Shopping for a new toilet is one of those surprisingly complex things you’ve never expected to deal with. Contrary to popular belief, a toilet is much more than just a bathroom fixture. There’s nuance to selecting a good toilet. So much so that we’ve decided to write this guide and help you navigate the complexities of modern toilets and their quirky designs.
Why Toilet Selection Matters
Over the coats of their life, an average adult will spend over 400 days in the bathroom, a good portion of that being on the toilet. That is a lot of time, so you might as well enjoy it. Selecting the right toilet is a matter of comfort, but also efficiency.
Modern toilets come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, allowing you to pick one that is the most suitable for your needs as well as your living space. Because of that, you can’t just go to your local hardware store and pick the first toilet you see. There’s a whole selection process to follow and it all starts with the type of toilet you want.
Different Types of Toilets
Toilets can be floor or wall-mounted. The floor-mounted type is arguably the more common one. Each type has its pros and cons.
Floor mounted toilet – floor-mounted toilets are still the norm. They come with integrated water tanks and are hence independent fixtures. You can mount a floor toilet in just about any bathroom, given that there’s enough space. We’ll mention how to measure everything in a moment.
Wall-mounted toilets – these are a bit more complicated in the sense that the water tank is built into the wall. Depending on the type of building or house you’re living in, you might be restricted when it comes to installing such toilets. The size of the tank will depend on the type of wall studs you have. Most tanks will fit either a 2×4 or 2×6 wall studs.
How to Pick a Floor Mounted Toilet
One of the most important aspects of choosing a floor-mounted toilet is taking precise measurements. Namely, you’ll want to measure from the wall to the first set of mounting bolts. In most cases, this distance is 12 inches. Knowing this measurement will help you choose a toilet that will fit flush with the wall, no pun intended. There is plenty more finesse to find the right toilet of this type. The experts over at Toiletable.com have covered the most important specs in this must-read review. You’d be surprised just how detailed you can go with floor-mounted toilets.
One Piece or Two Piece Toilets?
One-piece toilets are often said to be the better of the two. While this is generally true, the reason why isn’t exactly what most people think. Contrary to popular belief, two-piece toilets that have a separate tank from the bowl, aren’t prone to leaking where the two pieces join. At least not if you go with proven brands. The reason why one-piece toilets are popular is that they are easier to clean!
Type of Toilet Seat
Modern toilets are all about making you comfortable while you’re using them. If there’s one part of a toilet that can impact comfort, it’s the toilet seat. They come in all shapes, forms, and sizes. However, it’s the padding or lack thereof in a toilet seat that will polarize everyone’s opinion. Some think padded seats are a must while others hate them.
There’s a misconception that padded seats are unsanitary, but that has turned out not to be true. In all honesty, it all comes down to personal preference. No matter which seat you choose, just remember to change it periodically. Padded seats will wear out faster than non-padded ones, so that’s also something to think about.
Toilet Performance
That’s right, there’s such a thing as toilet performance. This metric determines how much water is used per flush as well as how much pressure each flush is creating. Modern toilets can be extremely efficient. You can reduce your water usage by getting a more efficient model that is capable of taking the waste away while using very little water.
That’s great because flushing the toilet is one of the main largest factors when it comes to water consumption. Going for a more efficient toilet could significantly reduce the amount of money you’ll spend on the water every year.
No matter what type of toilet you go with, do yourself a favor and don’t skimp on quality. A good toilet will last for a long time, be easy to clean, and generally treat you well. Spend some time finding the right one for you, and you won’t have to think about toilets for years to come.
