Guide to Choosing a Toilet

There’s no beating around the bush, toilets are the thrones of the home. These fixtures are an important aspect of the overall comfort, and thus choosing the right one makes a huge difference.

If you’re a first time homeowner or you’re undergoing a renovation, it’s recommended that you understand the ways to choose the best toilet that’ll suit the needs of your friends and family. Luckily, we’ve compiled a guide to help you break down your choice and make it as simple as possible for you.

Beat in mind that there are many toilets available and for the sake of this article we’ll be focusing on Western-style toilets. While some offer new technological updates, the flush toilet has remained more or less the same over the years.

Before we begin, here are some interesting articles on the subject:

• Cost of Buying and Installing a Toilet

• Everything you need to know about eco-friendly toilets

• Beginner's guide to installing a toilet

• Toilets of the future: high-tech options that will make your life easier

• How to install a bidet at home

Buying a new toilet: things to consider

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If you’ve been thinking about replacing your toilet, there are some standard things to consider from the get-go. The first being whether you want a one-piece or separate piece (two-piece) toilet. Two-piece assembly toilets are the model type most commonly found in home bathrooms. These are comprised of a tank and a bowl, generally purchased separately.

This option is the most affordable for those working within the perimeters of a tighter budget. On the other hand, one piece toilets are one complete unit that offer some great advantages over its counterpart. It is worth mentioning that these models cost more upfront.

A one-piece toilet includes the tank, bowl and lid all-in-one, thus there is little to no leak potential like there is with a two-piece toilet. This is because the tank and bowl must be fitted together, and when done incorrectly leaks can ensue. One-piece toilets are also often much smaller, which makes them great for bathrooms where space is a concern, especially those living with half-baths.

This design also happens to be easier to clean since they lack the nooks and crevices that are found in the bowls of two-piece toilets. Lastly, one-piece toilets offer a much sleeker and more contemporary look than two-piece options. Weigh the pros and cons in relation to lifestyle and budget before choosing your model.

The different shapes of toilets

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Another aspect to think about is the shape of the toilet bowl itself. Toilet bowls generally come in two shapes and these are standard round and elongated oval-shaped. While the toilet bowl shape is more about aesthetics than anything, your choice will also be based on the space you have to work with.

Round bowls will fit more ideally in small spaces while elongated bowls suggest more comfort and are optimal for those living with the luxury of a full bathroom. There is also the hybrid model referred to as a compact elongated, which is roughly the size of a round bowl but with added oval which translates to be more comfortable.

The standard height for a toilet from the floor to the seat is between 14 and 15 inches. However, there are plenty of models on the market that offer taller options. For those who are differently-abled, a taller toilet may be a necessity as it does not require as much labour to get on and off.

The trapway is another important piece of the toilet. This is the tube visible from the side of the bowl, through which the water flows into the toilet. As a general rule, larger trapways have better flow and fewer chances of clogging, more so if the trapway is glazed.

Regardless of design, the tank size of most toilets is roughly always the same. Nevertheless, when determining the tank size, the important factors are the valve size, the flushing system and where the flushing lever is located. The flush lever is what activates the flush valve, releasing the water from the tank to clear the toilet. Therefore, the bigger the valve, the greater the flow rate.

Flushing levers can most often be found on the side of the tank; however, they can also be located on top as well. When it comes to considering the environment, there are now many green-friendly flushing options that work to conserve water while lowering costs on energy bills.

The flushing system

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When it comes to the flushing system there are generally two major types and these are the gravity flush system and the pressure-assisted flush system. A gravity flush system makes use of the weight of the water to create the flushing pressure which forces all the water in the tank through the trapway. Thanks to the natural use of gravity no extra mechanics are required to move water. This makes the gravity-assisted flushing systems a fairly quiet option.

A pressure-assisted system pushes pressurized air down, and this forces water into the bowl. Since the pressure is so powerful, it generally clears the bowl. As a result, clogs are quite a rare occurrence. However, the power comes at the expense of the system being noisy and more expensive.

One of the newer options on the market that isn’t too widely used but is gaining popularity is the dual flush system. This dual system gives users the choice between a partial or light flush that uses minimal water or a full flush. This option is great for those concerned with wasting water and wanting to actively curb their energy usage. The only real drawback of this style of toilet is that they can be louder than the traditional gravity flush system.

Choosing the right toilet should require time as well as careful selection, especially when measuring the various options in relation to your own budget. While this might help limit your choices, splurging somewhat on a fixture you’re guaranteed to use daily is never a bad idea, even more so when taking into consideration the resale value of your home.

Regardless of which toilet you choose, we highly suggest consulting both licensed contractors and plumbers to inspect the space as well as sure your new toilet is installed properly!