TIPS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE A TOILET
Toilet designs have come a long way. And when it comes to style, comfort and water efficiency, Mondella has you covered. But before you make a choice, there are a few things you need to consider. We’ve put together a few tips to help you choose the toilet that’s right for your bathroom.
Check the plumbing
Your existing bathroom will have plumbing that’s set up for your specific layout. This and the size of your space will narrow down which toilets you can use. However, if you want to change the plumbing to suit the toilet you really want, talk to a plumber so you can assess if the additional cost is worth it
Determine your pan type
Australia has three common pan types: S-trap, P-trap and Skew trap. The trap is the bend in the toilet pipe that expels the waste.
Measure the set-out
Before you choose a toilet, it’s important to first establish the ‘set-out’ you need. This is the distance from the wall to the centre of the waste outlet for an S-trap, and the floor to the outlet for a P-trap.
Water efficiency
The Australian Government has introduced a WELS scheme to help reduce the water consumption in homes. Based on a star rating system, it measures the amount of water per flush. A 3 STAR rating uses 6L for a full flush and 3L for a half flush. While a 4 STAR rating uses 4.5L for a full flush and 3L for a half flush.
Toilet Buying Guide
Toilet Rough-In Measurements and Standards
Make sure the new toilet will fit your space. To do this, measure the rough-in size. This is the distance between the wall behind the toilet and the center of the drainpipe or the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. It’s best to perform this measurement before you remove the old toilet.
Toilet Models: One Piece or Two?
Toilets are made in one- or two-piece models. Most toilets are two-piece, meaning that the bowl is bolted to the tank. Two-piece toilets are generally less expensive than a one-piece. Both function comparably, though a one-piece toilet may be easier to clean. If they’re not included, make sure you purchase all of the installation parts required: a toilet seat, wax ring with sleeve, closet bolts and bolt caps.
Toilet Bowls
Toilet bowls are available in round and elongated (oval) shapes. Elongated bowls are usually 2 inches longer than round bowls and offer additional comfort. Round bowls are generally less expensive and work well in small spaces. As with rough-in standards, make sure your space will accommodate an elongated bowl before you buy.
Toilet Tanks and Flushing Systems
Almost all toilets have a similar tank capacity. When choosing a tank, you’ll have flush valve size and flush lever positioning to consider, as well as the flushing system.
The pressure-assisted and gravity-flush systems are the two standard flushing systems available:
Pressure-Assisted Flush System: Pressurized air forces water into the bowl when flushed, reducing the chance for clogs. This system is noisy, expensive and may require costly maintenance.
Gravity-Flush System: The most common and simplest system, it uses the water weight to generate flushing pressure. The pressure forces everything from the tank into the bowl and through the S-shaped trapway. A siphoning action completes the flush. This flushing system is quieter and requires less maintenance than a pressure-assisted flushing system.
Additional toilet technology includes:
Dual Flush: This is a relatively new system for saving water without sacrificing efficiency. There are two flushing options for a full or partial flush (1.6 gallons per flush and 1.1 gallons per flush).
Waterless Toilets: Where water or plumbing isn’t available or when portability is required, a self-contained waterless unit is an option.
Toilet Replacement or Repair? Here’s How to Choose Which Option Is Best for You
If an old toilet is giving you trouble, you may assume that it needs to be replaced. While installing a new toilet may be the best option, if the fixture is giving you difficulties, it may not be the best solution for the current problem. Understanding how to complete a few repairs will help you solve small issues and avoid buying a new toilet.
Signs You Need to Replace an Old Toilet In Your Ottawa Home
If you don’t have any experience in plumbing, it can be challenging to understand when your toilet isn’t working the way it should be. If you think that it might be time for you to replace your toilet, here are the warning signs that you should keep an eye out for.
Consistently Clogging
It’s normal for a toilet to clog now and then. A weakened flush can cause a clogged toilet and impact the cleanliness of the drain pipes.
The Bowl or Tank Are Cracked
The tank and the bowl of your toilet are made of porcelain, mainly because it’s durable, waterproof, and sanitary. Porcelain isn’t the perfect product to use for toilets and can crack, causing a disastrous leak. Even if you’ve noticed a hairline fracture in your bowl or tank, it can grow over time and weaken the structure of your toilet.
You’ve Noticed a Spike in Your Water Bill
If you notice an increase in your water bill, the cause of the spike may be a damaged toilet
How to Choose the Right Toilet for Me?
You can look at it any way that you want to, but when you ask your self the question: ‘how to choose a toilet that is a good fit for my home‘, you will find out that there are some very specific things you want because good toilets have better features. Because there are also blanks with some of your questions, the best way to answer them is to get it all out in the open so that you understand the basics of toilets. There is nothing confusing in this guide, and it rather focuses on providing an outlet for you to put your ideas on one page to make a better decision. There is no wrong choice if you get all the features you want, and once you go through this short guide you’ll have a better understanding of what it is that makes sense for the home installation. As an added bonus any new age toilet chosen is easy to install and lacks the headaches of older models.
Size
Depending on where the installation is taking place, customers may want to redo the measurements. This includes the rough in size and the height from the bottom of the toilet to the toilet seat. Little things like toilet seat height could turn a purchase that looks good on paper to an uncomfortable mess once installed. This includes if you are installing a toilet meant solely for a small kid’s bathroom and they are uncomfortable on elongated toilets. Or what if you purchase a toilet that sits a little higher than what they’re comfortable with? Then it is back to the drawing board and possible money down the drain. Checking and rechecking the measurements will help a lot, and if you are installing it into a bathroom with limited space, then make note of whether the new toilet will be bigger than the current toilet. It’s a small gesture that will go a long way in giving you the most worry free install experience possible.
Price
The prices for toilets will vary depending on the type you are getting and from what company. There are very few low priced quality toilets available, so be wary on going too cheap with the price as that just means it is an inferior product. Some companies even offer package deals by selling two toilets as one and shaving off some of the price. Not all companies offer this, but in a case where a buyer needs more than one toilet it could potentially save them a lot of money. Be wary of features you don’t need so that overpaying isn’t even an option. It may be tempting to want to buy a toilet with a nightlight, but if you know that you aren’t going to use that feature then why pay extra for it? There is a lot of competition in the toilet market, so for every toilet that has that 1 extra feature you don’t need there is another toilet with the same specs, and lacking that unneeded feature. Shop smart toilets and only target features that mean something to you like water efficiency or power of the flush.
Water Usage
With the industry standard being set at 1.6 gallons per flush, buyers are safe in that all the new toilets won’t surpass that threshold. But smart shoppers shouldn’t settle for the industry standard if their main goal is to save money with their water bill. Dual flush toilets are the new craze, and it has two buttons to give you a flush that uses a small amount or water or a power flush that uses the full 1.6 amount. These toilets can get a little high in price, so for other customers the alternative is to settle for a toilet that is either high powered or water efficient. This can create a dilemma, since no one wants to make the wrong decision and have to send the toilet back. The easiest decision is to purchase the dual flush, but if that is out of your price range, then it is a safe bet to go with toilets that use as little as 1.28 gallons per flush. These are Watersense certified toilets and it is a safe middle ground between saving water resources and giving you the power you need to get a good flush. Variety is pretty good with the 1.28 models so customers are sure to come away with something that they love. If you are looking for the best rated flushing toilets see this guide
Summary
A combination of size, water usage information and price should be all a customer needs to make an educated decision on the perfect toilet for their home. Things don’t really get complicated, but they sure do get exciting with all of the options that are pushed in your face. Since everyone has different tastes, there is no telling what you may end up taking home. As long as you do your homework, you’ll do your new bathroom addition justice.
Toilet buying guide
In recent years the humble toilet has undergone a style makeover. Sleek new designs, hidden cisterns and water efficiency are just some of the features you need to consider when choosing a toilet for your home
Start with style
Toilet designs include back to wall, close coupled, wall faced and wall hung. Consider your budget and check with your plumber to find out which one will work best with your existing bathroom’s setup. But if you’re building from scratch, you can choose your toilet first and tailor your plumbing accordingly.
The difference between each style
Back to wall toilet cisterns are attached directly to the bathroom wall, which allows the pipes to be hidden.
Pick a toilet pan
Once you’ve chosen a toilet style, you’ll need to choose a toilet pan. There are three common pan types: S-trap, P-trap and skew trap.
Take measurements
Before you commit to a toilet style and pan, you’ll need to make sure the measurements work and decide what “set-out” you’ll need in your bathroom. This is the distance from the wall to the centre of the waste outlet for an S-trap, and the floor to the outlet for a P-trap. Set-outs vary, so make sure you take those measurements with you when selecting a toilet.