Best Toilets for Bathroom Upgrades

Water Usage

When buying a toilet, we never used to think about how much water we use per flush. Generally speaking, why would we? However, we are now living in 2019, and our impact on the planet is growing at a considerable rate.

Flushing the toilet accounts for the most significant water usage you will use in a day. Multiply that number by the amount of people in your home, and you can see why purchasing a WaterSense toilet can save the planet a little and save you $$ of your annual water bill.

WaterSense certified toilets can save the average household as much as 13,000 gallons of water per year and just over $100 off the annual water bill.  REPORT.

So, if you would like to do your little bit for the planet then purchasing a toilet which uses less water is a good start. Not only is it good for the environment, but also your wallet. Before modern standards came into practice, most toilets would use around 4 gallons of water per flush.

Different Flush Systems for Toilets

There are four main types of flush systems in the best toilets: gravity assisted, pressure assisted, vacuum assisted and power assisted.

Gravity assisted

Gravity assisted toilets are the most commonly found toilets around. These toilets rely on gravity to pull the water down from the tank, which is helped by the height of the tank and the weight of the water.

These types of toilets are very reliable, durable, and thanks to the simplicity of their design rarely break down and are easy to fix. They can use a lot more water than other types of toilets, though, if you have a big family, they may not be ideal for continuous flushing.

Pressure assisted

Pressure-assisted toilets are more commonly found in more modern built homes. Older homes may have weaker plumbing, and you generally wouldn’t want to put excess power through the connections many times a day.

They work by using air to add pressure to the stored water inside the tank and when you flush the air forces the water through a sealed tank which then flows through the toilet and down through the drain.

These types of toilets can be a little noisier, but they are better for bathrooms in attics or high buildings with low water pressure.

Vacuum assisted

Not quite as aggressive as you find on airplanes vacuum assisted toilets are a more modern version of gravity assisted toilets. They work by creating a vacuum which draws the water when flushed into the bowl with a bit more pressure.

They are very quiet so can be fitted in most bathrooms or guestrooms and thanks to the vacuum action they can work in areas of the house where the water pressure is a bit low.

Power assisted

The most expensive model on the market. You will find varying different styles in power-assisted toilets, but one of the most popular is the tankless toilet. They incorporate pumps and macerators fed by a small motor.

The benefit of these toilets is primarily seen by people who want to do basement conversions on their homes, or in a room which is far from a central drain. The pump will power waste away without any issues.

If you opt for the version without a macerator, it will also destroy any waste, and bathroom waste so stops any clogging in your sanitation.

Drainage

When buying a new toilet, have a look at the flushing system. More modern designs have different types of water outlets which apply more pressure to the bowl when you flush. This helps clear any waste of the bowl.

Modern toilets now flush water at 1.6GPF (Gallons per flush) Anything under this number will be considered efficient by the federal guidelines. For most people, this is enough water power to clear waste without having to double flush.

Most modern toilets have been designed to deliver more power while still using less than 1.6GPF. For example, tornado design water jets allow the water to clear the bowl from two angles and creates a centrifugal action which pulls the waste down as it cleans the bowl.

Having a dual flush toilet is another great way to save money. The smaller flush usually uses less than 1.2GPF or in some toilets less than 1GPF. The power will be a little less, but with the modern drainage designs, it is enough to clear most waste.

Toilet design

Thanks to the hardworking designers at bathroom manufacturers, new models of toilets are coming out all the time. From things like the shape of the toilet to half toilets, you have a lot to choose from in terms of design and looks.

One-piece vs. two piece

When deciding on your new toilet, there are going to be a few things you will want to consider. We will start by going over one of the hottest topics on the market, one-piece toilets vs. two!

Now, if you have ever seen a one-piece toilet, you will know they look great. Any bathroom will instantly look more modern and unique with a one-piece toilet fitted. It is easy to see why people go for this option; it is something you do not see very often, at all.

One of the worries you may have about one-piece toilets is the reliability. This isn’t something you need to worry about at all. One-piece toilets are very durable and work in precisely the same way a two-piece toilet does. The only difference is that there is no separator between the tank and bowl.

Having no separator doesn’t make the toilet any more susceptible to break downs when it comes to breakdowns there isn’t much difference between the two as both would not work If any damage happened to the flush or water tank.

Being a single piece makes it easier to clean. No matter how hard you try on a two-piece toilet and bowl, there is always dust and debris in between the nooks and crannies you cannot get too! Dust and debris sticking to the toilet in any areas you cannot clean are usually the culprits for nasty smells which never seem to go away. Single piece toilets stay cleaner for longer.

One-piece toilets are also slightly smaller, so fitting them in smaller bathrooms or guestrooms isn’t an issue. One thing you may notice is that one-piece toilets sit a little lower to the ground, we suggest you always check the measurements and make sure they are at least universal height.

The final thing we shall say about one-piece toilets is that they are generally a little more expensive. The way they are made puts the price up a bit, but you are buying something a little more unique with a bit more character so we would say it is worth considering.

When it comes down to the installation, if you fancy yourself a bit of a handyperson, fitting a one-piece toilet can be a little trickier. They weigh a bit more so lifting and moving them can be a bit tricky. If you are planning to install it yourself, you may very well need another pair of hands.

Round toilets vs. Elongated

More and more people are opting for elongated toilet designs. They are newer to the market and have a more modern look to them. There isn’t much difference between the two when it comes down to functionality and use.

Elongated toilets are slightly bigger than their round counterparts, so some people do find them more comfortable. You will find in most disabled public bathrooms they will have ADA approved elongated toilets.

With the shape and extra few inches in size though they do take up more room in your home bathroom, so they probably won’t be a wise installation for smaller bathrooms.

Tankless toilets

Another great modern innovation in the bathroom world, Tankless toilets. They are the new norm in luxury hotels, and they make any bathroom look modern, sleek, and unique. Tankless toilets are very easy to keep clean and take up next to no space.

Tankless toilets can be fitted in many different ways, against any strong wall or if you want to get creative, you can pull some inspiration from bathroom design blogs.

Tankless toilets can be used in guest bathrooms or smaller bathrooms which struggle for space. If you are desperate for another bathroom, thanks to a growing family, but cannot afford an extension, then turning an old linen closet or small storage room into a small bathroom is doable.

A tankless toilet and a mini sink are straightforward to fit and using new push-fit drainage means even the least handy of people stand a good chance of installing them themselves. Tankless toilets are electrically powered. Most of them will contain a macerator and pump which will destroy and remove any human waste and toilet tissue with a stainless-steel blade and motor built into the toilet.

This can make them a little trickier to fit, as you may need an electrician to make the connection. However, it is worth it in the long run. Tankless toilets can go into any room in the house as the pumps are usually strong enough to clear waste for around 9ft vertically and up to 100ft horizontally.

Toilet height

Depending on who’s bathroom, the toilet is going to be fitted in will help you decide on the height. If it is for your children’s bathroom, or you’re putting two toilets in a single bathroom, then a standard height of 14-15″ is the right choice for children and young adults.

They may be a little small for an adult, for adult sizes and people with disabilities go for a toilet which meets the standards of the ASA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Which stand between 17-19″ and are considered ‘Comfort Height.’

Toilet colors and finishing

Toilets are now being designed and sold in many different colors. Matching your toilet to your existing décor can be more fun, and it adds a little bit more of your personality to your home.

Many companies are also now offering different types of finishing on hinges and handles like nickel or stainless steel.

Noise

No-one wants to be awoken at night by the sounds of giant waves crashing from the bathroom. Thankfully, those days are long gone. With most modern toilets they flush less water, and the movement of the valves is much smoother.

If you have trouble with toilets clogging and you’re going for something a little more ‘higher powered’ then it may be worth noting they are louder than high-efficiency toilets.

Warranty

A warranty is the most important thing we look at when deciding on a new purchase. Anything you buy will come with one, though we suggest you always take a little time to read through the fine print and see what is covered in it.

The most common warranty on the market is a 1-year warranty, but it can come in different forms and cover different parts of the toilet.

We suggest you look for a warranty which covers you for a minimum of one year and covers fading or staining to the bowl, not just the moving parts.

Installation

If you want to save a little bit of money by doing the install yourself, then try to familiarize yourself with the toilet you’re getting. Check out the measurements of your old toilet and bathroom to make sure you will not need to make any significant adjustments.

Toilets can be heavy, so always try to have another person handy to help you lift it and to tighten it down. Check the measurements of your bathroom to make sure your new toilet will fit before purchasing it.

It is always a good idea to make sure the toilet inlet and outlet are not a unique size, and they can fit standard plumbing fixtures. You will not find this very often unless you’re going for something unique.

We always recommend you check the ‘rough in’ size of your current toilet and the new one you intend to purchase. The rough-in measurement is the measurement of the distance from the toilet outlet pipe to the wall it will be being fitted against. Standard rough-in size is 12,” but they also come in 10″ and 4″.

A standard two-piece toilet is much simpler to fit than a modern one piece.