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How to choose a good toilet

This WordPress post outlines important tips and best practices on how to choose a good toilet. This guide ensures you pick the most suitable toilet design and model that fits your needs and budget, whilst offering reliable quality standards. With advice on flushing systems, toilets types, accessories, and more, you’ll know exactly how to shop for a good quality toilet that meets your requirements. Learn how to assess price, size, material, features, and other factors for the perfect toilet selection.

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Fine plumbing completes the bathroom and toilet style. A high-quality toilet that works properly with its functions is the result of an extremely careful choice, taking into account your own aesthetic and practical needs, together with the recommendations of specialists.

How to choose a good toilet

What are the designs of toilets

Although the Italians are considered to be the founders of plumbing, the idea of ​​optimizing the water supply of large cities and the disposal of the effluents they produce did not originally belong to them. Archaeological finds confirm that the most ancient elements of urban infrastructure, which serve as prototypes of modern sewerage, were found in ancient India, and the progenitors of those devices that we now know as the toilet bowl were first found in ancient China. From there, the toilet moved through India to the Middle East, but only projects of aqueducts, drainage and drainage systems reached the Mediterranean. For the first time in Europe, a toilet was made only at the end of the 16th century, and the first samples with a backlog for mass production appeared only two hundred years later. It is not surprising that during such a long development path several opinions have appeared about what the design of this plumbing device should be..

Sulabh International Toilet MuseumSulabh International Toilet Museum, New Delhi

The first water-flush toiletThe invention of the first water-flush toilet in 1596 for the elderly Queen Elizabeth I is sometimes credited with the poet John Harington.

It is quite obvious that the type of toilet bowl design is determined by the bowl, its shape and device features. The most archaic are dish-shaped bowls, which have practically outlived their usefulness and almost disappeared from use. The horizontal platform with a recess in such toilets was constantly accumulating dirt and plaque, although splashes were absolutely excluded during use..

Two modern variations of the bowl – funnel-shaped and visor. The latter is distinguished by the presence of a gently sloping wall in the rear, the neck is located in front. In funnel-shaped toilets, the drain is located closer to the center, and all the walls have a comparable steep slope. This has the advantage of being self-cleaning when flushing but can also cause splashing..

Types of toilet bowlsTypes of toilet bowls

In general, the visor and funnel-shaped bowls are very similar, the main difference lies in the angle of inclination of the rear wall. Among the models of toilet bowls, there are many transitional options in which the neck is located at different distances from the front edge, so when choosing, you will have to consider a lot of options. Ergonomics is far from the only evaluation criterion, however, the bowl configuration should ensure comfortable use of the toilet, taking into account personal habits and anatomical features..

Coating material and quality

There are two traditional materials for making toilet bowls – sanitary ware and porcelain. They are called plumbing mainly because of the use of specially prepared raw materials that can bake well even with a large thickness and dimensions of the product. Sanitary ware represents a budget series of toilet bowls, however, with its availability, it does not stand out for its excellent strength and shock resistance. Sanitary porcelain is denser, even tolerates harsh mechanical stress, but the raw materials for its production are more expensive, and the technological requirements are higher, which negatively affects the cost.

Wall hung toilet bowl made of porcelainWall hung toilet bowl made of porcelain

It is much more important that both types of ceramics are coated with glaze and it is almost impossible to distinguish what material the base is represented by. But since the ease of use depends precisely on the quality of the external coating, it must be assessed by the smoothness of the surface, the absence of local irregularities and defects, color and the presence of overflows. For a general assessment of the strength properties of toilets made of both materials, it will be useful to weigh in hands without a cistern. High-quality plumbing will never be too light, at the same time, it is better to refuse from completely heavy products – there will be problems with transportation and installation.

Floor-standing stainless steel toiletFloor-standing stainless steel toilet

Two less traditional materials are acrylic coated glass composite and stainless steel. There are not many such options on the market, but they exist, as well as reasons to work hard to become the owner of just such a product. The most important argument in favor of composite and metal toilets is their durability. Steel of this class, in principle, is not susceptible to dirt, acrylic coatings are of very, very high quality, remaining smooth and retaining color for several decades of operation, but what is even more interesting – they exclude uncomfortable “cold” touches due to the low heat capacity of the material. The listed advantages are not typical for cheap Chinese handicrafts, there is a risk of running into low-quality steel or too thin-walled body, which will deform even from minor influences. In other words, buying a good toilet bowl made of acrylic or metal does not imply significant savings in comparison with ceramics..

Toilet bowl made of marbleToilet bowl made of marble

It would be wrong not to mention toilets made of natural or artificial stone. Yes, it may seem like an overkill, but such materials have their advantages, as, indeed, any expensive thing. In addition to the aesthetic value, natural stone and polymer concrete have excellent strength and durability; they can be restored to the state of a newly purchased product by simple polishing. At the same time, stone, be it natural or artificial, is the only material that allows for the possibility of making a toilet bowl on an individual order..

Drainage system device

Toilet bowls and cisterns are sold as separate items in the price list, but due to the unification of the mounting flange, a high variability of combinations is provided. The tank and the drain system that it represents must be selected separately from the bowl, taking into account the following features.

Installing the cistern on the toilet

The water tank itself can have different location options: directly on the bowl body, under the ceiling, or inside the wall to which the toilet is attached. The latter is carried out through an installation system hidden under the decoration, that is, this option implies the device of false walls and a slight reduction in the size of the room, although the useful area is not lost, sometimes even preconditions appear for a more rational use of space.

Installation with a toilet

A tank is rarely placed under the ceiling, but when it comes to public and guest toilets, it is better to do this. The increased noise and inconvenience during installation are compensated for by a more efficient flushing, even with small portions of water. The whole secret is that the falling liquid manages to pick up an impressive speed, sometimes this feature is also used in hidden installation tanks.

Toilet with a high cistern

Among other nuances of the design of the cistern, one can note the water supply, which can be bottom and side. The bottom connection is believed to help reduce noise, although this largely depends on the fittings installed inside. The drain mechanism can be rod-type, when you need to pull the trigger handle up, however, recently it has been almost completely replaced by push-button variations.

Side and bottom water supply to the toilet

Push-button drain mechanisms can have a single or double operating principle. The button of such tanks is divided into two parts, pressing each of which leads to the discharge of a strictly defined amount of water. There are different variations in the volume of portions, sometimes the fittings can be adjusted. Here it remains only to note that the volume of drained water must correspond to the type of toilet bowl flush system: circular ones are more economical, while direct-flow ones are simpler in the device and less prone to clogging, but require a salvo discharge of at least 8-10 liters for effective cleaning.

Double toilet flush button

Floor standing or with installation?

Toilets can have a different way of connecting the drain. In total, three configurations are distinguished, in which the discharge neck is directed horizontally, obliquely or vertically, in the latter case it means the discharge of drains “to the floor”.

In everyday life, inclined drain pipes are most common. Since the crosspiece of the riser is usually located at or below floor level, it is easier to make the connection point less visible in this position. It is very good if the angle of inclination of the drain outlet is reliably known, in this case it will be easier to choose a set of connecting elbows for connection.

Toilet with inclined waste

Horizontal bends are used less often; this feature is more typical for attached and hanging toilet bowls. It should be clarified that both of these options do not have visible connection points, while the suspended ones also do not contact the floor at all, they are supported by an installation frame hidden in the wall..

Toilet installation installation

The bottom bend is the most specific. The outdoor location of the sewer socket is not typical for domestic construction projects. However, if the developer is aware of this type of connection, he will be able to make timely changes to the configuration of the sewer system, thereby saving a little space in the bathroom. Typically, this opportunity is implemented in private one-story houses, as well as buildings with frame ceilings. Also, toilets with a bottom discharge will come in handy when arranging outdoor toilets, in plumbing stores you can even find options without a water seal.

Plumbing brands and collections

It remains to mention only which style solutions are most typical for modern clean plumbing and why you should not focus only on practical aspects and comfort of use. It is worth starting with the latter, because the bathroom and toilet are quite expensive parts of a general repair or construction project. The money invested in their arrangement often tends to be reflected at least partially in the organization of an attractive interior, in which a frankly cheap or unsuitable toilet in shape and size will not look quite appropriate.

Beautiful toilet in the interior

It’s worth starting with the dimensions, which are determined by two indicators, the first of which is the dimensions of the room. Of course, a large massive toilet is more convenient, but it can take up too much space, at the same time, in a spacious room, a small-sized product will simply be lost. The second aspect may seem unimportant to someone, but the weight and height of a person are of high importance. This is especially true for floor-standing toilet bowls, because adjusting the height of their rim is much more difficult..

With regards to the shapes, bends and design of plumbing in general, you can rely solely on your own taste, after all, the owners of the house most often use the toilet, and it is not very reasonable to rely on fashion trends, bypassing your own preferences. But there is also a practical aspect about color, because on a snow-white background, the appearance of cracks in the glaze or the formation of plaque will immediately be noticeable. Pastel colors, especially in the presence of micro-texture, are quite capable of hiding small defects and imperfect surface cleanliness, so there is no point in dwelling on the degree of whiteness.

Colored toilet

Do not forget about additional functionality and accessories to increase the comfort of use. It is advisable to immediately pick up a toilet seat with a lid for the toilet, which will exactly match the shape of the bowl and at the same time provide the convenience of the seat. The most advanced versions have a microlift that eliminates the impact of the cover and seat when lowering. Also, the toilet bowl can be equipped with a hygienic shower system, the design of the bowl can provide for the “anti-splash” option, for toilets with concealed installation there are various hygiene accessories made in a general style with a wall button.

Universal shower toilet

In general, there are many interesting additions and “bells and whistles” for toilets, sometimes they turn out to be really useful, although they often look only like bait for the buyer.

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Comments: 1
  1. Liam Richardson

    How can one determine the quality of a toilet while making a purchase? What factors should be considered, such as water efficiency, durability, installation process, and comfort? Are there any specific brands or models that are highly recommended in terms of functionality and design? Any tips or advice for choosing the perfect toilet that suits individual needs and preferences?

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