Find Your Perfect Toilet

Maybe you're building a house, or you're remodeling. With all the details concerned, you might overlook the humble toilet. Still, the toilet is a key piece of a comfortable, modern, well-functioning home. Following a few easy steps can assist you in the choosing the perfect toilet. Despite what you may think, there are more types of toilets available than you can imagine.

Look for this in a toilet:

1). The toilet bowl's shape: The main choices here are an elongated bowl and a round front bowl. The round front tends to be two inches shorter, and works well for smaller spaces. Elongated-shaped toilets are preferable if you have more space available, since their extra space provides more comfort and sanitary piece of mind.

2). The size of the toilet: Toilets come in different widths, heights and lengths. To get a comfortable fit, make sure you measure the available space. You also need to consider the rough-in space, which is how far the center of the toilet bowl is from the finished wall, since this limits the size of the toilet.

3). The size of the toilet trapway: This is toilet part through which water and waste exit. The minimum standard allows waste with a diameter of 1 inches to pass through. The larger the trapway, the less likely clogging will be.

4). The flushing system: US water conservation laws dictate that toilets must have a 1.6 gallon tank. Despite this, different flush technologies give you some choice. In gravity fed toilets, the weight of the water from the tank pushes the waste through an S shaped trap way, as the siphon that is created empties the bowl. A pressure assisted toilet enlists the use of air that is compressed in the toilet tank as it is refilled with water. When flushing, the pressurized air pushes the water more strongly into the bowl, resulting in a better flush. Disadvantages, though, include greater noise, expense and difficulty of repairing.

5). One or two piece toilets: For the budget minded, toilets consisting of the two separate pieces of toilet bowl and tank are appropriate. A one piece toilet connects five to six parts into one seamless looking piece. They tend to more stylish, more expensive, easier to clean, and smaller, making them ideal for smaller spaces.

6). Maintenance features: Many higher end toilets are built explicitly for ease of maintenance. For instance, Toto, an innovative Japanese manufacturer, has SanaGloss, a ceramic glaze which prevents bacteria and mold buildup, making the toilet easy to clean. Several toilet models from American Standard have the aptly named EasyClean feature. The designers at Kohler have come up with an insulated liner that prevents moisture from condensation on the toilet tank's outside.

7). What does the toilet look like?: The toilet should work efficiently, but should also be a positive addition to your bathroom's look. It's a good thing that modern toilets are available in a wide array of styles, sizes and colors. Bear mind, though, that choosing a color other than white can significantly add to the toilet's price. If you want everything in your bathroom to match, you may want to consider buying a bathroom suite.

8). What else?: High end toilets may come with heated seats, warm air drying systems and built-in bidets, such as the Toto Washlets. Kohler makes the Comfort Height toilet with a higher seat for easier sitting and standing.

There, now you have 8 steps to finding the toilet that is right for you and your loved ones!