How to Buy a Toilet
From LoveToKnow Buy
If you're wondering how to buy a toilet, there's more to it than how it will look in your bathroom. One-and-two-piece toilets, various bowls and seats are deciding factors, as well as different types of tanks and flushing systems.
Measuring for Your Next Toilet
Generally, if your bathroom is small, stick with a round toilet. If the bathroom is larger, go with an elongated one. When selecting size, choose the height based on your needs and measuring from the wall because most toilets need about twelve to fourteen inches between the base and the wall.
A measurement called the rough-in is the distance from the wall to the center of a rear bolt on the toilet. Before removing your old toilet or going out to purchase a new one, pull out the tape measure and find out what the rough-in measurement is. When you go out shopping for a new toilet, take your tape measure with you and measure from the rear bolt to the back of the toilet. A shorter distance means a surer fit.
How to Buy a Toilet: Basics
There are more things to consider when determining how to buy a toilet than you might have thought. Many people take for granted whatever is in their home or office and don't think much about the pros and cons to specific toilet styles or the available choices.
One Piece Versus Two
You'll pay a bit more for a one piece toilet than a two piece, but it's well worth it because water won't get trapped between the tank and bowl. You get pretty much everything you need with a one piece bowl, too, whereas with a two piece set you'll have to remember the seat on your own. More overall knowledge about assembly is needed about two-piece toilet.
Bowl Types
There are two basic bowl types and a few different heights. The bowl shapes include round and elongated. The round ones are best if the bathroom is on the small side. If you have room to spare, opt for a more comfortable elongated (oval) bowl that takes up two more inches of space. You can get heights in ten inches for kids, the standard fourteen to fifteen inches, or seventeen inches for disabled adults (often referred to as ADA designs, named for the American Disabilities Act).
Flushing and Tanks
Newer toilets in the United States now use just 1.6 litres of water as opposed to the 5.5 and 3.5 litre ones that were popular previously. Meant to conserve water, the newer ones still get the same flushing success as with the older models.
You can choose either a pressure assisted flush or a gravity flush one. If you choose the pressure assisted one, prepare for expensive maintenance, noisy flushes, and an up-front expense when you purchase the toilet. However, the perk to this type of flushing system is you're less likely to get clogs. Gravity flush systems, on the other hand may give you a few more clogs, but they're quieter, cheaper, and require less maintenance overall. They only use water weight and gravity for flushing as opposed to air pressure.
Extras
Check the trapway, which is the tubing on the side of the toilet. The wider, the better, because clogs happen less: water has more room to move.
You'll also want to make sure your toilet matches the interior of your bathroom, so don't jump on a classic white one-piece if a black one would look better. Shop around because there are so many choices available that could perfectly match your bathtub, your sink, and your paint colors.
Another thing to look at is the flush valve inside of the tank. The longer it is, the more water that pushes through at one time, which that results in a more powerful flush. When you push the flush lever on the outside, the flush valve on the inside goes to work, pushing water out of the tank.
The Bottom Line
There is a lot more to consider when determining how to buy a new toilet than initially meets the eye. However, by taking a few measurements and weighing the pros and cons of each piece, you'll find your perfect toilet in no time.
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This page has been accessed 1,116 times. This page was last modified 16:17, 28 February 2009.
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