How to choose a toilet—the basics
Whatever you call it, the toilet is one of the most important items
in your house. While the color and cost matter, how much water
it uses and how well it flushes matter more. A good one conserves
water and generates enough power to clean the bowl in a
single flush. (A bad one can be a 20-year pain in the butt.) This
article will help you choose a high-performance dunny that will
fit your bathroom, budget and backside.
A new generation
of low-flow models
Since 1994, low-flow toilets that use 1.6
gallons per flush (gpf) or less have been
the federal standard. The first generation
of low-flow toilets sucked—or rather, they
didn't. That's mostly because
manufacturers tweaked a few things to
reduce the amount of water used but
didn't change the basic design. You had
to flush the darn thing twice (so much
for water savings!). But 15 years later,
more of these toilets actually work.
Manufacturers have made significant
design improvements such as larger
trap-ways to prevent clogging and larger
flush valves that allow a more powerful
rush of water to enter the bowl. The
following tips will make choosing a new
toilet a lot easier.
Don't pinch pennies
You can get a “contractor special” for less
than $75. But everything from the working
parts to the quality of the glazing will
likely be low quality. And don't expect a
powerful flush from a cheap toilet. You're
going to use your toilet every day for years,
so get a good one. Plan to spend $100 to
$500 for a gravity toilet and $225 to $600
for a pressure-assist model.
Shop plumbing supply
houses and bathroom
showrooms
Home centers offer some but not all of
the top-ranked toilets. For the widest
selections in makes and models, visit
bathroom showrooms and check online
retailers.
Unique features
can cost you later
Custom seats and unusual flush mechanisms
add a cool factor, but they'll cost you
time, money and frustration if they ever
need replacing. A replacement custom
seat, for example, costs more than $100
(if you can even find one years later).
Solve a sweating
tank problem
If a sweating, dripping toilet tank has been
a problem with your current can, choose a
pressure-assist model. Since the water is
held inside an inner tank, the outer tank
won't sweat. Or if you prefer a gravity
toilet, order one with factory-installed tank
insulation for an additional $50 to $100
(depending on the model).
Figure A: Anatomy of a Good Flusher
A toilet's flushing performance
is what matters most. To find a
top performer, shop with these
features in mind.
Tip 1: Compare flush ratings online
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A good flusher
Kohler Cimarron
Comfort Height
elongated 1.6 gpf,
model K-3589; at home centers
and online retailers.
us.kohler.com
Photo courtesy of Kohler
Since you're probably going
to live with your toilet for 10
years or more, it's worth
doing 10 minutes of research
before you buy. Compare
independent test results of
the “flushing performance”
across manufacturers and
specific toilet models by typing
“toilet testing 2010” into
a search engine.
For more toilet reviews,
visit consumerreports.org
and terrylove.com/crtoilet.
Top-ranked toilets include
specific models of Home
Depot's Glacier Bay; Kohler's
Wellworth and Cimarron;
American Standard's
Cadet 3 FloWise;
and Gerber's
UltraFlush.
Tip 2: Check for rebates on high-efficiency models
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American Standard Cadet toilet
American
Standard Compact
Cadet 1.28 gpf, model
2403; at
home centers and
online retailers.
americanstandard.com
Photo courtesy of American Standard
A toilet accounts for a third of your household water use. High-efficiency
toilets (HET) that use 1.28 gallons or less earn the EPA's
WaterSense label. These can save 4,000 gallons of water per person
annually, and some water utilities offer rebates if you install one
(check with yours). However, check independent test results before
you buy (see the Web sites in Tip 1 above). Our plumbers report more
staining and clogging problems with some high-efficiency models.
Tip 3: Get a pressure-assist toilet if a clean bowl using less water is a top priority
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A pressure-assist toilet
Gerber Ultra Flush
pressure-assist
1.6 gpf, model 21-302; at
plumbing showrooms
and online retailers.
gerberonline.com
According to the plumbers we spoke with, pressure-assist toilets are
more water-efficient flushers than gravity toilets. They have a separate
tank that holds water under pressure, which releases with great
velocity and removes waste thoroughly when you flush. They're also
pricier ($100 plus) and a lot noisier than gravity types. (See our field
editor comments below.) Finding parts and making repairs can also
be more of a headache with pressure-assist toilets.
For more info on gravity and pressure-assist toilets, type “toilet performance” in the search box above.
Tip 4: Make cleaning easier
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A wall-hung toilet
IMAGE DESCRIPTION (the cutline)
Toto Aquia
wall-hung high-efficiency
dual-flush 1.6 and 0.8 gpf; at
plumbing showrooms
and online retailers.
totousa.com
Photo courtesy of Toto
One-piece toilets are easier to clean (fewer nooks and crannies),
but they're also more expensive and can be harder to
install than a two-piece unit (they're a lot heavier than a
separate bowl and tank). If you're feeling flush and want
truly easy cleaning, consider a wall-mounted toilet.
Tips From Our Field Editors
Our field editors from across the country share their insights and experience with new toilets.
“Ho. Lee. Cow. We HATE
our toilet. It claims the
ability to flush 24 golf
balls. Seriously. Maybe it
could do 24 golf balls one
at a time over a two-week period
with a string pulling them down.”
-- Murph Krajewski
Beware of Pressure-Assist Noise
“Our builder installed the LOUDEST
toilets in the world. When someone
flushes, I have to pause the TV so
I don't miss any dialogue. I installed
a gravity toilet in my basement, and
when our newborn is napping, I
make everyone go there to potty!”
-- Jason Hirsbrunner
“My pressure-assist toilet flushes
extremely well, but it's very loud. It
sounds like it's flushing the whole
bathroom down with it.”
-- Tom Rohlf
Beware of Nonstandard Parts
“We got an “uber-cool” toilet and
I wish we hadn't. The seat is
custom, so we'll have to spend
$115 to replace it someday, and the
innards aren't normal, so when things
eventually wear out, we'll be rigging it
with odds and ends to make it work.”
-- Kristin Green
Colored Toilets make
a House Harder to Sell
“Most people can compromise when
it comes to a low vs. high, round vs.
elongated toilet, but color is almost
always nontransferable from one
owner to another! Avoid designer
color toilets like the plague.”
-- Joseph Papay,
Craftsman & Design Services
Cushioned Seats Don't Age Gracefully
“The first one didn't fit, the next one
seemed OK until it cracked and
pinched your leg when you sat on it,
and the last one made a humorous
sound when you sat down. No more
cushioned seats!”
-- Bruce Dexter
Add A Tush of Class and Get
a Slow-Close, Removable Seat
“We really like the slow-drop seats with the quick disconnect
feature for easy cleaning. With two
little ones, it saves slamming seats in the middle
of the night and makes cleaning a snap.”
--Jack Bauer
Tip 5: Consider a taller throne for comfort
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A taller toilet
Gerber Avalanche
high-efficiency 1.28 gpf,
model 21-824, 17-in.
ErgoHeight; at plumbing showrooms
and online retailers.
gerberonline.com
Photo courtesy of Gerber
Toilets that comply with the Americans With Disabilities
Act have higher bowl heights of 17 in. or 19 in. vs. the standard
15 in. A higher bowl can be more comfortable for
taller and older people and easier on backs and knees. But
it can be harder for kids and shorter folks to use, and it
costs $50 to $100 more. If you're not sure, sit on the toilet
in the store. It feels silly, but you'll get what you want.
Tip 6: Measure the rough-in before you buy
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Measure the rough-in
The rough-in is the distance from the center of the toilet flange (the hold-down bolts) to the wall. Buy a toilet that fits the rough-in distance so you don't have the difficult job of moving the flange.
The distance from the wall to the middle of the flange bolts
that hold down the toilet will narrow your toilet choices.
Twelve inches is standard, but 10-in. and 14-in. models are
available. Unless you're significantly remodeling, make
installation easier by choosing a toilet with the same rough-in
as your existing toilet. Make sure to account for the thickness
of your baseboard.
For how-to tips on replacing a toilet, type “replace a toilet” in the search box above.
Tip 7: Beware of bigger bowls
Elongated bowls are 2 in. longer and more comfortable for
many people. But before you upgrade from a standard
round bowl, take some measurements. We've heard a lot
of stories about doors and drawers that couldn't be
opened after an elongated bowl was installed.
Tip 8: Save water with a dual-flush toilet
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A dual-flush toilet
American
Standard H2Option
Siphonic Dual Flush
Elongated 1.6 or 1.0
gpf, model 2887-
216; at
home centers and
online retailers
americanstandard.com
Photo courtesy of American Standard
These have a .8-gpf button for liquids and a 1.6-gpf button
for solids and use about 25 percent less water than a regular
1.6-gpf toilet. Dual-flush toilets are available in both
gravity and pressure-assist models. They're pricier than
other types (an additional $150 to $300 depending on the
model) and they come in fewer color and style options.
Also, the flush button or handle can be awkward to push
on some models.
