For standard installations, we recommend the American Standard^® Champion and the Kohler^® Cimarron as our preferred toilets.   Both of these units have proven themselves in the homes of our customers for quality, reliability and ease of installation.  These units, however, only represent a small niche in an industry littered with choice.  There is a wide variety of options and high quality companies to choose from when replacing or upgrading your current toilet.  Here are a few things to consider.  

Standard or ADA Comfort Height

The American Disabilities Act, which was passed in 1990 and put into effect in 1992, introduced into the market what is often described as “comfort height” toilets.  Standard toilets are generally 14 to 15” tall from the floor to the top of the bowl, not including the seat.  An ADA compliant or Comfort Height model is 1 ½“ to 2” taller than their standard sized counterparts.  All public facilities are required to provide at least one of these units as they are more easily accessed by patrons confined to wheelchairs or with other special needs.  More recently, the comfort height toilets have found their way into private residences where they are appreciated for their taller profile, which many people find to be simply more “comfortable.” We have found this to be especially true among our older customers who may require special accommodations.

Round or Enlongated

Another design feature that must be considered when purchasing a new toilet is the shape of the bowl.  There are two shapes to choose from, round or enlongated.  Round bowls take up less space and are generally a little less expensive. These bowls are perfect for smaller bathrooms where space is limited. Enlongated bowls are longer and offer more room and comfort. They are generally slightly more costly than the round bowls but those with the space to spare may find them well worth the extra investment. All commercial establishments are required to provide enlongated bowls. This is because the shape of the bowl and the extra few inches it affords is a more sanitary design.

Gravity or Pressure Assisted Flush

Once you have settled on the size and shape of your new toilet, the next thing to consider is its flushing mechanism. Most toilets operate on a gravity assisted flushing mechanism. While innovations over the years have refined this system, it remains essentially the same process as when the first flushing toilets were designed and manufactured. Recently, the industry has seen the onset of pressure assisted flushing toilets, which has stirred up curiosity and interest in many communities.

A gravity flush toilet draws its strength and reliability from a minimum of moving parts and the certain consistency of gravity. Using a reserve of water, which is stored in the tank behind the bowl, the gravity flush mechanism initiates the flush by forcing water weight into the bowl and through the discharge. This creates a siphoning effect which pulls the discharge into the waste lines and out of the house. When these types of units were first created they used several gallons of reserve water for every flush and so were not ecologically sound. However, current models use 1.6 gallons or less to complete the flush. They are quiet, time tested, require very little maintenance and are relatively inexpensive to repair.

The real strength of the pressure assisted models is in their power. These units house a pressure tank in the reservoir behind the bowl which fills with water like the gravity flush units. However, in the pressure assisted toilets, the water that fills the tank compresses the latent air waiting there, charging it in much the same way you might pull a rubber band until it is taunt or squeeze a spring until it is tight and compact. When the toilet is flushed, the “charged” water in the pressure tank pushes out into the bowl and also through a direct feed to the discharge line with much greater force than in a gravity flush unit. The jetting effect that the pressure tank creates acts both to clear the discharge and provide a washing action through the bowl.  The major drawback of these systems, in our experience, is that they are loud and have many moving parts, which can make maintenance and repair expensive. However, the force of the pressurized water lends a power to the flushing mechanism that a gravity flush system can not compete with. It is unlikely that repeated flushes will ever be needed and the washing action helps maintain the sanitation of the bowl.

One Piece or Low Profile

A final consideration that you should make before you invest in a new toilet is whether you would prefer a one-piece low profile or traditional two-piece toilet. You may remember the old style water closets with the bowl on the ground and the tank suspended high overhead and operated by a pull chain. Today’s toilets have come a long way since then. The majority of toilets you will encounter in commercial buildings and private homes still conform to the old tank and bowl style. The bowl is no longer hung overhead, thankfully, but rather mounts directly behind the bowl. The strength of this type of toilet is value. Because they are so widely manufactured, two-piece toilets are less expensive than the low profile units and replacement parts and technicians to service them are readily available. They range from roughly 27" to 30" in height. The tank is fastened to the bowl by a pair of bolts and the water passes from the tank into the bowl through a gasket sealed passage.

The one-piece toilets present a smaller, low profile. One obvious strength of these units is that they are free of the risk of leaking between the bowl and tank as these two facets have been integrated into a single component.  Another is that they come in a variety of shapes to offer a more coordinated and less invasive appearance in the bathroom. They range from roughly 22" to 27” in height. The drawback is that they are expensive to install, maintain and repair in comparison to the two-piece models.  Also, they are relatively new to the market and so do not benefit from the wealth of service experience that their taller counterparts do.