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4 Things to Look for in a Toilet

Peeing and pooping is an everyday fact of life, so selecting the right toilet for your bathroom is a BIG deal.  

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we flush a toilet 140,000 times over a lifetime, with each flush guzzling water.  However, that guzzle of water is much less with a water-saving toilet.  So much so that the average family of four can save 16,000 gallons of water and more than $100 per year.  Even with these environmental and financial benefits, there is concern about water-saving toilets not having enough flushing power.  

How often have you used a water-saving public toilet and have had to flush more than once, even when you did the Number One?

Older toilets can use 3.5, 5, or even up to 7 gallons of water with every flush, while today’s water efficient toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (or 1.28 gallons per flush in states like California with tighter environmental requirements).  The good news is that with today’s water-saving toilets you’re not sacrificing flushing power.

Here are 4 things to look for in a toilet for your bathroom:

Toilet flush ratings – Toilets are rated for efficiency (i.e. the amount of water that a toilet uses in each flush) and and performance (i.e. how reliably a toilet operates based on the capacity of waste that it is able to flush). So head over to sites like Consumer Reports to find top rated toilets that flush with power and save water, too.

Toilet Size –  Many buildings codes require at least 21 inches in front of the toilet. So picking a toilet that’s going to fit, providing you with that minimum clearance is very important. You also want to consider the height of the toilet. Many people find comfort height toilets more comfortable because it is like sitting in a chair.  Comfort height toilets are 2 to 4 inches taller than toilets at regular height.

Cost – Generally speaking, the less expensive toilets are low quality and probably won’t provide a powerful enough flush. While the more expensive toilets may have more bells and whistles on them than you really need.  So really think about whether the extra cost of a feature like a heated toilet seat is worth it.

Toilet Seat Size – Since you’re going to be sitting on a toilet every day for years, make sure it’s the right size for the length of your legs above the knees and also accommodates your backside comfortably.  Elongated toilet seats sit on top of elongated toilet bowls which measure up to 31 inches from the wall. This is almost 3 inches longer than a round toilet seat and makes a huge difference.  

There’s a reason the toilet is commonly referred to as The Throne. Here’s to buying a throne that’s fit for a King or a Queen!