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#1
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Choosing a Toilet
Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my
house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. One thing that I want to do is to take advantage of the new features that are being offered on new toilets these days. First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper? Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Luke |
#2
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Choosing a Toilet
Definitely, especially as you get older. I just moved into a new
house, and plan to replace the "builder's special" in the near future. Did one in my old house, mostly because during a new flooring job, contractor damaged the old one. First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? The new ones tend to clog, IMHO. A "plumber's helper" is your best friend. I have one for each toilet. Multiple flushes at appropriate intervals does the trick. Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Can't speak to this issue, sorry. The problem is disturbing the spouse or dog in the middle of the night. Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper? |
#3
Posted to misc.consumers.house,alt.home.repair
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Choosing a Toilet
Wait till you see the differences in taller toilets' prices. My husband and
I are well over 65 and getting down is not bad but getting up is a different matter. Guess well will just have to deal with it. -- "Anybody can have more birthdays, but it takes balls to get old!" BetsyB "Luke Howett Fitzhugh" wrote in message ... Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. One thing that I want to do is to take advantage of the new features that are being offered on new toilets these days. First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper? Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Luke |
#4
Posted to misc.consumers.house,alt.home.repair
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Choosing a Toilet
betsyb wrote:
Wait till you see the differences in taller toilets' prices. My husband and I are well over 65 and getting down is not bad but getting up is a different matter. Guess well will just have to deal with it. I added a door pull on the wall (securely fastened) to assist in levering oneself up: http://www.worldofbrass.co.uk/shop/71/76/index.htm Helpful even with a bum back... Jim |
#5
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Choosing a Toilet
Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Ignore Usenet hearsay, marketing double talk and get the facts.Pick up a copy of the latest Maximum Performance Test of low flow toilets he http://www.cwwa.ca/home_e.asp Look for the link that says "6 Litre Toilets" and then click on the 8th edition report. |
#6
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Choosing a Toilet
On Mar 10, 5:35 pm, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. One thing that I want to do is to take advantage of the new features that are being offered on new toilets these days. First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper? Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Luke I have a new Toto that I like. They make a lot of models and I have another but this one cost $100 more and is quieter. Neither has ever clogged. I think in the beginning, the lower water use mandated toilets did not flush as well as the old high volume ones but I do not think this is true any longer. Frank |
#7
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Choosing a Toilet
On 10 Mar 2007 14:46:45 -0800, professorpaul wrote:
[entire post snipped] Hey Professor! That was the hardest post to read that I can recall. I had to read the 2nd paragraph, then the 1st, then the 4th, then the 3rd, and so on. Very strange. And you're a professor!? Could you please learn how to properly post. Usenet is a question and then answer type of discussion. And we that read English read from top down. Thanks. Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom). |
#8
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:04:00 GMT, John~*
************************************************** ************* wrote: The Rolls-Royce of toilets is the Toto. Yes, they are pricey, but if you can afford it, it's the last toilet you will ever buy. You can look them over at http://www.totousa.com/consumer_landing.asp and even find a dealer in your area. You wanted modern features, so be sure and look over the section on "washlets", but don't you dare show momma or you are doomed. Like any other household appliance, you get what you pay for. That is one of those snappy sayings that I never believed. If anyone believes that statement, then I have a $200 Thousand Ford Escort to sell you. The Toto certainly looks advanced, but I didn't know what a 'washlet' was. It's a stealth bidet. I'd have to warn my guests, or risk getting slapped. Sadly, from the looks of it, Toto is out of my price range. I will have to stick with those items stocked at my local Lowe's Home Center. Luke |
#9
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Choosing a Toilet
"Luke Howett Fitzhugh" wrote...
First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? It's been over 2 years since I did the research, but it appears from Terry Love's site at http://www.terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm that the Toto Drake ADA height is still the one you want. I bought 2 of them, and am VERY happy with the choice! The Drake just works well. It is low flow, so it meets all the enviro-restrictions. It is quiet (though not as quiet as some fancy "silent" toilets. It is not "high tech," so you won't have to worry about replacing expensive gizmos like pressure tanks. It DOES use a proprietary, larger-size flapper valve, but that is one of the keys to its working so well. I have yet to have to re-flush. Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Yes. The Drake uses a larger flapper valve and a larger diameter, less restrictive trap. The combination of higher water flow rate and less restrictive trap increases flushing efficiency and reduces clog potential without noisy, fancy high-pressure rigs. |
#10
Posted to misc.consumers.house,alt.home.repair
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sun, 11 Mar 2007, John~* wrote:
The Rolls-Royce of toilets is the Toto. Yes, they are pricey, but if you can afford it, it's the last toilet you will ever buy. You can look them over at http://www.totousa.com/consumer_landing.asp I have this Toto on order: http://homeclick.com/showpage.asp?itemid=52409 Since it isn't installed yet I can't comment. I started off wanting the higher seat, but then gave in and decided a more retro look in my 1891 house made more sense. I did not buy it from HomeClick, though their prices are almost impossible to beat. Instead I paid some more and simply rolled it in with the vanity and all the other bath equipment at the local place where my contractor can simply pick everything up. Otherwise I'd have to stick around home to take delivery, and possibly be stuck with something too heavy to carry into the house by myself. (Though if UPS I'm friendly enough with the fellow I expect I could get him to leave it inside the door.) Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom). |
#11
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Choosing a Toilet
Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. I will only try to address one issue. Function. As you look at the specs, you want to pay attention to two of them. First it should be "Fully Glazed" That means the part of the drain you don't see, the part where things get clogged, is fully glazed like the parts you do see. If it does not say fully glazed, then inside that pipe there are sections that are not fully glazed and have a consistency somewhat like sand paper. Things that you don't want to see again slide on the glass like finish (glazed) much better than on sand paper. Next you want to look for a trap size (the trap is the part that is hopefully fully glazed) is at a minimum 2 inches and larger is much better. I would not buy less than 2 inches myself. Between the two you get a slippery large opening to get rid of the unwanted. -- Joseph Meehan Dia 's Muire duit |
#12
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Choosing a Toilet
I'm in luck! Consumer Reports has a review of toilets online from Aug.
2005. They talk about some of the things I was interested in. Should have gone there, first. With the comments from this newsgroup, and the analyses on CR, I'm confident that I'll have a reliable throne installed by Monday. Anyway, it looks like the Eljer Titan is going to deserve some investigation. It's not easy to test a toilet in the showroom! Luke |
#13
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:00:05 -0500, "betsyb"
wrote: Wait till you see the differences in taller toilets' prices. My husband and I are well over 65 and getting down is not bad but getting up is a different matter. Guess well will just have to deal with it. Thanks for the insight, BetsyB. Situations like what you describe is exactly what I am trying to prepare for. I may have the money now for a taller toilet, but I probably won't have the money after I retire and go on a fixed income (in a couple of decades). Trying to 'make hay while the sun shines'. Luke |
#14
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Choosing a Toilet
Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Must have features: elongaged shape, "comfort" or ADA compliant height. I was looking for a toilet that would flush in one shot compared to the weaker one it was replacing. I ended up with an American Standard Champion. It's not quiet at all, but that wasn't important. It so far hasn't choked on anything that's been dumped in it, pardon the pun. What it doesn't do well is clean the sides of the toilet when it flushes. Everything will go down but you may be left with skid marks on the sides. Whatever you decide, there are no down sides to choosing elongation and comfort height. If your kids are that small where they might fall in, be sure to have a roll call every evening before bed to make sure they're all still there. -- Mortimer Schnerd, RN mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com |
#15
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:06:36 GMT, John~*
************************************************** ************* No problem; buy the "Acme Deluxe Toilet" and plunge it three times a week. Sorry I wasted my time trying to help.... With that attitude, so am I. Luke |
#16
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Choosing a Toilet
On Mar 10, 3:27 pm, Speedy Jim wrote:
betsyb wrote: Wait till you see the differences in taller toilets' prices. My husband and I are well over 65 and getting down is not bad but getting up is a different matter. Guess well will just have to deal with it. I added a door pull on the wall (securely fastened) to assist in levering oneself up:http://www.worldofbrass.co.uk/shop/71/76/index.htm Helpful even with a bum back... Jim Same here but I used a handle built for the purpose. DO NOT buy one from a medical supply co. The same thing in a hardware store will cost 1/3 of that. Also installed two just outside the tub/shower. Harry K |
#17
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Choosing a Toilet
On Mar 10, 7:06 pm, John~
wrote: In article , Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:04:00 GMT, John~ wrote: The Rolls-Royce of toilets is the Toto. Yes, they are pricey, but if you can afford it, it's the last toilet you will ever buy. You can look them over athttp://www.totousa.com/consumer_landing.asp and even find a dealer in your area. You wanted modern features, so be sure and look over the section on "washlets", but don't you dare show momma or you are doomed. Like any other household appliance, you get what you pay for. That is one of those snappy sayings that I never believed. If anyone believes that statement, then I have a $200 Thousand Ford Escort to sell you. The Toto certainly looks advanced, but I didn't know what a 'washlet' was. It's a stealth bidet. I'd have to warn my guests, or risk getting slapped. Sadly, from the looks of it, Toto is out of my price range. I will have to stick with those items stocked at my local Lowe's Home Center. Luke No problem; buy the "Acme Deluxe Toilet" and plunge it three times a week. Sorry I wasted my time trying to help....- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - That is way out of line. I suggest you go plunge your head a few times. Harry K |
#18
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
I'm in luck! Consumer Reports has a review of toilets online from Aug. 2005. They talk about some of the things I was interested in. Should have gone there, first. With the comments from this newsgroup, and the analyses on CR, I'm confident that I'll have a reliable throne installed by Monday. The problem with that article is they only tested a minute fraction of the toilet models that are available in the market place. Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom). |
#19
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Choosing a Toilet
On Mar 10, 6:10 pm, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com
wrote: Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Must have features: elongaged shape, "comfort" or ADA compliant height. I was looking for a toilet that would flush in one shot compared to the weaker one it was replacing. I ended up with an American Standard Champion. It's not quiet at all, but that wasn't important. It so far hasn't choked on anything that's been dumped in it, pardon the pun. What it doesn't do well is clean the sides of the toilet when it flushes. Everything will go down but you may be left with skid marks on the sides. Whatever you decide, there are no down sides to choosing elongation and comfort height. If your kids are that small where they might fall in, be sure to have a roll call every evening before bed to make sure they're all still there. -- Mortimer Schnerd, RN mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com I installed a Toto. Outstanding. The part about the skid marks is true. Probably true of all 'low flow' brands. Anything that doesn't land in water leaves a skid mark and you can't have 'low flow' and a large water pool at the same time. Noise - yep, mine is too. I will gladly accept the noisy flush over the repeated flushes of the POS I replaced. I had forgotten just how miserable those 'non-comfort height' or non- ADA toilets were until today. Had to use one at the house of a guy I was helping out. Thought I had missed the seat before I finally hit it. I gaurantee anyone replaceing a toilet and doesn't use one of the taller ones will regret it when they get up to the senior years. Harry K |
#20
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Choosing a Toilet
On Mar 10, 9:33 pm, Don Wiss wrote:
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: I'm in luck! Consumer Reports has a review of toilets online from Aug. 2005. They talk about some of the things I was interested in. Should have gone there, first. With the comments from this newsgroup, and the analyses on CR, I'm confident that I'll have a reliable throne installed by Monday. The problem with that article is they only tested a minute fraction of the toilet models that are available in the market place. Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom). If you want to buy Com hieght good idea many of my clients have . If you buy 6ltr get one that as some one else said fully glazed 2 inch no smaller opening. 2 button toilets are good but you can save money and hold the lever till the water in the bowl goe,s down, you then have used the full 6 ltrs. Nost people that tell me they will never buy another 6 just don,t know how to flush it properly. You have to hold the handle till the water starts to go down in the bowl it has then used the full tank not half as it would if you flick and walk away.Crane Kohler American Standerd all very good. Good Luck |
#21
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:05:46 -0500, Luke Howett Fitzhugh
wrote: On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:00:05 -0500, "betsyb" wrote: Wait till you see the differences in taller toilets' prices. My husband and I are well over 65 and getting down is not bad but getting up is a different matter. Guess well will just have to deal with it. Thanks for the insight, BetsyB. Situations like what you describe is exactly what I am trying to prepare for. I may have the money now for a taller toilet, but I probably won't have the money after I retire and go on a fixed income (in a couple of decades). How does that work? If you don't spend it now, won't you have it later? Trying to 'make hay while the sun shines'. Luke |
#22
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:04:00 GMT, John~*
************************************************** ************* wrote: Funny story; I had a roofer out the other day who offered me a great deal on premium shingles with a 35 year warranty. I looked him in the eye and said "Listen, sonny; I'm 60 years old. Why the hell would I waste my money on a shingle with a 35 year warranty?" I made the opposite mistake. When I was 55, I bought a 25 year roof. Should have bought longer. I'm going to have to by a new roof when I only have 10 years to live. |
#23
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 22:33:55 -0500, Don Wiss
wrote: On Sat, 10 Mar 2007, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: I'm in luck! Consumer Reports has a review of toilets online from Aug. 2005. They talk about some of the things I was interested in. Should have gone there, first. With the comments from this newsgroup, and the analyses on CR, I'm confident that I'll have a reliable throne installed by Monday. The problem with that article is they only tested a minute fraction of the toilet models that are available in the market place. No other source of information that I could find has tested as many toilets as CR did. No other source did as detailed a test. CR tested Crane, Eljer, Kohler, Gerber, American Standard, Toto, Mansfield, Niagara, Jacuzzi, Briggs and Sterling. That's a bigger sample set than is available locally. I'm satisfied with that. Luke |
#24
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 21:10:40 -0500, Luke Howett Fitzhugh
wrote: On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:06:36 GMT, John~* ************************************************* ************** No problem; buy the "Acme Deluxe Toilet" and plunge it three times a week. Sorry I wasted my time trying to help.... With that attitude, so am I. You really shoudln't complain Luke, because you provoked it. Let's see: That is one of those snappy sayings that I never believed. If anyone believes that statement, then I have a $200 Thousand Ford Escort to sell you. In the paragraph above basically you called him a fool. The Toto certainly looks advanced, but I didn't know what a 'washlet' was. It's a stealth bidet. I'd have to warn my guests, or risk getting slapped. Sadly, from the looks of it, Toto is out of my price range. I will have to stick with those items stocked at my local Lowe's Home Center. I don't know what this paragraph means but I know it didnt' undo the first paragraph. And he was trying to help. So who's the one with the attitude? Luke |
#25
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:04:04 -0500, mm
wrote: Thanks for the insight, BetsyB. Situations like what you describe is exactly what I am trying to prepare for. I may have the money now for a taller toilet, but I probably won't have the money after I retire and go on a fixed income (in a couple of decades). How does that work? If you don't spend it now, won't you have it later? It's really not that complicated. My income right now is higher than it will be when I am retired. Luke |
#26
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:07:27 -0500, mm
wrote: So who's the one with the attitude? You? |
#27
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Choosing a Toilet
Ebay is your friend. The seller there ship the newer toilets at a cost less than you buy it for at home depot. Myself wants a tall model with a pressurized tank and huge pipes and oversize seat. On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:35:58 -0500, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. One thing that I want to do is to take advantage of the new features that are being offered on new toilets these days. First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper? Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Luke |
#28
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:04:00 GMT, John~*
************************************************** ************* wrote: In article , Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. Funny story; I had a roofer out the other day who offered me a great deal on premium shingles with a 35 year warranty. I looked him in the eye and said "Listen, sonny; I'm 60 years old. Why the hell would I waste my money on a shingle with a 35 year warranty?" The Rolls-Royce of toilets is the Toto. Yes, they are pricey, but if you can afford it, it's the last toilet you will ever buy. You can look them over at http://www.totousa.com/consumer_landing.asp and even find a dealer in your area. You wanted modern features, so be sure and look over the section on "washlets", but don't you dare show momma or you are doomed. Like any other household appliance, you get what you pay for. John yeah, I was telling the young pilot of a commuter jet that I was wearing underwear older than he is. |
#29
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Choosing a Toilet
You can buy a Toto Drake for $200 they are rated at 900 out of 1000 points
by the US and Canadian government flush tests. 900 is likely much higher than any Home depot toilet is rated. cm "Luke Howett Fitzhugh" wrote in message ... Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. One thing that I want to do is to take advantage of the new features that are being offered on new toilets these days. First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. A sprained ankle that I got from skiing reminded me that I should make my house more accessible in order to accommodate any physical issues that I may encounter during the next 30 years. As long as the changes don't make life more difficult for a healthy person, I will try to implement the changes as the projects occur. A comfort-height toilet seems innocuous enough. Anyone have any comments on tall toilets? Next, I noticed that many of the new toilets are claiming to have large flush capacity ("100 Feet of toilet paper", and such). Do these claims have any basis in fact? Do they indeed reduce clogs? It's not like clogs happen very often, but it would be nice to have a lower likelihood. Next, I saw one toilet that is claiming exceptional quietness. Since most of the noise for a toilet is in the plumbing, can they indeed reduce the noise significantly? If they do, how can I tell when it is running excessively, and needs a new flapper? Any assistance from someone who has recently replaced their toilet would be appreciated. Luke |
#30
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Choosing a Toilet
When I renovated my bathroom, I put in an American Standard
Cadet, with an elongated bowl, and have not regretted it. At the same time, I put in a handrail along the wall, with a bracket every 16". And another one vertical along the side of the shower. We use the horizontal one as a towel bar, but it's there if anybody should feel unsteady. Little did I know that it would be me to be appreciative of it. The next year, my knee was injured, I had to have surgery, and I was in a leg brace to prevent me from bending my knee. You just can't believe how appreciative I was that I was able to ease myself down on the commode with one of my legs not being able to be bent. And if anybody else does this, I used a 1x4 secured to the 2x4 in the wall with a lag screw in a predrilled hole, so that I wouldn't have to depend on hitting the 2x4 perfectly with the handrail mounting screws. On Mar 10, 5:35 pm, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. I've repaired several toilets in several houses that I've owned, but this is the first purchase. |
#31
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Choosing a Toilet
Make sure you have astonishingly good ventilation.
On Mar 10, 11:04 pm, mm wrote: On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:04:00 GMT, John~ wrote: Funny story; I had a roofer out the other day who offered me a great deal on premium shingles with a 35 year warranty. I looked him in the eye and said "Listen, sonny; I'm 60 years old. Why the hell would I waste my money on a shingle with a 35 year warranty?" I made the opposite mistake. When I was 55, I bought a 25 year roof. Should have bought longer. I'm going to have to by a new roof when I only have 10 years to live. |
#32
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Choosing a Toilet
Forget the pressurized tank stuff. There was a bunch of them put in
for water conservation, but there was a distressing failure rate. You want an excellent flush, do what I did. I've got my tank on a shelf over 2 feet above the commode. That's a 2" pipe fitting in the bottom of the tank, and I connected it to the commode with one of those plumbing fittings that go into the inside of the opening and as you tighten it, it presses its outer rubber ring outwards to snug up. No, I don't care about it being quiet, I want it to do its job quickly and efficiently. And since I didn't need to use American Standard's tank, I got one incredibly cheap for size and configuration (whoever makes Tank 3412, in Mexico). And I use a Korky Original flapper. Quick flick for yellow, longer for brown. On Mar 11, 3:02 am, Deke wrote: Ebay is your friend. The seller there ship the newer toilets at a cost less than you buy it for at home depot. Myself wants a tall model with a pressurized tank and huge pipes and oversize seat. |
#33
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:04:04 -0500, mm wrote: How does that work? If you don't spend it now, won't you have it later? It's really not that complicated. My income right now is higher than it will be when I am retired. Hey Luke, Many people, if they didn't spend it now would save the money. From what you are writing, if you didn't spend it now on the toilet you'd fritter it away on some non-asset expenditure. Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom). |
#34
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Choosing a Toilet
On Mar 10, 9:33 pm, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote:
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:07:27 -0500, mm wrote: So who's the one with the attitude? You? Looks like it to me. You explained very well _why_ you couldn't go with teh expensive item. Just why that should draw assholish responses is beyond me. Harry K |
#35
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Choosing a Toilet
"Luke Howett Fitzhugh" wrote in message
... Rather than repairing a leaky, creaky old toilet in a half-bath in my house, I have decided to replace it. That brought on the sudden realization that I have never bought a new toilet in my life. . . . First, I want a "comfort height" toilet. I'm in good physical condition now, but I am not getting any younger. You have apparently not traveled in Europe. The "standard" 14" height for toilet bowls is much lower in N.America than in most European countries (apparently for the convenience of families with small children, but not enough gumption to provide a convenient step or stool for children.) A taller toilet (18 or 20" high) is preferable for all adults (and may help certain types of mechanism flush better. In places which sell only standard-height toilets they can be mounted higher, i.e. set on a small platform 4 to 8" above the floor. I have seen such installations in Montreal (built 1900-1950.) -- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
#36
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sun, 11 Mar 2007 07:46:50 -0400, Don Wiss
wrote: On Sat, 10 Mar 2007, Luke Howett Fitzhugh wrote: On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:04:04 -0500, mm wrote: How does that work? If you don't spend it now, won't you have it later? It's really not that complicated. My income right now is higher than it will be when I am retired. Hey Luke, Many people, if they didn't spend it now would save the money. From what you are writing, if you didn't spend it now on the toilet you'd fritter it away on some non-asset expenditure. Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom). A brown toilet will save water. You won't have to flush as much :-) |
#37
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Choosing a Toilet
John~
wrote: Funny story; I had a roofer out the other day who offered me a great deal on premium shingles with a 35 year warranty. I looked him in the eye and said "Listen, sonny; I'm 60 years old. Why the hell would I waste my money on a shingle with a 35 year warranty?" The Rolls-Royce of toilets is the Toto. Yes, they are pricey, but if you can afford it, it's the last toilet you will ever buy. You can look them over at http://www.totousa.com/consumer_landing.asp and even find a dealer in your area. You wanted modern features, so be sure and look over the section on "washlets", but don't you dare show momma or you are doomed. Like any other household appliance, you get what you pay for. I'm surprised the roofer didn't point out the benefits & cost break down of a better product. On one hand you indicate it's "wasting" money to buy better, then you indicate "you get what you pay for". You contradict yourself. This link may be the best information you ever received on the net. http://tinyurl.com/3cz4ns |
#38
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:33:06 -0500, Luke Howett Fitzhugh
wrote: On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:07:27 -0500, mm wrote: So who's the one with the attitude? You? I'm a neutral observer. Except that I've been in your shoes, where I don't like the advice. There can be two competing forces, a) the desire and the worthy goal to keep the record straight by giving the disadvantages of the advice one doesn't like, and b) the worthy goal of replying nicely to someone who went to the trouble to gave advice in reply to one's request. If there is no way meet a and b at the same time, one should settle for b, and just say "Thank you". Instead you gave short shrift to b, and you seem to add c, a gratuitous insult: "That is one of those snappy sayings that I never believed. If anyone believes that statement, then I have a $200 Thousand Ford Escort to sell you." You say you don't believe him, and that anyone who does is a fool, and that clearly means that the person who gave the advice is a fool or a liar or stupid or mentally ill. The least bad of these is that he's a fool. I can understand not wanting to retract or anything, but I can't understand complaining about his mild reply: "No problem; buy the "Acme Deluxe Toilet" and plunge it three times a week. Sorry I wasted my time trying to help...." He feels he wasted his time, and he's keeping the record straight, sort of like you kept the record straight that you thought his idea wouldn't work. But he doesn't insult you. Harry F hasn't posted much afaik and I don't know why he writes what he does. |
#39
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Choosing a Toilet
On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:46:50 -0500, Luke Howett Fitzhugh
wrote: I'm in luck! Consumer Reports has a review of toilets online from Aug. 2005. They talk about some of the things I was interested in. Should have gone there, first. With the comments from this newsgroup, and the analyses on CR, I'm confident that I'll have a reliable throne installed by Monday. Anyway, it looks like the Eljer Titan is going to deserve some investigation. It's not easy to test a toilet in the showroom! Luke I saw that article in consumer reports last year. The Eljer was rated much higher than the Toto. A higher price never guarantees a better product. We're buying an Eljer this summer. -Chris |
#40
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Choosing a Toilet
"Luke Howett Fitzhugh" wrote...
No other source of information that I could find has tested as many toilets as CR did. No other source did as detailed a test. CR tested Crane, Eljer, Kohler, Gerber, American Standard, Toto, Mansfield, Niagara, Jacuzzi, Briggs and Sterling. That's a bigger sample set than is available locally. I'm satisfied with that. Unfortunately, testing a single model in a large brand is totally inadequate. There are too many differences within the brands. The CWWA site cited earlier has a substantially larger database, and should make a better basis for shopping. Once you weed out the low performers, shop elsewhere to find info on specific models. I found the mfgrs' web sites to be informative as well, and the plumber's and customers' perspectives at www.terrylove.com invaluable. |
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