Selecting A New Toilet

Selecting a new toilet is not the simple process it once was.  Beyond making aesthetic choices, consumers now must consider different types of toilets and decide which one best meets their needs.  Is how much noise it makes a concern?  Is flushing power more important?  Do you want to minimize how much water is used?

Gravity-feed toilets

The traditional toilet is the gravity-feed toilet.  You simply push the handle and it releases water that is pulled into the bowl by gravity.

Advantages

  • The quietest option.
  • High-end models can perform as well as pressure-assisted toilets
  • Disadvantages
  • Low-end models lack the flushing power of pressure-assisted toilets

Pressure-assisted toilets

Pressure-assisted toilets use compressed air and water to force waste down.

Advantages

  • They provide the best flushing power.  More flushing power means fewer clogs and messy overflows.

Disadvantages

  • The forceful expulsion of air can be very noisy.  Bear this in mind if you are replacing a toilet where noise can be especially distracting, such as in a shared bedroom.
  • They can be expensive.
  • You need to test your home’s water pressure to be sure it is at least 25 psi.  If it is not, the toilet will not work properly.

WaterSense certified toilets

If water conservation is important to you, look for a toilet that is WaterSense certified.  While typical toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush, WaterSense certified toilets use 1.28 gallons.  Californians are required to have these toilets, but they can be purchased in other areas.  The best of these toilets perform comparably to their 1.6 gallon counterparts.

Dual-flush toilets

This is another option for those looking to save water but who do not want to go with a lower volume WaterSense certified toilet.  Dual-flush toilets save water by allowing you to select from one of two flush types:  flush liquids or flush solids.

Flushing liquid waste gives a partial flush instead of a full flush.

Other options

While those are the most important factors to consider when selecting a toilet, there are other options that may come into play.  For example, there are toilets with heated seats, odor-reducing air purifiers, and and models without handles that flush automatically when the lid is closed.

Selecting a new toilet is not as simple as deciding what will look best in your bathroom.  But while it is more complicated, it is good to have options and understand them.  Of course, after you will still have to make the purely aesthetic choices.

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