Selecting a toilet seems so simple until you learn a variety of options. You can always choose a standard one, but if you have unusual bathroom planning, you should look for something that provides more comfort. This article is for you if you want to create a thoughtful design.
Types of Toilets: Style vs. Comfort
Toilets are devised by a number of properties, and the main one is their construction. It is not only a technical characteristic that describes maintenance a toilet demands. The construction also affects the style of the bathroom and your comfort.
- Two-piece toilets are the most widespread. They consist of two visible parts, a bowl, and a water tank, and are attached to the floor. This type is easy to maintain since both parts are accessible but are not the most space-efficient kind of plumbing.
- If you have a tiny bathroom, consider a back-to-wall toilet or a corner tank toilet. They are installed close to the back wall, saving some space.
- The most space-efficient type is wall-hung toilets, which are attached only to the wall. Wall-hung toilets have the smallest water tank, so if the walls are thick enough, you can mount the tank into the wall. In other cases, you will need to build an artificial installation to hide the tank and save space at least visually. They are sometimes associated with a modern refined design and suit both moderate and brave interiors.
- For those who prefer extraordinary solutions, low-level and high-level toilets might be a good choice since they refer to antique design. Some models can help to save space by sticking the bowl closer to the back wall than ordinary two-piece toilets allow.
The other important characteristic of any toilet is the shape of the bowl. It is usually tied to construction and affects your comfort a lot.
- Oval or elongated seats are the most ergonomic, thus they are considered standard ones.
- Round rims are a bit less comfortable; yet, they take several inches less space and might be suitable for cramped spaces.
- D-shaped seats are perceived as a middle ground between comfortable and elegant design.
- Square bowls will satisfy those people who value unusual solutions over comfort since they are the least ergonomic type.
Measuring a Toilet to Select One That Fits
Any toilet should suit bathroom planning and leave enough space to move around, so size is the most important parameter to consider. To learn if a toilet fits your bathroom, do the following:
- Measure the rough-in distance between the seat tip and the outer edge of the water tank.
- Measure how wide the tank and the bowl are.
- Pay attention to the height of the bowl.
Next, compare these measurements to your bathroom. In this case, comfort is rarely a personal criterion since there are standard dimensions every interior designer keeps in mind—you can also use them!
- There should be at least 24 inches of free space in front of the toilet, measuring from the tip of the bowl.
- The smallest acceptable distance to the side wall is 8 inches.
- In case you want to install a corner toilet, pay attention to the length of the tank sides.
- The standard height of the bowl is 16 inches.
- Finally, pay attention to the plumbing system: Is it possible to connect the toilet you’ve selected to the water supply?
It is also not recommended to place a toilet in front of the door, windows, and mirrors. When the planning is finished, go into detail and consider the location of wall-mounted accessories like toilet paper holders or shelves. Think of what else you might want to have at arm’s length and finish the planning.
Flushing System: Water Waste and Monthly Budget
The amount of water a toilet spends is its invisible but important characteristic that directly influences your monthly budget. Flushing systems are the main factor to consider when you need to figure out how much water and money a toilet can waste. Old toilets used to flush about 7 gallons of water, while modern models managed to reduce this amount to 1.6 gallons. A corner tank toilet seems to be an exception due to its unusual shape; yet, many items are equipped with water-saving flushing systems that allow flushing as much water as standard toilets do. However big the tank capacity is, the flushing system is much more important to use water thoughtfully.
- Single-flush systems are too simple to allow any control over the amount of water you spend. The tank is equipped with only one button that drains down all the water, which is unnecessary in most cases.
- Tanks that are equipped with two buttons, which adjust the amount of water to flush, have a dual-flushing system. It is not very complicated, but it saves a lot of money in the long run.
Additional Features
Apart from the basic functions, some toilets provide additional features for more comfort. Here are some widespread examples:
- Bidet is a convenient feature that promotes personal hygiene and helps to prevent health issues. As a rule, it is a separate bowl, but there are also add-on bidets that are attached to toilet bowls instead of ordinary seats. Such a construction is much easier to install and maintain, and it also saves a lot of space.
- The toilet seat is a detail that collects the most bacteria, so avoiding touching is an effective way to keep your hands clean. Some toilets are equipped with special sensors that react to your movements and lower or lift the lid automatically.
- No-touch flush is another way to avoid contact with surfaces that collect bacteria no matter how clean they seem to be. As well as a motion-activated lid, this system is based on motion sensors that detect you moving towards the flush button.
How to Choose a Suitable Toilet?
Toilets are divided by their construction, shape, and size, and knowing them, you can select a piece of plumbing that perfectly fits your bathroom and doesn’t restrict your movements. The flushing system is no less important since it shows how efficient the water tank is. The last things to notice are motion sensors that allow you to avoid touching flush buttons and the seat, or add-on bidets, which promote cleanliness and hygiene.
