Buying a new Toilet this weekend - Any advice?

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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).
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
Woke up Saturday morning with water on the floor behind the toilet. Yikes! Fortunately Lowes opens early so bought a new gasket (with 1 year warranty!), problem fixed. And truth be told I'm thinking the toilet is now flushing better?? Still I'm now dreaming of a Kohler San Souci one-piece, not sold in the BORG. Will never have to replace a tank bowl gasket again, my problems will be over :-)
 

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We have a Kohler San Succi. Just be advised that it's a 1.6 gallon low water use. Easy to clean because the sides are smooth. No visible trap way. Flush twice and hold the lever down until it gulps it all down.
 
Woke up Saturday morning with water on the floor behind the toilet. Yikes! Fortunately Lowes opens early so bought a new gasket (with 1 year warranty!), problem fixed. And truth be told I'm thinking the toilet is now flushing better?? Still I'm now dreaming of a Kohler San Souci one-piece, not sold in the BORG. Will never have to replace a tank bowl gasket again, my problems will be over :-)
Since I never had a gasket fail in 30 plus years of home ownership..I would say you fix the issue for your lifetime. So you worries are not justifiable. And I can say I notice a difference between a 1.6 gal toilet ( 20 yrs old) and my 1.3 gal toilet, which is 3 years old. So you may want to find the CR ratings of toilets, where the evaluate flush effectiveness .
 
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.
Is that how it works. I've never had a home with a sump pump, but in Pleasant Ridge we're on a ridge (they're digging a new house up at the end of the street--looks like Sleeping Bear Dunes the sand they're digging up). They always seemed like a pain in the arse and the cause for much drama.
 
Thr Home Depot, Glacier Bay model that you have in the lower picture I installed in the basement of my previous home about three years about three ago. Unfortunately, it was made in China. Poor quality control. It leaked from day one. I wasn't about go through installing, repacking and taking it back. I just put in a replacement rubber seal myself. It flushed OK, you just had to be sure not to put too much tissue in it at one time. It did look nice, I will give it that. Personally, I would recommend the American Standard or Kohler. As other have said, check Consumer Reports.

Many libraries now have free online access to Consumer Reports available.
 
1.2 gallon flush San Succi explains why we have to hold and flush twice. I was wrong about it being a 1.6
Mike, now isn't that just SO annoying?
Holding the flush handle, and then waiting for it to refill and flush a 2nd time?

As for me, I've got better things to do than play with a damn toilet that suffers from inferior perfomance.
But, sadly, these Lo-Flo bullcrap toilet mandates are only costing people aggravation for something that should be so simple.
 
Not at all Matt. It's a minor thing. Most days are a Saturday or Sunday here. I have no where to be. Well quipped home gym too. What is annoying are my two neighbors. Next door with his yella D.T.O.M. flag, and across the street who laughed when the mentally disabled woman two doors down died last week because her SSI disability and Medicaid were cut in September. He's on SSI too, and is continually up on a ladder or his roof.
 
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Not at all Matt. It's a minor thing. Most days are a Saturday or Sunday here. I have no where to be. Well quipped home gym too. What is annoying are my two neighbors. Next door with his yella D.T.O.M. flag, and across the street who laughed when the mentally disabled woman two doors down died last week because her SSI disability and Medicaid were cut in September. He's on SSI too, and is continually up on a ladder or his roof.
Wow!
So you've got some low-class neighbors too, huh?
I'm certainly not against flags, as long as their not too controversial.
As for ignorant people, slobs, and mainly renters, I've got those types too.
I'm regularly picking up debris and trash that the wind blows onto my lawn and pavement because of slobs, and lazy people not tending to their own property.
And then there are the ones, mainly renters, who like to throw yard BBQ's that wind up being noisy and run into the late-night hours when others are trying to sleep.
I've made that clear about the noise, to one couple who rented 2 homes down.
Thankfully after 5 years they've been told to leave, so all is quiet again.
And I'm friends with the owner as well.
Ya gotta open your mouth to get things rectified.
I've also had disruptive neighbors sent strict Warning Notices about their disruptive behavior.
(I print them up with the letterhead of the local Civic Association, so that it looks official and scares the pants off of of them)
One neighbor, a renter, and his disruptive late-night noise and parties was contacted by City officials, thanks to a letter I sent to City Hall - Mayor's Office.
Turns out they were South American illegals and running a drug business.
Well, the "ice" police cleaned that mess out for good.
And the property owner was cited for not registering the property as a rental.

This neighborhood was always a great place to live, and I intend to help keep it that way.
In fact, some of my neighbors have labeled me the "Block Captain" LOL.

A vintage photo of my neighborhood from the 1949
mayfair1949.jpg
 
My biggest complaint with the 2 toilets in my house is incomplete bowl washing during a flush. I've verified that water never comes out 4 holes under the left rim of my A-S 1.6 gpf. The toilet was defective from the beginning. The Toto 1.28 gpf is even worse, most of the water dumps directly into the trapway, forcing a flush with little water remaining to wash the bowl.

Kohler uses an AquaPiston flush valve which oddly enough the 1st link on the thing is to replace it with a standard flapper. Kohler argues the AquaPiston provides a 1.28 gpf

 
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