Anything I need to know on choosing a new toilet?

[thestrangebrew1]

Never bought 1 before, and there's so many different models and prices out there. Is there anything specific I need to look for? For instance, are they universal as far as mounting to the floor etc? We're finally getting around to redoing our master bath after finding some mold/water damage and it's almost time to get the toilet. Not sure what to look for. Thanks.

 

[shortylickens]

Toto.

That is everything you need to know.

Toto.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Just depends on how many bells and whistles you like.

 

[paperfist]

Toto.

That is everything you need to know.

Toto.

A friend installed a couple last year, I thought they were big time toilets but his not so much. You have to hold handle down to get it to flush (no it's not a dual flush) and at the base of the trap is always collecting shit, no pun intended.

 

[NetWareHead]

Dont get the cheapest toilet at Home Depot/Lowes etc... You get what you paid for. Go to a plumbing supply house, they usually dont sell crap. I'd go to a plumber and ask him what he recommends. Ask a service plumber who does residential work as he will have a list of toilets he likes and hates.

I ended up choosing a Kohler Wellworth but I had some strange rough in issues and the Wellworth left more room behind the toilet so it wouldnt butt up against the baseboard. I was also advised to get a 1.6 GPF vs the new standard of toilet that flush with 1.28 GPF. Plumber's advise was that he doesnt care if the toilet can flush with less water. You want water in the pipe, especially the horizontal runs, to sweep out the waste. He said if he could, he would install old school 5 GPF toilets for this reason. Not sure if he is correct but I ended up taking his suggestions and so far no problems...

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Never heard of Toto but good lord they're expensive. I was thinking of spending $300 max on a toilet and was looking at Kohler. I'll definitely get 1.6 gpf. Do they all mount the same way onto the floor? Also, what are the pro/cons of getting 1 pc vs. 2 pc?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Never heard of Toto but good lord they're expensive. I was thinking of spending $300 max on a toilet and was looking at Kohler. I'll definitely get 1.6 gpf. Do they all mount the same way onto the floor? Also, what are the pro/cons of getting 1 pc vs. 2 pc?

They all tend to mount similarly, two to four bolts with two the most common mounted to a retaining ring. A two piece is typically lighter but, offers no advantages or negatives.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

They all tend to mount similarly, two to four bolts with two the most common mounted to a retaining ring. A two piece is typically lighter but, offers no advantages or negatives.

Perfect thanks!

 

[Greenman]

Avoid anything from Glacier Bay.

 

[bbhaag]

I prefer the elongated bowl instead of the traditional round shape. I find them more comfortable to sit on and easier to clean. The elongated bowl also offers a little more room for your penis when sitting down to take a deuce. Not a must but nice to have the extra clearance.

 

[pcgeek11]

You will need to know the rough in offset of the hole from the wall.

http://www.professortoilet.com/2009/10/21/how-to-measure-a-toilet-rough-in/

Toilet rough – in

Distance between finished wall and center of a floor drain or rough – in might be 10”, 12” or 14” depending on toilet type. But most residential floor mount toilets require one foot (305 mm) drain placement from the back wall. Minimum 15” space should be left between the center of a drain and finished side wall. Rough in for wall mount toilets with a back outlet will be determined by manufacturer and might vary from 7.5 to 11 inches (190 – 279 mm) depending on a toilet style.

 

[mztykal]

American Standard Champion 4...

 

[Joe C]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, go to a plumbing supply house, not Home Depot or Lowes. There is a big difference in quality. As for the actual bowl to buy, look at the Toto Drake.

 

[Micrornd]

I prefer the "handicapped" height toilet.
More of a sitting than squatting position.
Much more comfortable as you age gracefully

 

[Exterous]

I know Toto is an internet favorite but you can get toilets that work just fine for less from Kohler its just that a lot of brands like Kohler make low end toilet options which tarnishes their names a bit. (Also, in some areas, Toto parts are hard to get if you fix stuff yourself). A fully glazed trap is important. A lot of cheaper toilets only glaze the part you can see, which lets crap build up in the trap causing flush problems. Getting a comfort height toilet might sound convenient but can be harder on your innards. I'm a fan of elongated bowls too.

 

[NutBucket]

And comfort height sucks if you're not tall enough....my wife is 5'6" and her feet aren't flat on the floor with a tall toilet.

There's a reason the Squatty Potty exists and why toilets in lots of Asian countries are "squatters".

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Neither the wife or I are very tall so I'm not a fan of the ADA height toilets. I like my feet to be firmly flat on the ground for maximum push if needed. Good point above about measuring to the finished wall. I'll have to look into that. This house is pretty old, built in late 70's or early 80's so I'm not sure if that's going to be an issue or not.

 

[Elixer]

The "right height" toilets are a must IMO, especially when you get older.
I also forgot what it is called, but the pipe in the tank, the bigger it is, the more flushing power it has.
Forget those wimpy 2" ones, I would go with 3" or 4".

 

[Alpha One Seven]

http://bestreviews.com/best-toto-toilets?cid=198434321&aid=44381819683&eid=&tid=kwd-300201063521&ul=9030101&mt=b&n=g&d=c&dm=&dt&sn&adid=209861626515&k=best toto toilets&p=&pc=&ap=1t1&gclid=CjwKCAjw3_HOBRBaEiwAvLBbomWLiicNzrAKvLqrestcMRHYjOisc87BeXH1D7M4clKocKU9QxTx4hoCoBkQAvD_BwE

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/toilets.htm

http://www.thetoiletthrone.com/

and you can always add one of these...

https://www.squattypotty.com/

 

[RossMAN]

I know Toto is an internet favorite but you can get toilets that work just fine for less from Kohler its just that a lot of brands like Kohler make low end toilet options which tarnishes their names a bit. (Also, in some areas, Toto parts are hard to get if you fix stuff yourself). A fully glazed trap is important. A lot of cheaper toilets only glaze the part you can see, which lets crap build up in the trap causing flush problems. Getting a comfort height toilet might sound convenient but can be harder on your innards. I'm a fan of elongated bowls too.

Thanks for the advice esp regarding the fully glazed trap.

 

[Exterous]

Thanks for the advice esp regarding the fully glazed trap.

You're welcome

 

[Linflas]

Just had our master bath remodeled and after a lot of research I went with a Toto Drake. Our house was built in 1996 and the original low flow toilets they installed were beyond worthless. I loathed all things low flush but I have to say the Toto has changed my mind. This thing does not clog period. Instead of swirling the water when flushed it seems to suck it straight down almost like commercial toilets with sloan valves.

 

[Alpha One Seven]

Just had our master bath remodeled and after a lot of research I went with a Toto Drake. Our house was built in 1996 and the original low flow toilets they installed were beyond worthless. I loathed all things low flush but I have to say the Toto has changed my mind. This thing does not clog period. Instead of swirling the water when flushed it seems to suck it straight down almost like commercial toilets with sloan valves.

Ewwww

 

[Tommy2000GT]

I have a Toto Ultramax II 1-piece in one bathroom and a Toto Drake 2-piece in another bathroom. I had to put a Drake in the other bathroom because I tiled behind the toilet and there was no clearance behind the tank without re-plumbing the the closet flange. The Drake was the only toilet than gave me that clearance.

The Ultramax II is easier to clean and looks fancy. However the cheaper Drake seems to flushes a lot better.

I got Sanigloss option on the Ultramax II but shit still sticks to the bowel easily.

I got both for cheap from a Chinese building supply store. However I recommend paying a little more at a reputable place in case something goes wrong because the Ultramax II was leaking due to a casting defect. The Chinese building supply store did not want to exchange it until I got Toto involved. Even then they still gave me a hard time.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

We've stalled on moving forward with the rest of our master bath for now. Mainly because the wife can't decide what she wants to do for our vanity counter and what color she wants the walls. I don't want to install the toilet then have to paint around, and we have 2 other bathrooms we've been using for the last year so another month or so won't kill us. However, I am leaning towards the Toto drake mentioned above and the price isn't too bad.