Choosing a Toilet

Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase.

One thing that I want to do is to take advantage of the new features that are being offered on new toilets these days.

First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets?

Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood.

Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper?

Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated.

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh
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Ignore Usenet hearsay, marketing double talk and get the facts.Pick up a copy of the latest Maximum Performance Test of low flow toilets here:

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Look for the link that says "6 Litre Toilets" and then click on the 8th edition report.

Reply to
Rick Blaine

I have a new Toto that I like. They make a lot of models and I have another but this one cost $100 more and is quieter. Neither has ever clogged. I think in the beginning, the lower water use mandated toilets did not flush as well as the old high volume ones but I do not think this is true any longer.

Frank

Reply to
Frank
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Funny story; I had a roofer out the other day who offered me a great deal on premium shingles with a 35 year warranty. I looked him in the eye and said "Listen, sonny; I'm 60 years old. Why the hell would I waste my money on a shingle with a 35 year warranty?"

The Rolls-Royce of toilets is the Toto. Yes, they are pricey, but if you can afford it, it's the last toilet you will ever buy. You can look them over at

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and even find a dealer in your area. You wanted modern features, so be sure and look over the section on "washlets", but don't you dare show momma or you are doomed.

Like any other household appliance, you get what you pay for.

John

Reply to
John~                         
[entire post snipped]

Hey Professor! That was the hardest post to read that I can recall. I had to read the 2nd paragraph, then the 1st, then the 4th, then the 3rd, and so on. Very strange. And you're a professor!? Could you please learn how to properly post. Usenet is a question and then answer type of discussion. And we that read English read from top down. Thanks.

Don (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Reply to
Don Wiss

That is one of those snappy sayings that I never believed. If anyone believes that statement, then I have a $200 Thousand Ford Escort to sell you.

The Toto certainly looks advanced, but I didn't know what a 'washlet' was. It's a stealth bidet. I'd have to warn my guests, or risk getting slapped. Sadly, from the looks of it, Toto is out of my price range. I will have to stick with those items stocked at my local Lowe's Home Center.

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh

I will only try to address one issue. Function. As you look at the specs, you want to pay attention to two of them.

First it should be "Fully Glazed" That means the part of the drain you don't see, the part where things get clogged, is fully glazed like the parts you do see. If it does not say fully glazed, then inside that pipe there are sections that are not fully glazed and have a consistency somewhat like sand paper. Things that you don't want to see again slide on the glass like finish (glazed) much better than on sand paper.

Next you want to look for a trap size (the trap is the part that is hopefully fully glazed) is at a minimum 2 inches and larger is much better. I would not buy less than 2 inches myself.

Between the two you get a slippery large opening to get rid of the unwanted.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

I'm in luck! Consumer Reports has a review of toilets online from Aug.

2005. They talk about some of the things I was interested in. Should have gone there, first. With the comments from this newsgroup, and the analyses on CR, I'm confident that I'll have a reliable throne installed by Monday.

Anyway, it looks like the Eljer Titan is going to deserve some investigation. It's not easy to test a toilet in the showroom!

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh

Thanks for the insight, BetsyB. Situations like what you describe is exactly what I am trying to prepare for. I may have the money now for a taller toilet, but I probably won't have the money after I retire and go on a fixed income (in a couple of decades).

Trying to 'make hay while the sun shines'.

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh

Must have features: elongaged shape, "comfort" or ADA compliant height. I was looking for a toilet that would flush in one shot compared to the weaker one it was replacing. I ended up with an American Standard Champion.

It's not quiet at all, but that wasn't important. It so far hasn't choked on anything that's been dumped in it, pardon the pun. What it doesn't do well is clean the sides of the toilet when it flushes. Everything will go down but you may be left with skid marks on the sides.

Whatever you decide, there are no down sides to choosing elongation and comfort height. If your kids are that small where they might fall in, be sure to have a roll call every evening before bed to make sure they're all still there.

Reply to
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:06:36 GMT, John~                                                                 

With that attitude, so am I.

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh
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No problem; buy the "Acme Deluxe Toilet" and plunge it three times a week.

Sorry I wasted my time trying to help....

Reply to
John~                         

The problem with that article is they only tested a minute fraction of the toilet models that are available in the market place.

Don (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Reply to
Don Wiss

I installed a Toto. Outstanding. The part about the skid marks is true. Probably true of all 'low flow' brands. Anything that doesn't land in water leaves a skid mark and you can't have 'low flow' and a large water pool at the same time.

Noise - yep, mine is too. I will gladly accept the noisy flush over the repeated flushes of the POS I replaced.

I had forgotten just how miserable those 'non-comfort height' or non- ADA toilets were until today. Had to use one at the house of a guy I was helping out. Thought I had missed the seat before I finally hit it.

I gaurantee anyone replaceing a toilet and doesn't use one of the taller ones will regret it when they get up to the senior years.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

If you want to buy Com hieght good idea many of my clients have . If you buy 6ltr get one that as some one else said fully glazed 2 inch no smaller opening. 2 button toilets are good but you can save money and hold the lever till the water in the bowl goe,s down, you then have used the full 6 ltrs. Nost people that tell me they will never buy another 6 just don,t know how to flush it properly. You have to hold the handle till the water starts to go down in the bowl it has then used the full tank not half as it would if you flick and walk away.Crane Kohler American Standerd all very good. Good Luck

Reply to
jim

How does that work? If you don't spend it now, won't you have it later?

Reply to
mm

I made the opposite mistake. When I was 55, I bought a 25 year roof.

Should have bought longer.

I'm going to have to by a new roof when I only have 10 years to live.

Reply to
mm

No other source of information that I could find has tested as many toilets as CR did. No other source did as detailed a test. CR tested Crane, Eljer, Kohler, Gerber, American Standard, Toto, Mansfield, Niagara, Jacuzzi, Briggs and Sterling. That's a bigger sample set than is available locally. I'm satisfied with that.

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh

You really shoudln't complain Luke, because you provoked it.

Let's see:

In the paragraph above basically you called him a fool.

I don't know what this paragraph means but I know it didnt' undo the first paragraph.

And he was trying to help. So who's the one with the attitude?

Reply to
mm

It's really not that complicated. My income right now is higher than it will be when I am retired.

Luke

Reply to
Luke Howett Fitzhugh

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