question about toilets

[fkj2]

I'm in the planning process of redoing a bathroom.

Lowe's thinks Kohler makes a superior toilet--the workings.

Does it really make a difference which toilet is purchased? Can one be that much better than another?

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[r1lissa]

Yes, it does matter. Most people want a toilet that has a powerful "flush". I don't know about Lowe's, but at Home Depot, the toilets have rating systems in regards to the flush. The one we bought last year was a Kohler, and it is guaranteed to be able to "flush a bucket of golf balls." (That was actually printed on the box).

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

The one we bought last year was a Kohler, and it is guaranteed to be able to "flush a bucket of golf balls."

Well you can't go wrong with that, especially if you have spastic golfball colon.

But seriously, I agree with PP, yes, it does matter, especially with water saving toilets. You won't be happy in the long run with a cheaper one.

 

[ceecee]

The toilets in our new house have a very "weak" flush! They are the water saver kind but they don't save any water if you need to flush them twice to get the job done!!! They do have super flushers that are especially good if you have little ones who use a lot of paper or flush things that shouldn't be flushed. Menards rate their flushing power.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

Yes, it does matter. Most people want a toilet that has a powerful "flush". I don't know about Lowe's, but at Home Depot, the toilets have rating systems in regards to the flush. The one we bought last year was a Kohler, and it is guaranteed to be able to "flush a bucket of golf balls." (That was actually printed on the box).

That's the one we have and my DS hasn't been able to clog it yet. He has "bowel problems" and would always clog our old one. It's been about 2 years now with this one and so far so good.

 

[CTdiznymom]

Depending on age of your family members, you can also get them so the seat is higher from the floor. My sister has one, and I didn't think it would make a difference, but my knees aren't what they used to be so it made standing up alot easier! This might be a concern with little ones getting on/off. Also round bowl or elongated!

 

[Calliaz]

When I researched this a few years back, I found that Toto toilets have a very good reputation (you see them in a lot of commercial applications). We bought one and it works really well with little water.

Their flushing systems are excellent:

http://www.totousa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67

 

[si-am]

If we buy a new toilet, we are going to get a dual-flush (they are everywhere in Australia, where water conservation is a must). It has two buttons, one with a "softer" flush for liquid, and another with a stronger flush when you just need more power!

I have started seeing them for sale lately at Home Depot. Check them out!

 

[dis-happy]

Toto are supposed to be one of the best.

That said, we just did a remodel with all Kohler toilets. There is a way to make them double-flush every time (the plumber can rig it this way), and it works great.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Another vote for Toto toilets. Without TMI, they have worked the best for certain members of our family!

 

[Hoppy]

I was just "talking toilets" with my plumber yesterday as he was installing a builder grade toilet in the apartments I manage.

Plumber has the Toto Drake in his new home. Two years ago, I had two ADA Toto Drakes installed in my beach home. We love them.

Pros: --Toto Drake has a 3inch trap; most toilets have a 2" even the more expensive Kohlers;
--Flush quickly (this can be a little scary the first copy of times--I think it could flush down an elephant but I wouldn't recommend it
--Efficient on the water

Cons--expensive
--some folks have complained about the difficulty in plunging a Toto; Then again these toilets were not made to have to plunge.


Advice--Upgrade to the softclose toilet seat; go with the elongated seat (japanese "bottoms" must be smaller than american's)

BTW--my plumber said he would not buy a Kohler...unless he had lots of money to waste.

 

[dizneechic]

Just for the record I hate my elongated toilet. We wanted a slightly cream tinted toilet for a house we built 3 years ago and the builder couldn't get the color in a regular bowl so he upgraded us to elongated. The "neck" where the water goes down in narrower than our standard bowls and it's SO hard to clean with a normal toilet brush. At least once a month I need to stick on gloves and use a disposable scrubbie and do it by hand. EW!

 

[SaveTheSeaTurtles]

IMO, Kohler does make great products. Toto makes nice toilets but unless you have money to burn (and most people do not, especially in this economy!), don't spend it on Toto toilets.

Also, in the opinion of many suppliers in the industry, Kohler has equivalent to basic Toto (which is Drake series). Kohler Wellworth series flush system is just as good as the Toto Drake. Many plumbers are also suppliers so they could easily recommend the Toto because they get a mark-up on the material if you were to purchase from them.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[minnie1928]

Just curious, what toilets are in the rooms at the WDW resorts? No matter how many times I've been to WDW, that first flush nearly scares me to death!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

If we buy a new toilet, we are going to get a dual-flush (they are everywhere in Australia, where water conservation is a must). It has two buttons, one with a "softer" flush for liquid, and another with a stronger flush when you just need more power!

I have started seeing them for sale lately at Home Depot. Check them out!

they had these at Sam's Club last time we were there, I think they about $150

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes, it does matter. Most people want a toilet that has a powerful "flush". I don't know about Lowe's, but at Home Depot, the toilets have rating systems in regards to the flush. The one we bought last year was a Kohler, and it is guaranteed to be able to "flush a bucket of golf balls." (That was actually printed on the box).

I actually got that one in December. It is an awesome toilet. It uses very little water & has a flush that is unbelievable I am now thinking of getting it for my second bathroom even though we don't need a new one in there yet.. just the savings on the water alone makes it worth the money. I think I paid somewhere around $250-300... can't remember...

 

[lizziepooh]

We replaced our toilet last year with an American Standard Champion 4 which I'm pretty sure has a 4 inch trap. It also shows it flushing a bucket of golf balls. It was around $500 installed by the plumber.

While the flush action out the bottom is great, there doesn't seem to be enough water in the right places to rinse the upper parts of the bowl as well as it should when flushed. This is something I will definitely try to find out about when we replace our second bathroom toilet.

 

[CTdiznymom]

Just remembered that when we had to buy a new toilet in a hurry (cracked the old one) we headed to HD and picked one out, only to find that the seat was not included. When we went to get the matching seat, it wasn't in stock. ARRGH! So don't go home without the seat

 

[buckler]

We replaced the 3 water guzzling toilets in our house with 1.28 GPF Toto Eco-Drakes. We bought one to test it out because my husband was skeptical it would flush well enough. After a few weeks of testing he gave me the go ahead to buy 2 more.

Some water companies will offer a rebate for installing a new water saving toilet. We got $100 back per toilet.

 

[jgates]

American Standard from Home Depot - also with the 'golf ball' promise. That is one awesome toilet!