Bathroom Toilet Buying Guide

Today’s toilets are designed to match other products in your bathroom suite. This allows for a coordinated look in your bathroom, where the fixtures, faucets and accessories are matched in a complementary style and design.

Toilets come is several different variations:

Shape: Round front bowl or an elongated bowl.
Height: Standard height vs. comfort height ( ADA compliant)
Flush: Gravity flush vs. power/pressure flush vs. flush valve
Style One-piece or two-piece

Round front bowls are generally less expensive than their elongated counterparts. They are used in smaller bathrooms, where space and price may be an issue.

Elongated bowls are longer (front to back) by about 2-3 inches. This extra length makes elongated bowls more comfortable and a little roomier. If your bathroom has the additional space, the extra comfort of an elongated bowl is worth the extra cost.

ADA Compliant Toilets:

Many residential designs are beginning to use ADA compliant model toilets. The tank is the same, but the bowl is 1-1/2” to 2” taller than the standard bowl. This makes the toilet height approximately the same height as a standard chair and provides for easier seating. In fact they are often referred to as “Comfort” height toilets.

Two-piece toilets tend to be less expensive, are taller (27” to 30” high) and are often more traditionally styled

One-piece Toilets are more expensive and have a lower profile (22” to 27” high)

Toilet Terms:

Trapway – The trapway is the snake-like tubing at the sides of your toilet which water flushes through. The better designed and larger the trapway, the less chance there is for clogs. A fully glazed trapway also helps prevent clogging by providing a smoother passageway.

Skirted – Enclosing the trapway with a smooth covering, allowing for easy cleaning and an elegant look. Also called a concealed trap

Elongated Bowl – The bowl has an oval shape and extended front rim to provide maximum comfort, and added style.

Round Bowl – A more traditional bowl, the round design is ideal for bathrooms with limited space.

Flush Valve – Located at the center of the tank, this valve is activated by the toilet’s flush handle and releases the water held in the tank. A larger flush valve increases the water flow rate through the toilet.

Gravity Flush system – This system uses nothing more than water weight to generate flushing pressure. This time-tested design is quiet, simple, and requires less maintenance than other more complex flushing systems.

Pressure Assisted Flush System – A pressurized air tank assists the toilet’s flushing process. This system can be noisy and more expensive.

All toilets today use a maximum 1.6 gallons per flush. Manufacturers have redesigned the flushing mechanisms, bowls, and trapways to ensure a proper flush. This has led to a new type of toilet design – the pressure assisted toilet. Standard toilets use a simple “gravity” flush. Pressure assisted toilets use the water pressure from your plumbing system to create a more forceful flush.

Most toilets do not come with a toilet seat , but do not despair – there are plenty of choices that will match the style (round or elongated), and color of the toilet design. Click here to view toilet seats.