Styles, types, and profiles. There are a variety of options to consider if you’re looking to replace your toilet.
Even the basic two-piece toilet has a couple of choices – round bowl or elongated. There is also a one-piece toilet that is available with a round or elongated front bowl.
Barrier-free or right-height toilets have a bowl that sits higher off the floor, making it more comfortable for tall people, older adults who have difficulty getting out of a lower toilet seat as well as people who have mobility issues and may need to use a wheelchair.
Some toilets are wall-mounted, commonly seen in public, institutional, and commercial buildings and they are increasingly being installed in residential settings. The contemporary design has made the toilet very popular in Europe. With no base in some designs to catch dirt, they are also easier to clean.
Skirted toilets have a sleek modern appearance because the internal workings (traps) and bowl definition are hidden within the ‘skirt’ which makes them easier to clean.
Beyond appearance, there are various toilet components. The most common flushing system is a single handle, single flush. The handles can be mounted on the left or right side of the toilet tank.
Other options include a dual flush model. The lid of the toilet tank features two buttons that allow the user to choose the flush and save water at the same time. One button, for liquid waste, uses three litres of water while the second button uses six litres to flush solid waste.
Wall-mounted toilets also have a full or partial flush option. Some toilets have a pressure-assisted or power-flushing feature that can save water too. In addition, they are less likely to clog.
For mobile use, such as an RV, there are environmental-type toilets that use a foot pedal to flush waste into a holding tank.
In rocky locations, installing a sewage pit system for toilet waste may not be possible. A toilet such as saniflo uses electricity and water to flush waste away from the toilet to the main sewer line with a pump.
The saniflo can also be used in a basement where bedrock is present as it provides a way to leave in-floor water or electric heating intact.
In commercial and industrial settings, flushing is activated by motion sensors. There is also a manual option if the sensor doesn’t work.
Toilets need seats. There are round or elongated ones, closed and open front seats, regular lids or slow-closing models, higher seats, and bidet-type toilet seats. Some are heated and it’s also possible for a toilet seat to have a light, so the user doesn’t have to turn on bathroom lights.
Toilets have come a long way over the years. Earlier models had only one flush option which used a lot of water. The low-flow toilet became more common in the early 1990s over concerns of water shortages. Cities added rebates to encourage homeowners to install more efficient toilets that conserve water. It is still available to Barrie residents who own homes built before 1996.
When changing a toilet for a new one, don’t forget to consider the dimensions of it, the amount of space that it may need, and that plumbing may change with a new model.
Lastly, choose a colour. They may not be as adventurous as the decorator colours of the 1970s and ‘80s – shades of pink, green, and blue – but today there are three classic options: white, a bone/almond variation, and black.
