Are You Looking to Replace Your Toilet? Here’s How to Pick the Right Model for You.

A lot of factors go into picking a new toilet. With so many different options it can be a long process. Things like height, color, type of toilet and more can persuade you to make the decision that will be best for you.

But understanding each unique benefit to each toilet will help you to make the right decision for what fits your needs. Here you will learn everything that you need to know about choosing the right toilet for you.

First Steps

Determine The Needs Of The Space

Every room has different needs when it comes to the plumbing and toilet system. Consider these questions when you begin your search for a new one. Where will this toilet be located? Maybe it will be in the master bathroom or a child’s room. Are you looking for a basic model or something that has more luxurious features?

Measure Your Space

The very first thing that you’ll want to do is to ensure you know the dimensions needed for your new toilet. This will ensure that the model you pick will fit properly in your bathroom. The main measurement you need to know is your toilet rough-in measurement. The rough-in is the distance between the wall and the floor drain.

To find your rough-in measurement, take a tape measure and measure from the wall behind the toilet to the center of the bolts on the base of the toilet. Usually, rough-ins are 12 inches but older or smaller homes have been found to have 10-14 inches.

Types of Toilets

• Smart Toilets– These toilets provide a spa or luxury feel to a bathroom. They can be equipped with premium features such as air dryers, bidets, or heated seats.
• Water-Saving Toilets– Older toilets can use as much as 7 gallons of water per flush. If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly toilet, water-saving toilets use 1.28 gallons of water per flush.
• Two-Piece toilets– These are your standard and most common toilets on the market. They are composed of two separate parts, the tank, and bowl. They are also one of the most affordable options and make getting replacement parts easy.
• Urinals – While these are not usually common in homes they are most recognized in public men’s restrooms. They save a lot of space since they are mounted on the wall and also don’t use much water. This is a great option if you’re looking for something for where a man spends a lot of time such as a man cave or garage.
• One-Piece Toilets– These are different from two-piece toilets because they do not have a separate tank and bowl. They have a stylish design to them and are ideal for small spaces. They are also very easy to clean since they don’t have crevices.
• Wall-Mounted Toilets– These are great for assisting in wheelchair and walker transfers. They can be installed at specific heights and will be mounted on a sturdy wall. Due to not having a base it will be easier to keep the floor and toilet clean. Due to the cost of installation and unit, this type of toilet has a higher upfront cost.

Things to Consider When Choosing a New Toilet

Although you now know the different kinds of toilets there are, there are a few more things to consider when searching for a toilet that fits all of your needs.

 

• Toilet Color– You may want something besides a white toilet that fits your aesthetic. There are others to choose from. Almond and black toilets can help add to the design of your bathroom.
• Toilet Profile– While many people may not consider how the side of a toilet can add to the design of their bathroom, toilet profiles can do that. There are three kinds of toilet profiles to choose from including a skirted base, visible trap, or concealed trap.
• Toilet Bowl Shape– Round and elongated bowl shapes are the two kinds of types of toilet bowl shapes. Elongated bowls give more comfort when sitting and round bowls are best for smaller bathrooms.
• Flushing Types– Each flushing type has a different way of taking away paper and waste. The four different kinds are power-assisted toilets, dual-flush toilets, pressure-assisted toilets, and single-flush toilets.
• Toilet Seats– Toilets seats match the same shape as your toilet bowl. Seats can also include many different features such as soft close, easy release, bidets, heated seats, lights on the seat, and children’s seats.
• Toilet Heights– The different heights that toilets come in are chair height, tall, and comfort. The standard toilet has a rim height of 14-15 inches. ADA-compliant toilets must have a rim height of 15-17 inches.

Next Steps

Now that you have a pretty good idea of what kinds of toilets there are on the market you can start the process of searching for a new toilet.

The Bell Bros Sac team of licensed plumbers are here to provide you with a smooth process of getting your new toilet. Give us a call today to schedule a toilet installation!