A toilet is perhaps the most unappreciated but vital plumbing fixture in the entire home. Honestly, most people appreciate the presence of a toilet only when they need to use it. Anyone who has ever experienced a serious clogging problem, where you have had to use your neighbor’s toilet, realizes just how important a fully functioning toilet is. Doubtlessly, every good home needs good toilets. Whether you are planning a bathroom remodeling project or you just want to replace or upgrade your toilets, you need to consider several factors. The following tips are very crucial when choosing a new toilet.
Type
There are numerous toilet types and models in the market today — perhaps too numerous they can even confuse a buyer. There is the traditional two-piece toilet that has separate bowls and tanks; making it easy to install and durable, but difficult to repair. With no seam between the bowl and the tank, one-piece toilets are the modern version of the two-piece models. They are sleek and hence more expensive. Round-front bowls are the snub-nosed toilets that came before the pear-shaped elongated bowls of today. They maximized bathroom space, while the latter offers the user extra space. Designed for limited mobility, long bowls that stand 17-19 inches off the floor are now popular among the elderly than the conventional standard bowls that stand at 14-15 inches. While partial foot toilets leave a small space that can be used for retrofits between the bowl and the back wall, solid foot toilets are affixed to the back wall. Tanks in wall-mount toilets are installed inside the wall cavity — reducing space usage; while tankless toilets flush directly with supply line water and may need pumps to increase pressure. Finally, toilets come in many different colors; but white is the most dominant. With so many choices, you might require help to choose the most appropriate one for your home. Search for a professional plumber in your area for assistance. For instance, if you are in Washington, search for any well established company offering DC plumbing services, they will be happy to help.
Flushing Power And Efficiency
There are three main types of toilet flushing mechanisms. Gravity-fed toilets move water from the tank to the bowl using gravity, creating a siphon that sucks waste into the sewer. Pressure-assisted toilets have sealed internal tanks that generate air pressure as water fills up. Flushing them releases the pressure downwards creating a forceful wave that sweeps the waste away. Finally, power-assisted toilets are a modified version of the pressure-assisted models — they have a small horsepower electric motor to enhance the air pressure and hence the flushing power. High-efficiency toilets and dual-flush toilets are efficiency enhanced models that are modified versions of any of the aforementioned mechanisms.
Accounting for almost 30% of all indoor home water use, toilets are water guzzlers. Before buying a toilet, ensure that it has fulfilled EPA’s water efficiency standards by checking for its WaterSense certification. You will save a lot of water in your home with such a toilet.
Toilet Seats
Like all other toilet accessories, toilet seats have evolved in design, model, and price, but mostly in functionality. Compared to the traditional toilet seats that were designed to only serve their basic functions, modern toilet seats are just marvelous. Heated seats use thermostatic controls to warm the seat to your desired comfort level. Bidet seats have many features including warm water, dual water jets, warm air for drying and even motion-activated lighting to illuminate the toilet. Slam-less lids close softly and noiselessly, while quick-release hinges enable you to remove the seat conveniently for cleaning. Finally, antimicrobial coatings contain silver, which prevents microorganisms like bacteria and fungi from growing under the seat.