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Many things must be considered before purchasing the toilet that will work best in your bathroom. This article is provided to guide you along this selection process. So flush away your worries….everything you need to know is right below:
Rough-In
Rough-in refers to the space between the center of the toilet’s drain and the wall in back of the toilet. The standard distance between these two objects is 12,” but 10” and 14” are popular as well. When making your selection, you should keep the size of your bathroom in mind. As a general rule, you should maintain 16” of space from the centerline of the toilet to a lateral obstruction and at least 48” (L) X 48” (W) of open space in front of the toilet.
Round: A round bowl is smaller, and hence, requires less space than an elongated bowl. It stretches 16 ½” from the front of the bowl to the bolt holes in the back of the seat. The smaller size of the bowl makes it cheaper than an elongated bowl, but also a less comfortable option. A round bowl should only really be selected for the bathroom of children or if space necessitates such a choice.
Elongated: An elongated bowl is larger, and hence, requires more space than a round bowl. It stretches 18 ½” from the front of the bowl to the bolt holes in the back of the seat. It is slightly more expensive than a round bowl, but its stretched out shape makes it easier to use for adults. The water in the bowl also covers a larger surface area than in a round bowl.
Compact Elongated: A compact elongated toilet (available through Kohler) is a one-piece toilet that is designed to enable an elongated bowl to fit in a round-front space. This toilet saves on space while giving the same comfort as an elongated toilet.
Flush Type
Traditional toilets had the luxury of operating at a water volume of 3 ½ - 7 gallons per flush. Today, however, our desire to save water has led to the creation of laws that only permits toilets to flush at a maximum rate of 1.6 gallons per flush. This has changed the effectiveness of flushing mechanisms, and makes choosing between flush types an important decision. Below is a description of the two most popular flush types, gravity fed and pressure assisted:
Gravity Fed Flush: This was the most effective option with older toilets, but it does not function as well with the new limitations on water usage. Gravity Flush toilets are more subject to clogging, and also do not clean the rims of the bowls as well as they used to.
Pressure Assisted Flush: Because of the limitations on water usage, Pressure Assisted toilets have become increasingly popular. They very rarely clog and are very good at cleaning themselves. Accordingly, they usually demand higher ticket prices than gravity fed toilets. A drawback is that pressure assisted toilets tend to produce higher operating noise than gravity fed toilets, and some of them must be plugged into electrical sockets.
Kohler distinguishes itself from other manufacturers by offering the Peacekeeper and Power Lite series of pressure assisted toilets. The Peacekeeper Series toilet runs on battery power, so it does not require an electrical socket. They are designed to flush only when the user closes the lid, solving the age-old dispute over leaving the toilet seat up. The Power Lite series has a flush button and requires a socket.
Wall Mount Toilets
Wall mount toilets have become popular toilets recently because they save on space and are still stylish. A wall mount toilet eliminates the toilet base and this makes cleaning underneath the toilet quick and easy!
Wall mount toilets are supported from the wall; this makes it possible to conceal all of the pipe connections and reduces the noise that is usually transferred through the floor when the toilet flushes. When installing your wall mount toilet it is important to decide whether you want a concealed tank or an exposed tank. A concealed tank is a tank that is hidden inside of the wall and a flush actuator is used (show me examples!) to flush the toilet. The exposed tank is a tank that is visible, similar to the tank on a regular toilet.
When trying to determine the height requirements for the installation of the toilet, it is important to remember that most toilets are 16” to 17” from the floor to the rim of the bowl.
Configuration (Show me examples!)
Toilets are available in both a one and two-piece construction. In a one-piece toilet, the tank is connected to the bowl. In a two-piece toilet, the tank and bowl are two distinct units that can be separated.
One-piece toilets offer a more contemporary look than a two-piece toilet. Furthermore, because there is no crevice between the tank and the bowl, odorous substance will not accumulate. This sanitary feature of a one-piece toilet tends to make it slightly more expensive than a two-piece toilet. In addition, most one-piece toilets include the seat, but two-piece toilets do not. You should read the product descriptions carefully to make sure whether the seat is or is not included.
*** If you purchase a two-piece toilet, you should consider buying an optional insulated tank. Built with a rubber coating inside, this tank will better prevent sweating from occurring (condensation).
Height
Although there is no standard height for toilets, most styles usually range from about 14.5 inches to 17 inches high. The 17” versions are made for ADA compliance. Yet, as a guideline to choosing the toilet that will best suite your needs, it is important to keep in mind two types of heights.
Comfort Height - These toilets are comparable to the height of an average household chair, which makes sitting down and standing up easier. At a little over 17” these toilets maximize comfort.
Family Height - These toilets offer a standard height between 15” and 16”, and are ideal for bathrooms that are used by everyone, especially children.
Colors
Most toilets come in a variety of colors to match your bathroom décor. This being said, different manufacturers tend to supply different colors. Some of the finishes that toilets are available in are as follows:
Black
Neutrals
Blue
Red
Green
Grey
Whites
Trip Levers (Show me examples!)
The trip lever, in a sense, is the “faucet” of the toilet. Accordingly, some people like to select a lever that matches the faucets on their tub and sink. Usually, the trip lever that comes with the toilet will match the color of the toilet or will be finished in polish chrome. However, below is a list of several other options:
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