We are going to replace our bathroom toilet and we are considering a pressure assisted flushing system, don't know much about them and would appreciate any recommendations or comments about their reliability and problems with repairs. TIA Charlie
Why put in a noisy, pressure flush toilet when you can install a quiet Toto for less money and with better performance? We paid $206 for a Toto Drake with 900 gram performance.
Pressure assist units are not needed today as they were say 8 years ago. The quality and design of standard flush low volume toilets has improved greatly. They are simpler designs, cost less, quieter and more reliable.
I suggest looking for two primary features: A fully glazed trap and at least a 2 inch trap. I believe you can still find these under $100 in the US. I suggest the Cadet models. Note: fancy styling or special shaped bowls can greatly increase the price.
Check out the Gerber with Sloan Flushmate valve. Very quiet and powerful. But too keep the toilet as clean as possible it uses a high water line which some people don't like because of splashing. So consider their extra tall version or oblong version too instead of the normal round one.
I'll second that. We installed Briggs toilets which have a "pressure assist" during our renovation, based on the plumbing company's recommendation that they were the best of the "improved" (ie, not standard flush) models available locally. They're OK, but no big improvement over a current model standard flush design. Later we were told (same plumber) that the Briggs had a deteriorating reliability reputation, that spare parts were a problem and that if there were problems he usually had to replace the entire flush mechanism. One of ours developed a leak that he couldn't fix, and while we were trying to decide what to do, the leak gradually stopped of its own accord over the space of a couple of months.
One other small factor, with a standard flush toilet if your water is off you can refill the tank just by lifting the lid and pouring in a bucket of water, so it's ready for the next flush. With a power assist, you can't do that (at least, with the Briggs you can't --) because the water is held in a closed vessel inside the tank. That's significant for us, because we were without electricity for about 15 days during the hurricanes last year, so we couldn't get water pressure from our well. But we had several sources of water, including our artesian well. We "flushed" by pouring a bucket of water directly into the toilet bowl.
If I had it to do over again, I'd buy American Standard Champion or similar -- and the next time I have a maintenance problem with one of the Briggs I'm going to replace it.
Also, consider buying a "handicapped" height toilet, which is more comfortable and is gradually becoming the standard installation.
Regards --
Canada, of course, sells the 3-gallon models...
Kohler Wellworth "Highline" Comfort Height toilets.
At Lowes for $ 147.50 in the stylish oval shape. (The plain jane "round "ones are $ 99.00 IIRC)
We had 3 in the last house we built in '98 and just put 3 more in the new place. They work great and are rated highly. BTW, I think they went down to $
132 since we bought ours
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