less water for flushing liquid waste than it does for flushing solid waste. That way, you can use less water overall, saving high flush performance for when you need it.
When searching for a water efficient toilet, look for a WaterSense label on the product. A WaterSense toilet can use up to 20% less water than a standard toilet.
6. Think About Accessibility
Whether you’re planning to stay in your house for a long time or sell it, an ADA-compliant toilet is always a good investment. Accessible toilets feature a toilet bowl height of 16-18” rather than the standard 14.5” inches. Dubbed “comfort height,” this toilet style allows for added comfort and easier transfers from wheelchairs or walkers.
7. Select Other Features
The latest toilet innovations ensure your next trip to the loo will be convenient and comfortable. Select from a wide range of features for your toilet, including:
- Quiet close: Worried about curious little fingers getting slammed by the toilet lid? Prevent accidents and noise with a quiet-close toilet seat.
- Quick release: A quick-release toilet seat is easily unhinged from the toilet, allowing for simple cleaning and replacement.
- Easy clean glaze: If you dislike cleaning your toilet, this feature is for you! Some toilets are coated with an antibacterial glaze, preventing dirt and bacterial buildup.
- Bidet technology: A toilet-bidet combination enables you to keep up your personal hygiene while you reduce toilet paper waste. Bidet technology uses a stream of water to cleanse one’s private areas after use of the toilet.
Looking for a new toilet? Visit a Crawford Supply Group showroom, located in Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, to select the perfect toilet for your bathroom. You can also set up a free Showroom Consultation with one of our knowledgeable team members.
3 Comments
how to choose a toilet suitable for tall men, to avoid splash back! some toilet bowls are quite shallow inside and photos of modern toilets don’t include a shot of the inside.
My home is quite old, and some of the features reflect its age. One of those features is the toilet in my guest bathroom, and I think that it’s finally time I get an upgrade. Thanks for pointing out that if you get a water efficient one then you can use only 1.28 gallons per flush as opposed to the typical 1.6 gallons. I’ll have to try to get an efficient one as I look for a toilet replacement.
I’m grateful for your advice about getting a toilet. My sister is now renovating their dining and kitchen rooms, while the bathrooms are next in line. She’s been asking if there is a possibility of replacing their toilets for each bathroom. She wants some kind of modern styles and designs, so, it would be helpful that I send her this link for her reference on this matter.
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on 2/16/2018
at 5:50am