Not all toilets are created equal. So when you need to upgrade yours, take time to review what’s available.
To help you narrow down the choices, follow these tips from our consumer research team, based on interviews with toilet manufacturers and highly rated plumbing experts:
Get real about what you can afford. Toilet prices run the gamut, with lots of factors to consider, including color, height, flushing capability, technology and price.
Many models will cost a few hundred dollars. But if you’re willing to part with $6,000, Kohler offers the Numi, which features a motion-activated cover and seat, heated seat, foot warmer, advanced bidet functions, air dryer, deodorizer, illuminated panels and music options.
Consider the current toilet and its location. Think about what you like and don’t like about the toilet you’re replacing. Examine the room where the new one will be. If you have a small bathroom or your door swings a specific way, you may need a round-front toilet.
Be aware that while male users may appreciate the extra upfront room of an elongated toilet, it will require more space and the possible addition of a toddler-friendly potty seat.
Decide between a one- or two-piece. With a two-piece, the bowl and tank are separate. A one-piece toilet is easier to clean and less prone to leaks, but costs up to 50 percent more.
Get the right height. The standard ranges from 15 to 17 inches high; what’s known as “comfort height” is 17 to 19 inches.
Pick your preferred flushing capability. Not everyone was thrilled when the federal Energy Policy Act in 1992 required new toilets to restrict water usage to 1.6 gallons per flush instead of the previous average of 3.5 gallons.
Some folks found they had to flush more than once, defeating the goal of saving water. Today, experts told our team, improvements to 1.6- or 1.28-gallon toilets allow them to work fine with one flush.
Also consider other options, including dual-flush toilets, which let you select 1.6 gallons of water to flush solid waste or about half that for liquid waste. Some states offer rebates as incentives for people to replace inefficient toilets with ones that carry the EPA’s WaterSense label.
According to the EPA, the average family that uses WaterSense-labeled toilets can reduce water used in toilets by 20 to 60 percent and save an average $110 a year on water.
To know how much a toilet can handle, check its MaP, or Maximum Performance, score. Toilet manufacturers volunteer to have their products tested for the MaP score.
The best models score 800 to 1,000, meaning they can flush 800 to 1,000 grams of bulk waste.
Experts our team interviewed recommend visiting a plumbing supply house and avoiding off-brand toilets, which they say may have unglazed or irregular trapways, extra thin porcelain and general flushing problems.
Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie’s List, a resource for local consumer reviews on everything from home repair to health care. Follow her on Twitter at Angie-Hicks or www.angieslist.com/.
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