New Toilet Guide: Today's Choices In Modern Toilets
There's a lot more to choosing a toilet than price and style.
You also need to consider things like water conservation, function, size, shape, cleanliness, and maybe even color.
And it's always helpful to see what others think of a particular brand of toilet (or toilet seat) too.
Following is a guide that will help you determine which toilet is the best toilet for your home. Plus, discussion of some of the most modern features in today's toilets.
Low-Flow Toilets
Most modern toilets in the U.S. have 6-gallon tanks, by law, in order to conserve on water.
These are considered low-flow toilets, which means they use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush to eliminate waste.
Older toilets used 3.5 gallons a flush.
Low-flow toilets come in 2 varieties:
In gravity fed toilets, the weight of the water from the tank pushes the waste through an S shaped trap way, as the siphon that is created empties the bowl.
- With pressure assisted toilets, air in the tank is compressed as it fills with water. When flushing, the pressurized air pushes the water more strongly into the bowl, resulting in a better flush.
The biggest difference between the two is that pressure-fed toilets are louder and have no condensation under the tank.
How Dual-Flush Toilets Save You Money
An Update On Low-Flush Toilets
Dual-Flush Toilets Make 'Green' Sense
Bob Villa On Low-Flush Toilets
High-Performance, Water-Efficient Toilets
Small vs. Large Toilets
Personally, I think that a larger toilet is better and that you should purchase a larger toilet if your bathroom can hold it.
Most people purchase a standard size toilet that is approximately 15 inches from the tank to end of toilet with some variations available in height and seat size.
Sizes vary by only a couple of inches, but they make all the difference when it comes to comfort. Just as you would sit on a sofa before buying, you may want to put away your modesty and sit on a few toilet seats before buying to make sure you've found one that isn't too low, too small, or too large.
Round vs Oblong Toilets & Toilet Seats
The shape of the toilet bowl and seat is the most important part of choosing the size of your new toilet.
While round toilets are space savers and are a standard size (making seat replacement easy), oblong or elongated bowls are more comfortable and are less likely to cut off leg circulation.
Toilet Colors
Yes, you can still purchase a toilet in just about any color under the sun these days.
There are even companies that will match your toilet to a custom color.
I do suggest using caution when purchasing a colored toilet however, because the next person to purchase your house will almost certainly find that it does not fit their tastes. Therefore, if you are planning on a good resale value, it is smart to stick to a standard white toilet.
Easy Clean Toilets
No, easy clean toilets do not clean themselves, but they do make getting to the grime easier.
For example, easy clean hinges allow you to lift the seat off and clean the hinges thoroughly. And Ultra Touch Antimicrobial Comfort Touch toilet seats are marketed at dishwasher safe!
The Natural Position Toilet (aka "the squat toilet")
Unique Toilet Functions
While the bidet is not a toilet, it falls under the category. Bidets allow for an extra level of cleanliness. They are especially popular in Europe and wealthy households. If your toilet doesn't have a bidet, you can convert your toilet so that it has a bidet function.
The Intelligent Toilet From Neorest
Unusual Water-Saving Sink For The Toilet
Modern Toilets Have More Amenities
The Best Toilets
So, which toilet is "the best" in general? Better yet, which would be the best choice for your home specifically?
Consider these reports which summarize a variety of toilet reviews:
- Consumer Research Toilet Reviews
- Maximum Performance Testing Of Toilets Report (.pdf)
- Consumer Reports: Toilets
- Recommendations & Tips For Finding A Reliable Toilet
Bathroom Reading...
3 Things Wrong With Modern Toilets
Modern Movements In Toilet Technology
5 Things To Know About Buying A Toilet
Toilets Just Keep Getting Better
Review Of The American Standard Champion Toilet
Engadget: Toilet Tech Articles
I am looking for a gold toilet (used in the 1970s. Mine has to be replaced but if I can't find a gold toilet, I will have to replace the bathtub and the lavatory. Any ideas where I can find one.
Thanks
Tom Z,
Our beach house (which needs the green toilet) is in NC. What's the location of your green toilet?
Tom, please send me a picture and what you would be looking for for the seafoam green toilet. Thanks. ninjagoalie8@gmail.com
I am also looking for a seafoam green colored toilet (tank & bowl). If anyone has info, please relay it. Thanks. ninjagoalie8@gmail.com
To: Ross Elliot
I am replacing a perfect ceramic Elger Seafoam green (light green) toilet in my home. It is elongated with a new matching expensive seat. Works perfectly. Would you be interested? I live in FL - west coast.
Hi Ross,
Did you consider the Aegean Mist color toilet seat from Plumbing World: http://www.plumbingworld.com/toilet-seats-colors.html
...or
Sea Mist Green from Church toilet seats: http://www.churchseats.com/catalog/index.php?cat=colors
On 2/2/9 you said "Yes, you can still purchase a toilet in just about any color under the sun these days." I'm actually having trouble finding a replacement toilet in a seafoam green color (this is a beach house with bathroom tiled in green, green sink, etc and there's another identical bathroom with a green toilet.
Hello
We want to change the three toilets in our houe to water effecient toilets. But the color of the toilets are yellow, dark tan and grey. If you make such colors can you e-mail me some information please.
thankyou
asmi1016@yahoo.com