Household Item Reviewer
06-28-2005, 05:45 AM
Although it's one of the most used fixtures in the bathroom, most of us never think about what makes one toilet different from another-- until it's time to buy one. Models range from very basic equipment to a truly royal flush.
Steps:
1. Choose from traditional two-piece toilets (from $80) that have tank and bowl bolted together, low-profile one-piece toilets (from $200), and easy-to-clean wall-mount tankless ones (from $250).
2. Pick your throne with comfort and space in mind. Narrow spaces favor round bowls, but elongated bowls provide another 2 inches of support. Seat heights range from 10 inches (25 cm) for kids to the standard 14 to 15 inches (35 to 38 cm) for adults and the wheelchair-accessible 17 inches (43 cm).
3. Choose a flush action. All new toilets use 1.6 gallons (6 liters) of water to flush. Affordable gravity-fed toilets run water from the tank into the bowl to create a siphon that drains waste. Pressure-assisted toilets (add $100) use compressed air to propel water and expel waste with noisy turbolike force.
4. Look for extras like a built-in pump to boost water pressure, and a 3-inch (7.5 cm) flush valve and 2-inch (5 cm) trapway to clear the bowl quicker.
Overall Tips:
Treat yourself to heated seats, deodorizer fans and bidet-style spray-and-dry devices. Self-closing lids reduce noise and arguments.
Most toilets bolt to the floor 12 inches (30 cm) from the wall, but some require 10 or 14 inches (25 or 35 cm).
Steps:
1. Choose from traditional two-piece toilets (from $80) that have tank and bowl bolted together, low-profile one-piece toilets (from $200), and easy-to-clean wall-mount tankless ones (from $250).
2. Pick your throne with comfort and space in mind. Narrow spaces favor round bowls, but elongated bowls provide another 2 inches of support. Seat heights range from 10 inches (25 cm) for kids to the standard 14 to 15 inches (35 to 38 cm) for adults and the wheelchair-accessible 17 inches (43 cm).
3. Choose a flush action. All new toilets use 1.6 gallons (6 liters) of water to flush. Affordable gravity-fed toilets run water from the tank into the bowl to create a siphon that drains waste. Pressure-assisted toilets (add $100) use compressed air to propel water and expel waste with noisy turbolike force.
4. Look for extras like a built-in pump to boost water pressure, and a 3-inch (7.5 cm) flush valve and 2-inch (5 cm) trapway to clear the bowl quicker.
Overall Tips:
Treat yourself to heated seats, deodorizer fans and bidet-style spray-and-dry devices. Self-closing lids reduce noise and arguments.
Most toilets bolt to the floor 12 inches (30 cm) from the wall, but some require 10 or 14 inches (25 or 35 cm).