In
recent years, regulation changes regarding the amount of water that
toilets can use for the flushing of toilets has caused some concern for
home owners. In the past, it was common for a toilet to use 3 to 7
gallons of water per flush.
Federal law now requires that a toilet not use more than 1.6 gallons
per flush. The great reduction in water usage, while bringing definite
benefits to the environment, has caused many home owners to need to
make repeated calls to plumbers to repair toilets that failed to
function properly.
Newer models of toilets, though, have come a long way in providing good
flushing systems while still meeting the requirements set by the new
regulations governing water usage. In fact, some of the toilets have
new flushing systems that actually work better than did the older
models that were guilty of wasting so much water with each flush. There
are now many options for home owners who seek to meet the regulations,
but at the same time not to lose proper functionality for their
flushing systems.
Toilet Styles
Toilets
come in many designs, providing many options for home owners to choose
from. Each bathroom's setup is slightly different, and finding the
toilet that is the right fit will make the whole bathroom more useful
and easier to maintain. Most of the differences in the various styles
of toilets have little to do with functionality, and more to do with
finding the best fit for the toilet inside the bathroom's available
floor space.
Corner
Toilets
Corner toilets have a triangular shaped tank that fits nicely into a
corner in the bathroom. This design is intended as a space-saver. It
can come with a round-front seat or an elongated seat. |
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Round-front
Toilets
Round-front toilets are the most common type, also called a standard
toilet. The front of the toilet's bowl is round. When replacing the
seat on a toilet, it is important to make sure to get the right seat to
match the bowl. Round-front toilets and elongated toilets use different
sizes of seats. |
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Elongated
Toilets
On an elongated toilet, the bowl is longer, the front end of the
toilet's bowl protruding 2 inches further than does its round-fronted
counterpart. The advantages of an elongated toilet are several, making
it the toilet of choice for many home owners. The elongated bowl makes
for a more comfortable seat, and it also allows for a larger water
surface area. This means that the flushing system will be more
powerful, while using less water. In addition, it has a more elegant
look than the round-front toilet. |
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One-piece
Construction Toilets
One-piece construction toilets have the base of the tank connected to
the area behind the seat, forming a single unit. The design is meant to
save space in smaller bathrooms, but it also offers the further
advantage of being easier to clean, with fewer crevices than the
two-piece construction toilets. One-piece construction toilets can come
with an elongated or a round-front bowl. The one-piece construction
design for toilets is slightly more costly than comparable toilets with
a two-piece construction design. |
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One-piece construction toilets are popular with some people who have
disabilities. The one-piece design means that the tank is lower than a
two-piece construction toilet's tank, making the flushing handle easier
to reach. Because of the lower height, it can be more accessible for
users who suffer from certain disabilities.
Wall-mounted
Toilets
Wall-mounted toilets are another model intended to save space. The
wall-mounted toilet is attached to the wall, with the tank being built
into in the wall. The absence of the tank in the bathroom makes for
much more space, making this a popular choice for home owners who have
very little floor space in their bathrooms. |
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Combination
Bidet-Toilet
For home owners who prefer bathrooms with a posh European style, Toto
manufactures a combination bidet-toilet. It is a stylish unit, and has
a lower tank than most toilets. It is a one-piece construction style of
unit. |
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Toilet Features to Consider
Pressure-Assisted Flush
The pressure-assisted flush system has been designed with federal
regulations on water usage in mind. With the mandate requiring lower
water amounts be used per flush, a problem arose of how to make a
system as effective as earlier toilet flushing systems in ridding the
bowl of waste. The pressure-assisted flush system uses pressurized air
to help the toilet force water into the bowl and down the drain. It is
very effective in helping to save water, but many users complain of the
noise generated by the pressure-assisted flushing system. The noise,
which many users in the past accused of frightening small children, is
much greater than that of the traditional gravity flush systems.
However, many of the newer toilets with pressure-assisted flush now
operate more quietly than the early models did.
The advantage of the pressure-assisted flush system lies in its savings
on water bills. Some home owners report saving about $100 per year on
water bills by using these lower water-usage flushing systems.
Some pressure-assisted toilets need to be plugged into an AC power
supply, so would need to be situated near a power socket when
installed. The buyer should take this into consideration before
choosing a toilet with an electrically powered pressure-assisted
flushing system.
Dual Flush Toilets
Dual flush system toilets have the ability to flush at full or half
strength. On the top of the tank, there are two buttons, one for full
flush, and the other for half flush. The half flush option only uses
0.8 gallons of water per flush. It is designed to save water.
Macerators and Pumps
A macerator with a pump is an excellent solution for toilets that are
placed in low-lying areas, even those that may lie below the sewer
line. A macerator can be attached to the toilet bowl, and usually to
several other bathroom appliances too. The macerator and pump will
eliminate all of the waste water from the bathroom appliances. The pump
and macerator rest on the floor underneath the tank, in the gap between
the foot of the toilet and the wall. Saniflo manufactures several
options for the home owner looking for a toilet with macerator and
pump. Several of Saniflo's units are excellent water-saving models.
High
Tank with Pull Chain
Some toilets have a separate tank that is placed high, with an attached
pull chain dangling to within the users reach for flushing. These
models are a sure way to create an antique feel to the bathroom. They
can be found with round-front or elongated designs.
Price Range
Toilet
prices begin at prices below $150. There is a wide range of prices
available, with some toilets selling for thousands of dollars. It
should not be difficult for any home owner to find a suitable toilet
for each of the bathrooms in the home, and to find it in a suitable
price range.
Corner Toilets
Corner toilets range in price from $250 to $500. Eljer is the main
manufacturer of corner toilets.
A replacement tank costs about $150 for a corner toilet on a two-piece
construction unit.
Round-front Toilets
Being the most common type of toilets, round-front toilets can be found
for very affordable prices. American Standard manufactures a model that
sells for as low as $125. Many models sell for below $200. Prices can
range up to $500, but most of the round-front toilets sell in the price
range of $150 to $300.
Elongated Toilets
Elongated toilets begin in the price range of $220. American Standard
and Toto both have models priced between $200 and $300. The majority of
elongated toilets sell for prices between $300 and $500.
Elongated toilets with attached macerators or grinder pumps sell for
prices over $800. Saniflo's elongated toilet with macerator and pump
sells for just over $800. The models that come with an attached grinder
pump sells for prices between $930 and $990.
One-piece Construction
Toilets
One-piece construction toilets are more expensive, in general, than
two-piece construction toilets. Prices for one-piece construction
toilets begin at just over $300, for units such as Kohler's Rialto and
American Standard's Champion one- piece construction toilets.
The majority of one-piece construction toilets sell for prices between
$400 and $500. Kohler, Toto, Eljer, Plymouth, and American Standard all
sell one-piece construction toilets in this price range.
Saniflo manufactures a one-piece construction toilet with a macerator
located inside the base of the unit. It sells for just under $700.
Many one-piece construction toilets are priced over $1,000. Most of the
more costly units are made with a more elegant design, such as the
designs manufactured by Wasauna. Kohler also sells a unit priced over
$1,000. This design is made to have a more powerful flushing system in
a small design.
Wall-mounted
Toilets
Wall-mounted toilets are generally priced over $600, with some selling
for prices over $800. However, Porcher manufactures a unit that sells
for less than $250. Duravit sells several models of wall-mounted
toilets. Most of Duravit's wall-mounted toilets sell for prices over
$1,000, though there are a few models that sell for just under $1,000.
Combination Bidet-Toilet
There are several bidets to choose from, all costing around $1,000 or
more. Toto manufactures two combination bidet-toilet units, one selling
for $3,200, and the other for $5,200. Both of these combination
bidet-toilet units sold by Toto come with remote control features.
Top Manufacturers
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