Here we go... Best Toilet?

[paulg]

We're suffering that too.

We have three bathrooms in this house and the contractor installed awful "Glacier Bay" toilets. They break, leak and clog frequently.
As an experiment we had a good plumber install his choice of toilet.
He installed a GERBER in one room. We are very satisfied. Don't know the model.

We have two more rooms to go therefore I asked a contractor-friend what are his favorite toilets.
I don't remember the brands but kept using descriptive watery names like Avalanche, Hurricane, Tsunami etc...

 

[rp2813]

I installed an American Standard Clean Cadet 3 last summer.  It's ADA height, which Dave needed, and it really makes a difference.  And it goes without saying that if men are going to be using it, you want an elongated bowl.

 

I shopped around quite a bit but I came back to the Clean Cadet 3 because of its smooth sided design and clean lines.  I'd love to have a wall-mounted toilet but that's only going to happen with a complete gutting and remodel job, so the clean sided design is the next best thing. 

 

One thing to consider is that you'll be better off if you have help when mounting this particular model onto the flange.  Since you're not able to see the holes for the bolts to fit through as you lower the toilet onto the flange, you need a spotter.  There are two large holes on each side of the skirt which provide access for tightening the toilet down, and as well as a side view when positioning the bowl portion onto the flange.

 

I'm generally pleased with the way this toilet performs even though it's a low flow model, and surface area of the water in the bowl is larger than most.  The cost was around $230 at Lowe's (the only place I found that carried this model) and I think they've come down in price since.

 

My main complaint is that the "Ever Clean" surface isn't, and because of this treatment you can't use strong abrasive cleansers to clean the bowl, and certainly not a pumice stone, which I use once in a while on the other two toilets here because they develop lime deposits.  The "Ever Clean" doesn't seem to allow lime deposits to form, but there is a faint ring that "scrubbing bubbles" types of cleaners along with a bowl brush can't quite get rid of.

 

I've attached a picture and linked to a demonstration video.  Notice in the video that in almost all cases, it appears the flush lever is being held down until the bowl clears.  My experience has been that for routine jobs, it's usually not necessary to hold the lever in order to clear the bowl. 

 

 

 

 

[mrb627]

Went shopping today

After researching and shopping around today, I decided that the Cadet 3 is the best choice and most widely available. A big plus is the flush mechanism isn't as complicated as some of the other brands. And flush and recovery is powerful and quiet compared to others.

Malcolm

 

[cleanteamofny]

I have the Cadet 3 toilet and its a life saver since my knees are not next to my ears!
The flush is strong and powerful just remember to hold the handle slightly longer than your regular bowls!
Cleaning is easy and can be done every other week if you aim right!

 

[rp2813]

Larry, what do you use to clean your Cadet 3?  I think I need to use something stronger, but want to stop short of cleanser.  I don't care much about voiding the warranty on the EverClean surface (because it most certainly is not) as long as the appearance of the bowl doesn't get weird from using a product like KaBoom on it.  The foaming cleaners I've been using just aren't cutting it.

 

[fido]

Just avoid anything made in Germany, they are revolting!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washout_toilet

 

[volsboy1]

The best toilets by far is from Caroma there a Aussie company and they are a gravity type but made totally different than

U.S. types.The all have a 4 in trap and the flush is a dual flush but the best thing is they never clog.We have a ton of rentals

well my Family does and that is one thing we don't skimp on is toilets.We used Toto for the longest time and they are good

but there $$$ compared to the Caroma and they can't hold a candle to the Caroma brand.They are a low flow but they remind

me of the old ones where you flush it one time not 10 or 12 and the whole bowl is cleaned.Check out this Video on You Tube of

it they put a whole roll of paper in it and no problem not even close.They run about 350 bucks which is not bad I think..

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryIQYYogQ8A

 

[foraloysius]

Here's the working link to the Caroma video. They look more like European toilets.

The German type is very rare. But I have one of those. It's an oldfashioned kind of toilet. They have some problems, but I can live with it. Just flush straight after your business has dropped.

 

[hydralique]

Washout Toilet . . .

A German friend of mine told me that the usual argument he always heard for this type of toilet is that because the "deposit" drops onto the shelf and not initially into the water it is impossible to get water splashed onto oneself. I will agree that having water from a public toilet splashing onto oneself is off-putting, but what I find even more obnoxious is the instant smell that comes from these toilets. The latter is of course the reason for not having one.<a name="preview"> </a>

<a name="preview">
</a>

<a name="preview">
<p>I would however prefer to have a washout toilet than the little rectangular hole-in-the-floor fixture used in some places!

</a></p>
 

 

[yogitunes]

I am not sure of what my niece had just installed in her house, but they ran about 500.00 a piece, super freaking quiet.....it came down to the bottom line, you get what you pay for......

but no matter what toilet I have or had installed, I always change out the flush mechanism to one that allows me to stop the flush in the event of a backup/flood, before it happens, just by raising the handle....my kids drop eveything in there except what is supposed to go down there.....

worth every single penny versus a mess on the floor.....

http://www.lowes.com/pd_247823-143-...currentURL=?Ntt=toilet+flush+valve&facetInfo=

 

[volsboy1]

I have never smelled any Methane or sewer gases coming from either the one on our farm which is on a septic tank or

the house here that is on city sewer.I still prefer the old types that used water though. We have a old  Toilet that 

has the hole backwards than what you normally see and it works great but, would when it uses 10 gallons a flush.

I have only seen one other to look  like that one that is up there at the farm with that backwards hole ever.I don't know who

made it though but I know its over 40 years old but they work great. Sorry about my link, You tube is been on the fritz

for me.

 

[DigAPony]

Don't know if you can do this with newer models but on our one piece Kohler model I adjusted to float higher than the factory setting to get some extra water on the flush, rarely clogs unless one goes overboard with the TP.

We bought it to help with our septic system 10 years ago, now with sanitary sewers I wish we kept the Pink American Standard one piece it replaced. That had to be a collectors item, if people collect such things...

 

[georgect]

TOTO

TOTO Ultramax

 

[cleanteamofny]

Raiph,

I use Comet or LCB or just a swish of Dawn dishwashing detergent!
Nothing special to keep the bowl clean.
Any desinfecting wipes to keep the lip piss free. (Wiping corners of mouth, a true lady that I am)
BTW, throw those things in the garbage can to keep the pipes from clogging in route....
LOL

 

[foraloysius]

On my first visit to the USA I noticed that American toilet paper is wider than European. I mentioned this to a member here. His response: That is because we have bigger assholes to wipe! lol!

 

[Chetlaham]

Best toilet:

TOTO drake (BEST)

Kohler Cimarron

Gerber Avalanche isnt to bad either

 

[Unimatic1140]

Guys as funny and silly as both those posts were and I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but in the public forums using language like that is against the rules as it's bad for the site in many ways.

Now if this thread was in ATT or Dirty Laundry it would be totally fine, but anything public needs to be kid-safe.

Thanks!

 

[foraloysius]

Sorry! Sometimes I forget I'm on an American forum.

 

[mrb627]

Considered the TOTO

But there were quite a few negative complaints about them and difficulty in locating the actual units was a deal breaker.

Malcolm

 

[washer111]

Newer Dual-Flushes

Some of the ones I've seen are annoyance traps. Why? Well, you push the "Full Flush" button and you EXPECT the toilet can flush by itself. But NO! It needs "assistance" and you have to STAND THERE and HOLD the button down (Yuck!) until the toilet is flushed. The same with "Half Flush" (Or 3/4 Flush, really). 

 

I prefer the OLDER Dual-Flushes for this, who will actually FLUSH by THEMSELVES when you push the button, no intervention required. If you ever meet me and my face is purple, you'll know why (lol).