Buying a new Toilet this weekend - Any advice?

[jamiel]

The one-piece toilets sometimes cost additional for installation.

We have been going for several years to a men's resort in Key West (Island House---excellent place) that has a cooperation agreement with one of the bidet manufacturers (I don't recall the brand but the UI is great--two concentric valves). Reduces the risk of TP/wipes clogging things--they're concerned about such down in Key West).

 

[vacerator]

Jamie, I was at the Island house in 1989. We only stayed a night. Our room was nice, and had a door out to the pool area if I recall. I think their building codes were lax. Under the bathroom mirror, there were only wire nuts on the connections for the light.

 

[rich1953]

The way that my septic works is that only the toilets, and the sinks in the bathrooms feed the septic, everything else is gray water and doesn't go into the septic tank.

Most sanitary regulations in the United States now require that all water discharged within a house goes through a septic tank in homes that have them, before discharging processed water into a septic field. Always check with your local and state regulations to be sure that you are in compliance.

 

[DiamondTiara]

Most sanitary regulations in the United States now require that all water discharged within a house goes through a septic tank in homes that have them, before discharging processed water into a septic field. Always check with your local and state regulations to be sure that you are in compliance.

I am fine with it as it is. After all, it was dug up over 12 years ago and installed by professionals. So it is fine, haven't had any issues with it.

 

[rich1953]

I am fine with it as it is. After all, it was dug up over 12 years ago and installed by professionals. So it is fine, haven't had any issues with it.

Tell that to my mother-in-law who had to spend $50,000 to put in a new above ground septic system and about $10,000 to fix her basement, because her old septic system failed. This was thanks to my father-in-law was convinced 30 years ago under the old regulations to do the same thing in their new house. He saved about $110. at that time buying a smaller septic tank which was allowed under the old regulations that if you diverted so called gray water to the septic field instead of to through the septic tank. Google the hazards of graywater. You are welcome to take a chance on whatever you want.

 

[neptunebob]

Actually it is Metamucil and good to take it every day. Matt, your friends know you before Metamucil, they will prefer you after!

 

[vacerator]

In areas where the water table is high, a septic tank is absolute. Here, if you're within 10 miles of lake St. Clair, basement sump pumps are code, with a power loss backup. Further north and west, many areas still have septic fields. Some have connected to city sewers due to flooding and poor drainage retention during heavy rains.

 

[TAG]

Since about 2000 whenever I replaced a toilet in my rentals -- TOTO. Never touch them after. I still get PTSD when I see a water saving Kohler ... they were so bad. (early 90's with the mandatory water saving). Had to replace them all eventually (or the house). My personal properties -- I like Duravit -- the last two projects have been wall style. Geberit carrier w/ Duravit toilet. In all fairness to Kohler -- have a vacation place with 3 from 2012 and they work well and we have had no issues. Be mindful of the big box offerings ... they don't sell the nicer versions and there is a difference. I also agree with low flow in older houses. At our place in NJ with a long cast iron lateral tot he street I kept the older top load washer and replaced the guts on two of the old Kohler Toilets to keep them -- cool low profile one piece units -- you need the flow in some areas. It's a known issue in our neighborhood. Newer plastic is smooth and if installed properly does not have the issue

 

[vacerator]

Ah, makes sense TAG! Our main floor closet waste is copper from 1968 to the cast iron soil stack with a rather long lateral section. Never been a problem, but the 2017 Kohler toilet is. Not a low end, but a one piece ordered through an authorized independent dealer. The old Kohler two piece Wellington downstairs from the late 80s still flushes flawlessly.

 

[TAG]

Ah, makes sense TAG! Our main floor closet waste is copper from 1968 to the cast iron soil stack with a rather long lateral section. Never been a problem, but the 2017 Kohler toilet is. Not a low end, but a one piece ordered through an authorized independent dealer. The old Kohler two piece Wellington downstairs from the late 80s still flushes flawlessly.

I'm surprised that a 2017 would be a problem -- Kohler generally gets good reviews w/ flush today. I forget what model we have at the beach -- they work and have not had to replace anything. They don't work as well as the TOTO. Some old Kohler toilets use a lot of water ... even for the time. We have a 70's Pompton and 2 x Rochelle. Both are very cool but use a lot of water ... they need a larger water valve to flush properly. That was back when everything was color coordinated

 

[phillymatt53]

These recent Kohler posts just confirm why I'm happy to stick with my Wellington from the 1970's.
I don't need the shit and toilet paper bulding up under my house and adhering to the pipe from a lousy 1.5 gallon flush, I want it to flush all the way out to the street main 50+ feet away.

Those "Energy Saving" crappers?
Yeah, they might save your water bill a bit.
But consider spending multiple hundreds $$$ more for a plumber to come out to unclog the pipe.

 

[vacerator]

Matt, our frontage is 60 feet to the sidewalk. How many 4 gallon flushes would it take to push crap to the street?

 

[phillymatt53]

Matt, our frontage is 60 feet to the sidewalk. How many 4 gallon flushes would it take to push crap to the street?

It depends on the downward angle of your lateral pipe.
You do the math.