subject: The Toilet Trilogy, Part I [print this page] You use it every day, and seldom give it a second thought. But when it comes to important fixtures in your home, your toilet sits at the top of the list. So, what do you look for when choosing a new toilet? How technology has improved this all-important fixture over the years. And how do you install a new one of your very own?
It'd be a challenge to squeeze these answers into a single article. So over the next three articles (including today), we'll address these questions (and more) in a short series. Let's call it The Toilet Trilogy.
Note: These articles are concerned only with residential toilets.
When it comes to toilets, there are a few questions you'll want to ask when you begin your search. Do you go one-piece or two? What's comfort height? Is gravity-fed or pressure-assisted flush better? And will my toilet fit your bathroom?
A one-piece toilet might sound a bit misleading, since it's actually six to 10 individual pieces sculpted into one seamless unit. The result is a sleek, hand-crafted toilet with no crevices between the tank and bowl to collect dirt and odors.
Meanwhile, two-piece toilets require a separate tank and bowl, which are bolted together upon installation.
What exactly is a comfort height toilet? Just what it sounds like, actually. The height of the toilet seat is at the same height as a standard chair for maximum comfort and ease when sitting down or standing up.
When it comes to flushing, there are two basic types of systems, and both types save water by using 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Gravity-fed flushtoilets use the force of gravity and a siphon "pull-through" action to empty the bowl.
And pressure-assisted flush toilets harness pressure from the water supply in the home to create a powerful "push-through" flush. These are a bit louder and there's no condensation or "sweating" on the outer tank side. All waste is removed quickly in about four seconds.
So, will your new toilet fit? Toilets come in varying sizes, so check the width, depth and height of your available space. Most toilets bolt to the floor 12 inches from the wall (called the rough-in measurement), but some manufacturers make 10- and 14-inch models. Be sure to measure first.
In The Toilet Trilogy, Part II, we'll go over some toilet specifics, like round-front vs. elongated, WaterSense technology, and heated toilet seats (really).
