8 Easy Steps To Choosing The Perfect Toilet

You might be building a new home, or fixing up the one you have. With all the details concerned, you might overlook the humble toilet. Mundane as it may seem, the toilet is an important part of your bathroom. Following a few easy steps can assist you in the choosing the perfect toilet. Remember, all toilets are not built the same!

Step by step now, let’s examine:

1). The bowl shape: The main choices here are an elongated bowl and a round front bowl. The round style is shorter and fits for a smaller space. However, the elongated style gives you more comfort, since there is more open space in front.

2). The toilet size: Toilets come in different widths, heights and lengths. For the right fit, you will need to do some measuring. Don't forget about the rough-in space - the distance of the bowl's center to the finished wall - as this too will determine the toilet's maximum size.

3). How large is your toilet trapway?: This is the end of the toilet where waste and water leave. The smallest size available passes through waste of a 1.5 inch diameter. The larger the trapway, the less likely clogging will be.

4). How the toilet flushes: Due to water conservation laws, toilet tanks in the US hold 1.6 gallons of water. Despite this, different flush technologies give you some choice. The siphon created by the weight of the water pushes through the waste and empties the bowl in gravity fed toilets. For a little extra flushing help, pressure assisted toilets use compressed air in the toilet tank. The extra pressure caused by compressed air helps the toilet to flush better. On the downside, besides the bigger expense, these toilets tend to be noisier and harder to repair.

5). One or two piece toilets: For the budget minded, toilets consisting of the two separate pieces of toilet bowl and tank are appropriate. There are up to six parts in a one piece toilet that seamlessy make it up. This is a more elegant style that is cleaned more easily and requires less space but also has a higher price tag.

6). Maintenance features: Many better toilet designs include features to easily maintain them. For instance, Toto, an innovative Japanese manufacturer, has SanaGloss, a ceramic glaze which prevents bacteria and mold buildup, making the toilet easy to clean. American Standard has its EasyClean feature. Kohler has an insulated liner for some of its toilet lines, preventing moisture build-up on the outside of the tank due to condensation.

7). What does the toilet look like?: Function is certainly essential, but a pleasing form is also important. Fortunately, today’s toilets come in a huge selection of colors and sizes. However, non-white colors will usually cost you more. One approach you may to consider is to choose a toilet that is part of a bathroom suite, thus ensuring that are the fixtures are in harmony.

8). What else?: High end toilets may come with heated seats, warm air drying systems and built-in bidets, such as the Toto Washlets. Kohler makes the Comfort Height toilet with a higher seat for easier sitting and standing.

There, now you have 8 steps to finding the toilet that is right for you and your loved ones!

Article By: Rob Barnes