Choosing A New Toilet
Believe it or not, the modern toilet design is constantly changing. More emphasis is being placed on conservation and style than ever before. The choices are endless as well as the prices. You may find yourself wanting to buy a high end toilet because cost means quality, but that is not always true. Some of the lower priced toilets are very well built with good design features.
One of the latest trends in toilet design is called “comfort height” or “high boy”. These are A.D.A (American Disability Act) commercial grade toilets adapted for use in the home. They have a seat elevation 2″ higher than a typical toilet. They also have an elongated bowl instead of a round bowl. However, elongated bowl toilets are also available in the standard 15″ rim height.
Low volume flush toilets are gaining popularity too. Over several decades, water closets went from using 3 gallons per flush (gpf) to a mandated 1.6 gpf. Now there are 1.28 gpf or 1.0 gpf water saver toilets available as well as dual flush toilets. A dual flush allows you to choose between two different flush volumes when needed. Power assist water closets are available too. These take advantage of the water pressure in the plumbing system to give an extra boost when flushing. When it comes styling options, they are almost endless. You can find any of the design features previously mentioned in different shapes and sizes. Such as a one piece toilet that integrates the tank with the bowl creating a sleek design. Or you can also choose a wall hung toilet instead of the traditional floor mount. Several designer colors are available as well.
Once you’ve chosen your toilet with the design and features you are looking for, there is one more decision left to make before you purchase and install a toilet. You need to measure from the face of the wall to the center of the toilet flange that is mounted on the floor. This is referred to as the “rough in” dimension. These can vary from house to house. Toilets are made for 10″, 12″, or 14″ rough in, 12″ is standard. Choose your toilet according to your measurement. Now you can install and enjoyyour new toilet