Has anyone purchased a toilet recently?

[joflier]

Another bathroom remodel question!

I''m looking at toilets. And I see prices ranging from $50-500. They all look about the same. They all have handles. And they all undoubtedly flush.

What''s the difference????? What makes a good potty vs. a bad potty?

 

[neatfreak]

We went for a mid range toilet due to a few things:

1. The amount of water it uses
2. How quiet it is
3. How powerful the flush mechanism is.

The real cheap ones are loud, use a lot of water, and aren't very powerful. The highest end ones are none of these things. We didn't want to spend $500, so we chose a model in the middle that was a good compromise.

There may be more things to it than these, but these were the three important ones for us.

 

[ladypirate]

We love one of the toilets in our house and are meh on the other one. The one we love is all one piece which makes it really easy to clean, and the lid has a soft close feature so it doesn''t ever slam down. It''s a TOTO Ultramax.

I think it runs around $400, but it is AWESOME. Best toilet I''ve ever had.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 2/23/2010 12:15:20 PM
Author:joflier
Another bathroom remodel question!

I''m looking at toilets. And I see prices ranging from $50-500. They all look about the same. They all have handles. And they all undoubtedly flush.

What''s the difference????? What makes a good potty vs. a bad potty?

I''ve bought a wee one for a wee person, but I don''t think that counts.

Probably workmanship and quality of working parts? I''d probably buy a decent toilet. Nothing like doing your business and then...clank clank clank...a loosey goosey handle that refuses to do its job.

But I''m a bit biased over toilet workmanship. We grew up poor in a rich town and skimped on everything. My parents bought a cheap toilet which broke. We could not afford a plumber (or my dad was too lazy to call one since they were always away working), so for a good long while I remember flushing the water down with a bucket of water we had to put into the toilet. And then another time, I think the handle or something fell off so we tied curling ribbon around pump thing in the back of the toilet, looped it up over the towel holder on the side of the toilet (why there was a towel holder there, I really don''t know) and anchored it on the toilet paper holder. We yanked the ribbon to flush, and the bathroom always smelled horrid because the back of the tank had to stay open.

So...yeah...quality toilet for me, thanks.

 

[TooPatient]

We bought one for about $250. I believe it was a Cimmeron -- bought it at Lowes. (I love it -- want another for the other bathroom)

Installation advice -- Especially if you are installing yourself, find the waxless rings (Lowe''s carrys them). This thing is amazing. Made the installation SO EASY. (We tried wax ring first and the toilet leaked -- waxless worked first time) I am serious. Wax rings used to be the only thing used. These waxless rings are worth finding. (and only cost about $1 more)


Important things to compare:

- size of the hole (there''s a technical term but it escapes me right now). There is a range of sizes. The larger the hole, the less likely you''ll have a clog.

- amount of water used is somewhat interesting. All of the toilets we looked at used approximately the same amount per flush. Some of the expensive ones have variable water use -- you push one button for a little flush and a different button when you need lots of force.

- height of toilet. I don''t like the low toilets that make me feel like I''m in a pre-school classroom. This is especially important if you have older people around or people who have difficulty getting up from low seats.

- 1 piece or 2. I didn''t see any of these, but some people have advertised that their toilets are a solid piece (tank & bowl).

- Power of flush. You don''t want a toilet that doesn''t have enough flushing power.

 

[somethingshiny]

When remodeling our second bathroom, we went with a cheap potty. I think it was $100 or so. It is a low water use variety but the flush isn''t very strong. I don''t know if it''s because it''s a low flow or if it''s because it''s cheaper.

I do love an elongated bowl though. They''re much more comfy than the round ones. And with how much I pee anymore, comfort is significant!

 

[Haven]

I have never purchased a toilet, but I couldn''t resist popping in and sharing that every time I see this thread all I can think of is Brick''s line from Anchorman:

"Where''d you get your clothes . . . from the . . . toilet store?"

And then I laugh at my own private joke for a couple seconds. Pathetic.

Carry on.

 

[charbie]

Date: 2/23/2010 1:25:28 PM
Author: Haven
I have never purchased a toilet, but I couldn''t resist popping in and sharing that every time I see this thread all I can think of is Brick''s line from Anchorman:

''Where''d you get your clothes . . . from the . . . toilet store?''

And then I laugh at my own private joke for a couple seconds. Pathetic.

Carry on.

You aren''t the only one. I think thats funny. I was reading the thread about the DSLR cameras, and keep thinking about the commercial w/ Payton Manning and the Oreo cookie racing league. Weird.

However, we just bought a toilet...and it was advertised as being able to flush a bucket of golf-balls....cha-ching! That''s exactly what makes me want to buy a toilet!

 

[kenny]

I buy the cheapest of such things.

Leaves money for Octavias and such.

 

[Hera]

Terry Love is an expert on toilets and I follow what he suggests:

terry love recommendations


When I was looking in my price range(200-250), I found this website (recommended by a home forum). I would order from them because they have free shipping and I like that they have reviews. I would just make sure you have the right specs (correct rough in number etc).



Because of those recommendations, I was most impressed with a Toto toilet.


toilet page on recommended website

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 2/23/2010 2:09:36 PM
Author: charbie

Date: 2/23/2010 1:25:28 PM
Author: Haven
I have never purchased a toilet, but I couldn''t resist popping in and sharing that every time I see this thread all I can think of is Brick''s line from Anchorman:

''Where''d you get your clothes . . . from the . . . toilet store?''

And then I laugh at my own private joke for a couple seconds. Pathetic.

Carry on.

You aren''t the only one. I think thats funny. I was reading the thread about the DSLR cameras, and keep thinking about the commercial w/ Payton Manning and the Oreo cookie racing league. Weird.

However, we just bought a toilet...and it was advertised as being able to flush a bucket of golf-balls....cha-ching! That''s exactly what makes me want to buy a toilet!

We''re remodeling both of our bathrooms. The master bath is getting an American Standard "Champion" right-height toilet. Yes charbie, it''s the one that can flush eighteen gold balls! but our plumber told us it''s actually one of the best toilets made today. Right-height toilets are a few inches taller than traditional toilets and this made my 6''3" husband very happy. You can see the Champion toities here:
http://www.americanstandard-us.com/toilets/traditional-champion-4-el-right-height-toilet/
Don''t pay attention to the prices on the A.S. website. They''re crazy. It can be ordered through Home Depot for a little under $500.-

The toilet for our half bath is the American Standard "Repertoire" Victorian toilet. No bells or whistles (or golf balls), just style.

 

[Lauren8211]

This thread really makes me want to buy a new toilet!

I had NO idea they could flush golf balls! Amazing!

I''m sure DH and I would have a fun night that first night flushing random crap. Pun intended.

 

[decodelighted]

We did. Went with a one-piece where the tank is integrated. Also low-flow (for water conservation). Our looked a lot like the new designer ones but was an off-the rack model. I'll see if I can figure out which one it was. I know it was one of only two off-the rack one-piece units at Lowes.

The reason we picked a one piece is we'd had trouble with our last toilet's tank becoming loose from the seat & leaking. One less place to leak. Also, where ours is it doesn't lean against the wall -- so a one piece gives you, um, more support if you lean back against it w/o a wall.

The one thing I don't like about ours is the toilet seat that came with it. Kind of flimsy-ish plastic. We'll replace it when we get the chance with something more comfy/durable.


ETA: Here is ours. Man that feels weird. Please no one picture what goes on there. Or with my imaginary leg-shaving bidet.

 

[Scorpioanne]

We got a dual flush as a low flow doesn''t work anywhere near as well. Ours is an Australian one made by Caroma (or maybe that is the style). It flushes really well for #2 which is an issue with our low flow one. It was pricy compared to the other ones we looked at but it is worth it. It also is a "comfort height" and has a rounded front as opposed to a elongated front which we wanted.

 

[Scorpioanne]

http://www.caromausa.com/Sydney-Range
This is what we got. It is wonderful!

 

[Dancing Fire]

today must be national bidet and toilet day.