Buying a new Toilet this weekend - Any advice?

[DiamondTiara]

I plan on buying a new Toilet this weekend. My current Toilet is a Sterling from 2010. I don't know the exact model of it, but it has seen better days and it is just completely wore out. I plan on either buying a Glacier Bay One Piece or the Kohler Highline Arc One Piece.

I am fairly convinced I am going to buy a One Piece Toilet due to how sleek they look and how dust can't build up in hard to reach cracks. I'm not going to break the bank but if someone can help me make a final decision on which one I'll be buying that would be great.

 

[phillymatt53]

I've got an older 1970's Kohler that's still going strong.
Remember those 6-7 gallon Full Flush models made before all that "water conservation" crap?

The thing to consider is, I've heard from neighbors that they had to pay a plumber multiple times to clean out their sewage pipes leading out to the street main - an expensive procedure.
Because the toilet paper and crap gets clogged under the house's pipe because not enough water pushes the crap though, it sticks, builds up, then you've got a problem.

So, I'll stick to the old style flush.
At least I know that the "crap" makes it out to the street in one flush.

 

[me]

My "favourite" toilet was an old Armitage Shanks dual flush Syphonic Toilet, which used syphonic action to suck the crap and paper down, so was nigh on impossible to block. Sadly, although with their dual flush they were originally considered water saving, they've been banned because they used too much water, I think up to about 9 litres if you held the handle down for a full flush on some models.

If/ when I replace one of my toilets, I'll be looking for a concealed tank one, where the pan butts up to the wall, all the way to the bottom, so it is easier to clean round.

 

[mattl]

I have 4 low flow toilets and zero problems, 2 are TOTO and 2 American Std.. Never a clog or backup, don't even have a plunger. Stick with major brands and flush properly - press and release for liquids, press and hold for solids.

 

[d-todd]

I have a Toto elongated high rise toilet with a Toto add-on bidet toilet seat. I think you can get toilets with bidet built in. I have really enjoyed the bidet feature.

 

[phillymatt53]

I have a Toto elongated high rise toilet with a Toto add-on bidet toilet seat. I think you can get toilets with bidet built in. I have really enjoyed the bidet feature.

"Toto!..... I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
Wooooshhh!

 

[DiamondTiara]

I've got an older 1970's Kohler that's still going strong.
Remember those 6-7 gallon Full Flush models made before all that "water conservation" crap?

The thing to consider is, I've heard from neighbors that they had to pay a plumber multiple times to clean out their sewage pipes leading out to the street main - an expensive procedure.
Because the toilet paper and crap gets clogged under the house's pipe because not enough water pushes the crap though, it sticks, builds up, then you've got a problem.

So, I'll stick to the old style flush.
At least I know that the "crap" makes it out to the street in one flush.

At least the models I am looking at here would be the same gallon flush as my current one which is 1.6 Gallon flush, and I have septic so I don't have to worry about a street main or anything like that. If I have issues with the septic, that would definitely be due to the septic itself and not the toilet I am using.

From what I can see the Toto Toilets are of the better quality, but out of my price range at the moment.

 

[rp2813]

I've noticed newer toilets that use a different flush method which seems more reliable for hard water conditions. Instead of the many holes under the rim, there is one large square outlet at the back of the bowl that shoots a strong jet of water all the way around the bowl rim and the flushing action is equal to or better than that from the old style series of holes. Weak flushing action on older toilets is often due to mineral deposits that prevent full flow of water through those small holes. The descaling process for each individual hole would be cumbersome, time-consuming and tedious, require fashioning your own implement to insert into the holes, and the use of a mirror at the same time. If I have to replace either of my two American Standard smooth-sided toilets (working fine for 7+ years), I will choose one with the newer type of flushing action.

 

[phillymatt53]

I've noticed newer toilets that use a different flush method which seems more reliable for hard water conditions. Instead of the many holes under the rim, there is one large square outlet at the back of the bowl that shoots a strong jet of water all the way around the bowl rim and the flushing action is equal to or better than that from the old style series of holes. Weak flushing action on older toilets is often due to mineral deposits that prevent full flow of water through those small holes. The descaling process for each individual hole would be cumbersome, time-consuming and tedious, require fashioning your own implement to insert into the holes, and the use of a mirror at the same time. If I have to replace either of my two American Standard smooth-sided toilets (working fine for 7+ years), I will choose one with the newer type of flushing action.

CLR is a decent way to clear those rim jet holes of scale.
So is Muriatic acid, but used carefully, follow instructions.

I've used the CLR on occasion, pour a 1/2 cup down the overflow tube in the tank, let it sit for a while 10-20 mins, then flush it down.