Guide to Choosing the Best Toilet for Your Home

Are you in search of a nice modern substitute for the old toilet you have been using for years? Would you like to enjoy all the benefits that an upgraded toilet models have to offer without spending too much? Today, the market has to offer a number of great toilets, some of which will not cost more than $200. With such a wide choice of the best modern toilets, making a worthwhile purchase does not seem to be a complicated task. Nevertheless, if you want to have no reasons for regretting your investment, make sure you have taken into account some of the important points.

Guide to Choosing the Best Toilet for Your Home

Find Out the Measurements of Your Bathroom

The number one thing to consider before buying a new toilet for your home is quite obvious. Nevertheless, this is the reason why it is often left ignored by many customers. No matter how unnecessary you might consider the task to be, take all the bathroom measurements to ensure that the new toilet will fit the space without any unexpected problems. The rough-in bathroom size needed for the toilet should be calculated by measuring the distance between the center of the drainpipe (the one that is connected to the toilet) to the wall baseboard.

Be careful not to include the tiles or any other trims on your bathroom wall in the measurement to avoid any alteration of the result.

One more way to make an accurate measurement for a correct choice of a new toilet is to start the calculation from one of the so-called toilet flange bolts — the bolts that secure the flange of the toilet. In case your home toilet is held down by four flange bolts, your measurement should start from the center of the rear one. You should take the process of taking those rough-in measurements especially seriously if the space intended for a new toilet is limited. If this is true for your home bathroom, you need to additionally determine the distances from the sides of the toilet flange bolts.

In a comparatively modern home, the rough-in measurements will give the result of 12 inches (slight variations possible). If your dwelling is older, there is a big chance that the measurements will demonstrate a difference of 2 inches in comparison with the standard figures (making 10 or 14 inches). Naturally, the older your home is, the harder it is to predict the result. When it comes to the toilet reviews we are going to present you with in this article, stay assured that all of the described models work perfectly in any modern home.

One-Piece or Two-Piece — Which Toilet to Choose

There are two basic designs of a standard home toilet: a two-piece toilet with the water tank and the bowl being installed in separate pieces, and a one-piece toilet that keeps the two major elements in a united construction. When evaluating the difference between these two types of toilets, the first thing you will clearly notice is the price, which tends to be around 15-25% lower for the two-piece models. Apart from this obvious contrast, there are no specific distinctions in the way the construction, installation, or functioning of these toilets. However, cleaning and maintaining the one-piece models is considered somewhat easier.

If you have opted for a two-piece toilet, we advise you to pay special attention to the quality of the sanitary bar that needs to be present in a good toilet model of this type. This toilet part is responsible for preventing any liquid like water or even urine from building up in the area under the water tank. Not only this raises the general level of cleanness but also protects the toilet from the destructive force of acids that urine contains.

When you are ready to buy a new toilet, take a while to check whether you have everything else necessary for installation available at home, namely:

It should be mentioned that a growing popularity has been noticed with the wall toilets — wall-mounted models that you can often see in commercial environments. An unbeatable advantage that these toilets possess is the ease of cleaning and maintenance, which guarantees extra high levels of cleanness. At the same time, installing such a toilet at home will most probably cause a number of difficulties since the majority of homes simply do not answer the specific requirements for installation. Particularly, one might need to alter the plumbing for adequate waste disposal, as well to set up supplementary bracing needed to support the weight of a wall-mounted toilet as well as the weight of the user.

One more part of the toilet design that not many consumers take into account when making a purchase is the trapway. This is a part of the toilet that the waste together with the water goes through to reach the disposal tube. It is situated under the bowls and has a traditional curvaceous snake-like shape, which is responsible for keeping the waste odors from breaking into your bathroom air. Although the majority of users are quite happy with the most common 2-inch glazed trapways, wider variations will be more effective when it comes to the risks of clogging.

Determining the Type of the Bowl You Need

When it comes to toilet bowls, there are also two major types (or shapes, to be more precise) you will need to choose from — a round bowl and an elongated bowl. The traditional round bowls are good money-savers in comparison with the more modern elongated bowls. What is more, they save not only money but also space, which makes them better solutions for small bathrooms. On the contrary, while costing a bit more and taking around additional 2 inches of space along the length of the toilet, elongated bowls provide more comfort for the user as it appears from numerous reviews.

Another feature of the bowl that might be of quite an importance for you is the bowl height. In case of the standard toilet, the height of the bowl makes around 14—15 inches, which proves to be comfortable for the majority of users. You can make the measurement of your existing toilet to find out whether it falls in this category. Nevertheless, for some people with specific physical requirements, it is more convenient to use a taller toilet bowl. Owing to the variety of models offered in the market today, you can buy a toilet with a chair height of up to 19 inches for your ultimate comfort.

When choosing the bowl height, keep in mind that the toilets answering with the Americans Disability Act (ADA) requirements should be at least 16.5 inches tall. However, if your new toilet will also be used by small children or pets, it would be wise to consider the models of standard height.

Evaluating Different Flushing Systems

As long as we examine the standard home toilets, the flushing systems will show similarity it practically all models. The toilet includes a tank of water, whether in a separate piece or in one piece with the bowl, that holds water until you press the trip lever for flushing. When this action is done, the water from the tank rapidly moves directly to the bowl through the canister flushing valve, and takes away all the waste leaving us with the picture of swirling water in the trapway. In standard models, the water tanks hold approximately the same amount of water, which is around 1.6 gallons or sometimes even less in order to comply with the requirements of the EPA WaterSense Program.

Nevertheless, the designers give us some freedom of choice offering different variants of the trip lever position on the water tank, as well as different sizes of the flushing valves.

Basically, the trip lever is the small handle that you need to push in some way to get the water from the tank released in the bowl. The modern variety of toilet models lets us choose from a few different kinds of trip levels, with the standard handle still being much sought after. At the same time, the push button lever is becoming a frequent choice for those who prefer ease and comfort in everything. Finally, the ultra-modern toilets offer the benefits of the hands-free toilet flushing systems that bring the toileting and hygienic experience to a new level.

If you would rather prefer an effective model for an affordable price tag, a standard lever is what you need to look for. In any way, keep in mind that the most beneficial and reliable position of the standard lever is at the front of the water tank. It does not only make the user experience more comfortable but also ensures the easier functioning of the inner mechanism, fewer troubles with the maintenance of the chains, be they plastic or metal, and generally a longer period of no breakage.

Another characteristic influencing the quality of flushing is the size of the toilet flushing valve. The rule is simple: the larger the valve is the faster and stronger flushing you get. This is important not only in terms of saving your time but also for keeping the inside of the bowl as clean as possible. Besides, a larger valve in combination with a wide trapway provides an especially strong and effective flushing using only 1.28 gallons of water, which makes a huge difference in comparison with the older toilets using around 3.5 gallons of water at each flushing.

The advances of technologies have introduced the pressurized flushing systems to the market of home toilets. They use the pressurized air to push the water from the tank into the bowl with even more force. Such a strong flushing is capable of breaking the waste into smaller pieces, which eliminates the risks of clogging and keeps the bowl much cleaner. The only disadvantages of this ingenious flushing system are louder-than-average operation and expensive repair should any breakages take place.

Other unusual solutions include flushing systems that use the combination of gravity and water pressure in the tank to achieve a stronger and faster flushing. The waste and water are pressed downward while the siphoning force finishes the flushing process. Some toilets that utilize this gravity flushing system offer the user a choice of the flush capacity. Choosing the standard or reduced flush, you can easily control your water consumption. Finally, more and more users dare to try the newest waterless models.

To make the tiresome process of choosing a new toilet easier for you, we have made a list of the best flushing home toilets that you are highly recommended to look through.

Choosing a Comfortable Toilet Seat

Many users thoughtlessly consider the toilet itself to be the only thing that should be thoroughly evaluated in its every single characteristic. Nevertheless, the toilet seat is a detail that should take a portion of your attention and time as well. Simply imagine how the whole experience of using a new toilet can be altered by a seat that is extremely uncomfortable to sit on! This is the reason why taking some time to look through the offers of various toilet seats and investing some money into a really good one is a worthy decision. After all, even if the purchase might seem a bit costly now, you will experience the benefits of your investment every single day.

First of all, be aware that even when you buy a model that is positioned as an all-in-one toilet, it does not mean that a toilet seat will be included in the package.

Choosing a seat for your new toilet should start with determining the shape that would perfectly fit the toilet you have already chosen. It is not hard to imagine that an elongated seat will cause quite a lot of inconveniences when fitted to a round bowl, and the other way round. Another characteristic for you to take into account is the material of the seat that directly influences the quality and durability of your new toilet seat. You will encounter the choice of most various materials: from polypropylene, plastic and cheap pressed wood composition to soft cushioned vinyl and even high-quality natural wood.

When looking for a good toilet seat, you will notice that there exists one more subtle feature that is nonetheless worth mentioning. To make the whole experience of using the toilet as comfortable as possible, you can reap the benefits of the toilet seats that provide slow closing. This means that you will forget about the unpleasant and even embarrassing slamming sounds. Besides, a soft slow seat closing contributes to a longer performance life of the seat. Finally, it is a very convenient thing to use when compared to standard toilet seats.

If you are a kind of user who never compromises on quality and personal comfort, the search of a comfortable and durable toilet seat can lead you to considering the bidet toilet seats that offer an advanced toileting experience. These electrically powered devices do not only provide you with the pleasure of using a warm toilet seat but also let you bring your personal hygiene to a new level by the possibility to use a stream of warm water for the kind of cleaning that even the best toilet paper cannot guarantee. The best bidet toilet seats make it possible to completely forget about using toilet paper or paper towels with their great warm air drying and even deodorizing functions. And this is not only about the comfort and personal hygiene. Stopping to use toilet paper means saving up to $120 a year (in an average family of four people). A simple calculation shows that even the most advanced and expensive bidet toilet seat will pay off in a bit more than a year.

Of course, the process of installing such a state-of-the-art seat will take a bit more time and effort than the standard toilet seat since you will need to connect your new toilet device to electricity and water supply. Nevertheless, once you have done it, you can confidently plunge into the benefits of owning a bidet toilet seat with numerous features and even a remote control!

Not to get lost among the different bidet solutions for your home toilet, make use of our comprehensive guide to the best bidets.

Other Sanitary Fixtures You Might Want to Have in Your Bathroom

The list of hygiene fixtures that can turn your bathroom in an ultra-comfortable room is not yet complete. First, you can endow your bathroom with a separate urinal. The only obvious complication with this kind of fixture is the necessity to alter the plumbing to make the urinal installation possible. Second, you can improve your home hygienic experience to a higher level with installing a small portable bidet that proves to be a very practical device.

The major benefits of a portable bidet are easy to understand:

Quick and easy installation. A standard design of a portable bidet implies its placement between the rim and the seat of your existing toilet. To secure the bidet attachment in place, you need to use the plastic screws of your toilet seat. This means the whole process of installing a portable bidet includes detaching the seat from the toilet, aligning the bidet with the recommended installation area, and attaching the seat back in its place — as simple as that. The only thing left to do is to use the included standard T-connector to attach the portable bidet with the water line. Finally, you can switch to a new personal hygiene standards.

Customization. Practically all portable bidet models including the simplest and cheapest ones allow customization of the cleaning experience. Using a knob or a similar regulator, you can adjust the water pressure levels to get the kind of water stream that would feel most comfortable on your skin. After all, you are dealing with the most sensitive areas of your skin, so there should be no hesitation in taking your personal wishes into account.

Warm Water Cleaning. Although the simplest portable bidets do not include a water heating element, it does not mean you will suffer from cleaning your sensitive skin with ice-cold water. What you need to do is to attach the portable bidet to the hot water line of your bathroom. This might not be the easiest task to do, but it is definitely worth the result.

If you are not on a tight budget and can afford mode advanced designs of portable bidets, you might want to reap the benefits of the following additional features. First, you can get an extra-comfortable clean with a wide front-to-back coverage that is provided by bidets with an oscillating water spray. Next, you might want to improve the overall level of hygiene and cleanness with a self-cleaning bidet nozzle that makes the bidet maintenance as easy as never before. For even higher level of cleanness, you can choose a portable bidet with a self-retracting nozzle that reduces the risks of contaminating the clean water with the waste particles.

Evaluating the Expected Water Consumption

Water consumption is constantly becoming burning issue in practically all countries, so you need to take into account the specific requirements and regulations on water usage and conservation in your specific area of dwelling. The standard modern toilet uses 1.63 gallons of water at each flushing. In some countries, this indicator has been made obligatory. In other countries, those are the toilet manufacturers who have made the 1.6-gallon capacity a standard. In any way, you need to be perfectly aware of your building requirement for water consumption before you purchase a new toilet if you want to avoid any problems in the future.

Still, it does not mean that you are not allowed to use less than 1.6 gallons of water for flushing the toilet. Today, you can find many toilet models that use mere 1.28 gallons of water to effectively flush all the waste at a time. You can reach even more effectiveness and cleanness by opting for a toilet with air compression flushing system. Although these toilets produce a higher level of noise when flushed, the water consumption saving is substantial.

If you are still not amazed by what the modern toilet designers have prepared for you, consider the dual flush model that provide flushing of extreme effectiveness while using less than one gallon of water per flush for getting rid of the liquid waste. The ability to choose the strength of flush lets you considerably cut down the water consumption while enjoying the same level of comfort and toilet cleanness that you got used to. In the long run, effective and economical flushing is an integral characteristic of a high-quality toilet that you are looking for.

Choosing the Bets Home Toilet to Answer All Your Requirements

Having determined your specific needs in all of the categories described above, you will be able to make a choice of a new toilet effortlessly and with no reasons for later regrets. As a rule, any dissatisfactions with the chosen toilet occur because some of the important points had not been taken into account before the purchase was actually made. As long as you keep a clear picture of what you need and want in your mind, there is practically no chance of making a wrong choice.

Even being totally confident about your decision when buying a new toilet, take some time to instantly examine the package after it has been delivered, especially if you have place your order at Amazon or other websites alike. In the case of Amazon, you are given a 30-day period for returning the product if any of its parts have been damaged during shipping. Naturally, if the installation of a peculiar toilet requires some additional work with plumbing, it will not be physically possible to cope with everything in one day. Still, make sure you are keeping the process under control and have enough time to return the purchase should any unexpected damages appear.

Do not put your wish to get a new toilet into cold storage. Use our guide and you will soon enjoy the best decision you could have made!