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What should I look for when buying a toilet?
While there are many features to consider when buying a toilet, including height, bowl shape, color, style, and flushing technology, most toilets fall into one of two basic types: gravity-feed and pressure-assisted. Gravity-feed toilets dominate the market, but pressure-assisted models are worth a look.
How do you buy a toilet?
Always buy a toilet with the correct rough-in. To determine the size of your toilet rough-in, measure from the wall behind the toilet to the bolt caps of your current toilet. Most toilets are available in a 12-inch rough-in, which is the standard distance, but a 10- or 14-inch rough-in may be needed in some homes.
Are round or elongated toilets better?
Pros: Elongated bowls are generally considered to be more attractive and comfortable than round front bowls, but as with most things, this is a matter of taste and can be affected by an individual’s height and weight.
How often should you replace your toilets?
Typically, toilets need replacement after 25 years of use so this can be considered the average toilet lifespan. Some would argue that the porcelain toilet itself has a much longer, and even unlimited, lifespan and that it’s only the components inside that need repairs and replacements.
How do I know if my toilet is a 10 or 12 rough?
If the old toilet is still there, measure from the center of the capped bolts (on the bottom) to the wall (not the baseboard). There should be 24 inches of clearance from the wall facing the bowl and 15 inches on each side as a guideline. If your measurements are between 11.5 and 12.5 inches, it is a 12-inch rough-in.
Are 1 piece toilets better?
One piece toilets are typically heavier and easier to clean, and there’s less space for bacteria to grow. Because two piece toilets feature a detachable tank, they’re more customizable for preferred styles and heights. Both styles can include bells and whistles like bidet attachments or low-flow energy saving.
How long do toilets usually last?
Toilets can last for up to 50 years under average conditions. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t need to spend money maintaining it throughout its useful life. Furthermore, there are many factors that could cause your toilet to fail in less than 50 years.
Is 1.6 or 1.28 toilet better?
A 1.28 GPF toilet uses about one-third of a gallon less with each flush than a standard 1.6 GPF toilet. In a house of five, a 1.28 GPF toilet could potentially save about 10 gallons of water each day. Extrapolated for the entire year, that’s about 3,650 gallons of water saved.
What is the best toilet on the market?
Here are the best tested toilets of 2021: Best Overall Toilet: Kohler Corbelle K-3814-0. Best Toilet for Modern Spaces: Swiss Madison Well Made Forever One Piece Toilet. Best Two-Piece Toilet: TOTO Promenade 2-Piece Toilet. Best Value One-Piece Toilet: Glacier Bay 1-piece Dual Flush Toilet.
What does 12 inch rough in size mean for toilets?
The toilet rough-in refers to the distance from the finished wall to the center of the toilet’s floor drain or waste outlet. Most toilets have a rough-in of 12 inches, although it’s not uncommon for older homes to have an unusual size such as 10″ or 14″. Rear-outlet toilets are configured a bit differently.
Should I replace a 30 year old toilet?
Replacement saves money and water. Believe it or not, the federal government even has something to say about your toilet. According to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, toilets installed after 1994 must have a flush volume of 1.6 gallons per flush. If you know your toilet is at least 25 years old, consider replacing it.
How do you know if your toilet needs replacing?
Watch out for these warning signs that you need a new toilet: Clogs and Overflows. Constant Running. Poor Flush (or the Dreaded No Flush) Leaks. Hissing or Trickling Sounds in the Tank.
Should I keep old toilet?
For most toilets, a 20-year lifespan is the outer limit. A toilet may continue to work after this, but it will be at a higher risk of starting to leak and suffering from numerous clogs and other repair issues. Get ahead of the problem and replace a toilet that’s 20 years or older.
Can a toilet be more than 12 inches from the wall?
It won’t affect how the toilet itself operates. However, the extra inches will cause the tank to be further away from the shutoff valve on the wall, so a longer connector may be needed to reach effectively.
Can you replace a 10 inch rough in toilet with a 12 inch rough in toilet?
The rough-in for your bathroom plumbing should match the rough-in for the toilet. Even if a toilet is designed for a 10-inch rough-in, you can still install it in a space with a 12-inch rough-in.
Can you replace a 14 inch rough in toilet with a 12 inch rough in toilet?
You can, but the back of the toilet tank will be two inches further away from the wall. The “rough-in” dimension refers to the distance from the wall framing (½-⅝″ behind the finished wall surface) to the center of the sewer pipe on the floor. Standard rough-in is 12 inches.
