When you consider their expected lifespan, toilets are an affordable investment that will last you for decades if properly maintained. It's essential that you think about all options when choosing a toilet.
Do Brand and Price Matter?
There’s a philosophy that cheap is often more expensive. This belief holds 99.9% of my time. The old saying "you get what you pay for" applies to almost everything. Your plumbing fixtures are no exception. The toilet is a long-term investment. A better quality product should last 20+ years. Before you purchase, consider how long it will take to replace it. Toilets made by low-quality brands are known for their poor flushing, which requires frequent plunging and stops, which means more expensive repairs than those made from higher-quality brands. The money you save by buying a less expensive toilet can often be used to pay for repairs that could cost more than twice as much in just a few years. Not to mention the hassle of having to replace your toilet when it could have been avoided. The same applies to rentals. We see landlords and property managers opting to furnish their toilets themselves to save money. This can increase expenses due to stoppages, floods, and ongoing repairs. You will never regret investing in a high-quality, flushing toilet.
Choosing the Right Color
There are many colors available for toilets. There are many colors available for toilets. If you can imagine it, you will be able to buy it. White is the most popular color available, and it is also available from all manufacturers. The beauty of the basic white toilet is its consistency from manufacturer to manufacturer. This makes it easy to match white fixtures in your bathroom without worrying about differences between your sink and tub. Colored toilets can be a special order and may take up to a few weeks to ship, depending on their popularity. You can have your heart set on a colored toilet. However, specialty colors may not match well from manufacturer to manufacturer. Sometimes even batches of the same color can vary. If you are in the middle of a remodel, make sure to purchase all fixtures from the same manufacturer.
The Right Height
Your toilet's height can be adjusted based on the tank and the bowl. You will need to measure the clearance if you have a banjo (a countertop that extends over your toilet's top) in your bathroom. A standard toilet won't fit under the counter. You will need a lowboy option. This will allow you to remove the lid and reset the toilet easily.
The toilet bowl comes in a fixed height. A standard height is 15 inches, but 17-inch models can be purchased and are ADA compliant.
The Right Tank
Let us not confuse you: tanks and bowls cannot be interchangeable. They are not compatible with the same brand, as bolt patterns from tank to bowl differ. Let us tell you about some options to help you choose the best toilet for you. The tank holds the water used to flush your toilet. They vary in size, style, and flushing type. The residential market is increasingly turning to water-saving models. They range from a 1.6 per gal flush to.8. In some areas like California, it can be as low as.6. Water conservation efforts have led to the increased popularity of these water-saving models to 1.28. Toilet manufacturers have made great strides since 1994 when low-flow options were first required. You can be confident that a high-quality toilet will offer a low-flow option due to advances in science. Different styles have push-button flushing technology. You also have the lever option. If you choose the lever option, ask whether your handle will be on the tank's left or the right side.
A-One- or Two-Piece Toile?
One-piece and 2-piece toilets look very different. If you choose one-piece or two-piece toilets, I cannot help you choose the best option. Apart from the aesthetics, two-piece toilets have a gasket at the junction of the bowl and tank. On the other hand, one-piece toilets are one solid mold with a tank lid. This junction can save the life expectancy of the toilets as they tend to leak. A one-piece toilet tank is also less likely to crack if the user doesn't lean back enough. A one-piece model is more expensive than a two-piece. The inside parts are also more costly than you would expect for the standard tank or bowl style.
The Right Base
There are many style options available when it comes down to buying a new toilet. You can choose from classic and retro styles to sleek and modern ones. Now you're clear about the style you prefer, but did you know that certain looks are easier to clean? It is not something anyone wants to do more than necessary to clean a toilet. This is why it is recommended that you purchase a skirted toilet. Upgrades can make a big difference, especially when considering that the toilet will be there for many years. The porcelain is usually attached to the base of the toilet. This allows for a lot of surface space around the flange bolts and the cap to clean the toilet base. The skirted option is flat and smooth at the base. This makes it easy to clean up without any grooves.
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Another thing to consider when deciding on the size of your new toilet's base is its footprint. If your bathroom flooring was not finished to the edge of the toilet, you need to ensure that the toilet's footprint covers the entire hole.
Cleaning Options
Some toilets claim that they clean themselves. Toilets can now be purchased with disposable cleaning cartridges. These add a solution to the bowl to clean with every flush. A toilet bowl with an interior coating is another option. They have a special sani-gloss design that helps prevent streaking.
Preference
Consider your options for seating if you need a specific toilet. Although there are many aftermarket options for toilet seats, some are specifically designed to fit the specific toilet they were made for. A toilet seat that can warm up, clean your back, and sing to you via an app is possible. You could get the app-featured toilet seat for your office and squirt them into hurrying up to the bathroom. You all know the feeling that people get when they go to the bathroom, and then 30 minutes later, they are scrolling through Facebook. Imagine moms having a remote squirt gun at your toilet to get people going.
Selecting the Right Flush
There are many options available for flush types. These can range from one flushing handle at the tank's front to multiple push buttons on top. Residential users also can choose whether to flush for #1 and #2. Residential homes can now have pressure-assist options. This is a tank with a pressurized inside that provides pressurized air for each flush.
The choice of toilet is personal and will depend on your family's needs. Remember that the toilet can be used in a guest bathroom, so visitors won't need to ask how to flush their business. The more complex the flush, the more expensive it is to repair the tank. While it is not often much, specialty parts can be more expensive to replace.
The bottom line is that if you need a new toilet, don't settle for anything less than the best. Take your family's needs into consideration before making an important decision that you will cherish for the next 20+ decades.
