With the seemingly endless options out there on the market, choosing a new toilet can be a tough decision to make. Thanks to the smart technology and high-tech features that toilets are now equipped with, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Taking comfort, water efficiency, and bathroom style into consideration is highly crucial to make the right choice. Because these factors alone won’t help you narrow down your options, you might want to seek advice from the experts first.
On that note, check out this guide to know what plumbers recommend that you do when purchasing a new toilet.
Take Toilet Measurements
Before choosing a toilet, you have to be careful to measure out the set-out, that is specific to your toilet and your bathroom. For the toilet’s S-trap, you have to measure the distance from the wall and the center of the waste outlet. For the P-trap, you have to measure the distance between the floor to the outlet. Usually, most homes have a set-out of 140-165mm, so you can make that your point of reference. If your set-out is larger than that, you might have only a limited set of options. Make sure that you get the measurements right so the salesperson can help you out with choosing a toilet. You might also want to consider the bathroom layout while you’re at it, as this is going to determine the size of the toilet you’re going to install.
Choose a Flushing Technology
One basic option you can get is the standard gravity-flush toilet, but you might want to consider the other available options that are designed with water-saving technology. The folks at Toiletable explain that you can find toilets with a single, dual, or touchless flush. Single and double flush toilets use roughly the same amount of water as touchless flush models in every flush (around 1 to 1.5 gallons). However, touchless flush toilets have a battery-powered sensor that activates the flushing mechanism by a simple wave of the hand, thus, eliminating the need for making direct contact with the toilet surface and reducing the spreading of germs.
You can also find toilets with new flushing technology on the market, though they might be a bit more expensive. The flush-assist toilets release pressurized water stored in a mechanical tank and, therefore, reduce water consumption all while getting rid of waste effectively.
Consider Future Repair Costs
It’s true that toilets with unique flushing mechanisms and cool smart technology can help you in terms of saving extra bucks on water bills, but the downside for using them is the need for regular maintenance, unfortunately. Expert plumbers normally encourage house owners to reduce water consumption whenever they can, but they also advise them to get models that they’re perfectly sure they’ll be able to maintain in the future. Replacement for a custom seat or a mechanical tank can cost you quite a hefty sum of money. So, even if you’re saving on your water bills, you might still end up paying the same amount on toilet maintenance down the road.
Pick a Toilet Type
When it comes to choosing a toilet type, plumbers suggest that you consider the style of your bathroom first. For example, one-piece toilets can look pretty minimalistic, so it would go with minimalist-style bathrooms. On the other hand, two-piece toilets will go well with pretty much all bathroom styles; the one thing you’d have to worry about when choosing a two-piece toilet is the color. If your bathroom style is eclectic or modern, you can invest in wall-mounted or tankless toilets.
Be Mindful of Your Water Consumption
If you’re a true environmentalist, your new toilet’s water efficiency should be a matter of concern. Make sure to understand how much water a toilet uses per flush to have a rough idea of your water consumption at the end of the day. To do this, you can use the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) rating, which was designed by the Australian government to reduce water consumption in homes. The WELS scheme basically uses a star rating system to evaluate how much water a toilet uses per flush. For example, if a toilet uses around 1.5 gallons for a full flush and more than half a gallon for a half flush, that toilet will get a 3-star rating. Plumbers advise that you ask for the WELS rating for any toilet you’re about to buy. Typically, you should aim for a 4-star rating if you really want to reduce water consumption.
With this information in mind, choosing a new toilet should be an easy task for you. But, before you choose one, make sure that you set a reasonable budget, especially if you’re looking for unique or smart technology features. While they can be expensive, smart toilets make up for their higher price tag by saving you money on your water bills.