Hello, I’m Ted Rogers, and in todays article, I’m going to be guiding you through the process of buying a new toilet. I will be calling on my expertise in this field to give you advice on what to look for. I will also be providing you with important resources you can use to your advantage.
It’s no secret that picking and fitting a new toilet can be an expensive affair. The costs of hiring a plumber on top of buying the product can be quite the financial burden. Get the decision wrong, and it can cause all kinds of problems including leaking and weak flushes. The best residential toilets aren’t always the obvious choice. There are a number of things to look out for that we will cover in detail below.
First things first, the design matters. No one wants an ugly toilet. We believe the simplest solution to this is to consider going for a product with a concealed or skirted trapway. These are usually one piece, and come equipped with a smooth, exterior with limited cracks. This does a great job of hiding the trapway and certainly plays a part in modernizing the overall theme of your bathroom.
Next on our list is the MaP flush rating. This used as a way to effectively test the performance of a toilet and how effectively each model handles bulk waste. This is easy to follow, and they usually have a detailed list with products rated between zero and one thousand MaP. The lower you are on this scale, the weaker the flush. Many professionals recommend going for options above 500, but I suggest keeping it above 600 just to be safe.
Next we research into the flush mechanism. There is a huge variety of systems available, with top brands even creating and naming there own. However, to keep things simple, the two main options you’re going to come across are dual flush and single flush. Dual flush sends two different gallon amounts depending on the job, and single flush sends a fixed amount each time. Both have there advantages, but dual tend to be the choice for people looking to save water, more on that next.
Water savings are essential in our view. Not only are we doing our part for the environment for selecting a low flow model, you may also be entitled to rebates depending on your state. Look for options that are labelled by WaterSense. The general rule here is the use of 1.28 gallons and below are the economically friendly options. There is a small trade off however, they are not always as powerful as the standard 1.6 gallon toilets.
You will also want to be looking at the toilet bowl height. Some people prefer the tradition sized loos. However, for someone who finds sitting and standing difficult, be it through disability or age, there are ADA compliant options that go by several names. Comfort, right, and chair height all typically describe units that are above seventeen inches in height measured from the base to the top of a seat. By going for such an option, you improve accessibility.
Finally, you’ll want to consider the brand. We prefer TOTO toilets for most jobs, but there are alternatives we use in certain situations too. Kohler, American Standard, Gerber, and Mansfield are just a few options to choose from. The toiletbrains.com website explore the top toilet brands in more detail.
If you would like more information on buying a toilet, why not get in touch with us. Alternatively, you can read about our qualifications on our who we are page.