Need a new toilet. What is the best choice?

[EddieWalker]

A couple years ago, I bought what I thought was a very good toilet for my house. It's an American Standard that had some good reviews with a new type of flushing system. It was over $300 at Lowes, and it worked great. I mean, it really cleaned out the bowl nicely. It went upstairs in the kids bathroom. Later, as I finished the downstairs, I bought the same toilet for that bathroom.

It worked good too, but soon startedt to leak and run all the time. I spent months replacing seals and then the entire insides of the tank. I even replaced the tank, but it never got any better. About a year after installing it, I read about a fix using parts from an Eljer toilet to stop the leak. It appears that American Standard created a real lemon with this toilet and there are websites talking all about it. Great to know after buying two of them!

Steph and the kids will be house sitting this week and I'm here on my own. It's a perfect time to replace the tile in the bathroom and buy a new toilet. I've done some looking online, and read allot of good reviews on Toto and Gerber toilets. I've never owned either, or know of anybody who does. I want a one piece toilet this time around and I'm willing to spend whatever it takes to get a toilet that flushes the bowl clean and doesn't need a plunger or a scrub brush after you use it!!!!!!!!!

As a remodeler, I install allot of toilets. Probably a dozen a year on a a slow year. Of the box store brands, Kohler is OK and Jacuzzi seems to be another brand that my clients like. I tell them that all toilets are junk and it's hit or miss in what we get. I've played games with putting them in and taking them out until we find one that works. Even then, it's really up to the client in what they can live with and what they can afford. I've had budgets that limit it to the very bottom end, and others who will pay more. They've done their research and I've installed what they wanted. I haven't used any of them, but haven't had any glowing reviews either. It's just something that they all seem to realize is a problem and due to the limits on the amount of water allowed in a toilet, we have to deal with as part of life.

I don't want to deal with this anymore. I've scrubbed my last toilet and want one that I can be proud of!!!

Who has a good toilet that you can recomend?

Does anybody have a toilet that has a pressure assisted flush?

This is something that I'm going to purchase next week, and I'm relying on reviews that I'm reading online. I'd sure like to hear some personal experiences from those who actually have a quality toilet.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[turnkey4099]

Toto - but be prepared for sticker shock. My neighbor turned me onto that when I needed to replace mine. I don't know how it does it but I have never, in over 2 years, had to double flush.

I have lost the sites that carried comparison reviews but Toto won hands down on all sites.

Harry K

 

[RobertN]

We have a better grade Kohler; it works well.

On a previous unit, we had the jet assist. It was great, but woke the whole house up when used at 2am. When we had some well issues a coule years ago, we did not have constant pressure good enough for it to work. That was a bummer... When my brother(plumber) put one in at his house, my S-I-L immediately told him to remove it because of the LOUD jet action at 3am.

In both bathrooms, and in the granny flat, we replaced everything with ADA tall toilets. I will never have a standard height toilet again. Even my M-I-L, who is 5-3, would not have a standard height again.

 

[jinman]

Eddie, could the leaking in your American Standard (and additional replacement valves) be associated with your water? I know you buy water from your local utility, but you could have high calcium or lime deposits. Have you noticed that on shower heads and such?

We have American Standard elongated toilets and the only problem we ever have is that the flapper valve will develop a slow leak and the float valve will cycle from time-to-time. The problem with a complete flush seems to be the 1.6 gpf ratings forced by law. I can only think of two times we have ever needed a plunger, but a bowl brush is needed to keep the bowl spotless. The need for that varies widely with the contents of the "movement," or so it seems. One reason we have such good flushing is that our toilets are on the second and third floor with good roof venting. I think sufficient venting is probably the most important factor for getting a toilet to flush.

 

[RobertN]

We had an American Standard leak. Caused floor damage. It was not noticable, until I noticed grout discoloration in the tile.

The toilet had a leak up inside the casting. When they cast these things, there is a ~1" hole up under the casting. They actually cast the toilet, and then put a plug in that hole. That plug had a tiny leak. A year later, I was replacing sub floor...

When my brother(plumber) installs a toilet, he does not caulk all the way around the back of the toilet. If there is a leak, it should show up as water behind the toilet...

Eddie, could the leaking in your American Standard (and additional replacement valves) be associated with your water? I know you buy water from your local utility, but you could have high calcium or lime deposits. Have you noticed that on shower heads and such?

 

[Bird]

I never heard of Toto, and not sure I ever heard of Gerber. I'd probably try to avoid American Standard, perhaps because I called them once about a question about a kitchen faucet and the lady told me flat out that they don't answer questions unless the product is still in warranty.

I'm not sure how old our toilets are because we've only been here 4 years, in a house that was built in 1991, and had kitchen appliances and HVAC system replaced in 1999. I don't know whether toilets were replaced then or not, but at least they're new enough to be 1.6 gallon per flush models. But in the 4 years we've been here, I've replaced one leaking flapper valve in one of the two elongated Kohler toilets. I think I'd probably stay with Kohler. I've not seen any problem with the flushing, but I know Margaret does use a brush on them periodically.

 

[Tig]

I've used American Standard Cadet IIs for years. They were OK, a bit inconsistent and not fancy by any means. Last toilet I bought was an AS low flush. I was expecting low water usage but what I got was high water usage and low probabilty of a flush.
BIL has a low flush Crane. It's impressive in every way.

 

[NSBound]

BIL has a low flush Crane. It's impressive in every way.

I recently put in a new Crane low flush and also had good results. And I have heard nothing but good about Toto also.

For my new house, I had a Roca 1-piece toilet installed. I bought it new in a box 20 years ago (off the back of a truck, but that's another story ), moved with me 3 times when I moved and kept it stored in garages everywhere, then finally had it installed here. The plumber who did the install said it was very high-end, and so far so good. Never seen them for sale anywhere else, but I love it (as much as one can love a toilet).

 

[Scooby074]

Too bad about the problems with the american standards. Maybe i got the one good one, but its been leak free for going on 2 years and always gives a good flush. Mines a Cadet, low flow.

As far as Toto, ive heard great things. Someday id love to have one of those fancy ones, complete with the washer and air dryer. And the lid closer! One of those and the GF would have nothing to complain about Pretty high tech with a price to match.

 

[mwb]

Toto; they seem to lead the industry. Dealer Locator

 

[windy acers]

I HAVE A HOME DEPOT BRAND, TALL ELONGATED WITH GREAT RESULTS FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. PEGASUS IS THE BRAND STAMPED ON TOP .IT WAS LESS THAN $150.00. IT HAS S OR P TRAP SHAPE ON THE LOWER BACK SIDE. I THINK WHAT MAKES IT WORK IT IT HAS A LOT OF SIGPHEN ACTION FROM THIS DESIGN. (I LIKE CAPS I AM NOT SHOUTING.

 

[heehaw]

wow, i didn't know there were so many things to consider for a johnny. we've had our eljers for a long time: one has to be double flushed about one out of 100 times: the other two never have: i put a toilet in the garage a couple years ago, the cheapest thing i could find..it works flawlessly...an i think it would just about take a person down the drain when you flush if you didn't hang on..i have had to do the normal maintenance of flappers and fill whatsits over the years, but they are still working great.
heehaw

 

[jimmyj]

Maybe we got lucky with a couple of $120 generic store brand toilets. They are RONA brand and 12 litre flush (about 4 gallons). They also have a low water flush toilet but I was fed up with toilets that didn't flush well.

They work amazing, quiet, good flush, easy shapes to clean, refill really fast.

Here is a link that seems to support a lot of the feedback here.

Toilet Reviews, Best Toilet

 

[captjack]

im going to recommend the bumper dumper - it should never get clogged - if it does just back up a few feet and repeat - hahahah

 

[RobJ]

If I recall I've purchase 3 toilets in the past 9 years...

2002 - Mid price ($90) American Standard for the Elkhart house. POC would never flush right, always a double flush...hold down the handle. Weekend place so it never bothered me that much. 6 months ago I replaced the flapper, whole new potty, works like a champ...1.6gal.

2002 - El cheapo for the upstairs Elkhart bathroom...learned my lesson on the for-mentioned potty. Haven't touched anything on it in 7 years. The thing will take your arm off if you get it close. Cost..$40 for tank and toilet, no name I think.

2003 - Kohler - Wifeys main toilet...I'm not allowed to use it. About $160. I think it uses a cup or water. One flush wonder. Nice.

Rob

 

[DIRTROAD]

If you want one that will swallow every time I would consider going the commercial route. Go to a rest area and see what they have and how they work. They aren't pretty but they do give good results.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Eddie, I don't know if they still make those "power" flush toilets but we had one in our shop and it lasted at least 3 years with about 25-30 people using it (2 shifts). I was surprised at how long it lasted. All I remember is that there was some type of a black plastic inner tank that apparently had its own pressuring system. Worked great, even with all the abuse.

At my new job we have high dollar Kohlers with some sort of power flush and I hate them. Way too noisy and they won't just flush a #2 down without trying to grind it up first. Sorry if this is too much info.

I miss the old toilets that used a bit more water. Worked fine. Lasted 30 years with a few minor tank rebuilds...

 

[EarPlug]

We put in 3 Toto's about 5 years ago. They have worked great and not a single problem. They have a 1/2 flush and a full. Press the lever briefly for a 1/2 flush or hold it down about 3 seconds for a full flush.

I would install them again.

Jack

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I have a mid-range Kohler at home but we use Elgin (commercial, tankless) at the office - because that's what the commercial plumber told me wouldn't clog, and in an office with 120 women sharing 4 stalls we didn't have any clogs in the last 3 years in that building.

 

[hilld]

Eddie,

we have used Kohler "Santa Rosa" one piece models in several houses totaling close to 8 years now and they work great. If you get them on sale, they are about $200 at either HD or Lowes.

Hope that helps.

Derek