Toilets - Recommendations?

[GoneOffShore]

We need to replace a toilet in our house.

Kohler, Toto, American Standard or Crane?

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences?

And has anyone bought from Faucets Direct?

[some guy]

1. Get a tall one.

I didn't know they came in different heights, but apparently they do. My Mom got a new one for her house, and she says it's much better.

:shrug:

[csziggy]

3. "Comfort height" is the new term - and they are taller

We put two "comfort height" toilets in, but a regular height where I use it the most. I have very short legs and while the taller toilets might make it easier to get up, my legs go to sleep if my feet don't touch the floor. If I ever need the taller height, we can switch toilets with the one upstairs.

[some guy]

4. Thanks.

I did think about shorter people after I posted, and thought it might not be helpful advice.
I don't know if the OP is tall or not.

But it was the only thoughts I had on toilets, so I put it out there. I am tall, and when I sit, my hips are lower than my knees, which Isn't as comfortable to get up from, so when I need (or desire and can afford) new toilets, I'll look at taller ones.

[csziggy]

5. My husband who is a foot taller than I am, loves the comfort height

And when my knees are really bad, it is nice to have that option. We have two toilets downstairs, in the half bath and the master bathroom, so I can get to either as needed.

[Lucinda]

6. x 2. Taller and efficient flushing. Some have different flushes for different...uhm...needs.

But definitely taller.

[sammytko]

19. We just installed one with 2 flush buttons - love it! n/t

[pacalo]

11. x3. We replaced both of ours with the tall Kohler toilets & love them!

They flush very quickly, too. We've had them for two years & haven't had any problems.

[csziggy]

2. Some Kohlers are made in the US

We put Kohlers in our house when we built it. Great toilets, flush really well. The only problem we have had was caused by hubby putting chlorine tablets in the tanks to reduce the need to clean them - that degraded the plastics in the mechanisms so we've had to replace them sooner than we should have.

And that showed a set of different problems. Kohler parts cannot be bought at just any place. The big box stores do not carry the right parts - flappers, seals, etc are different than what they carry. Not all current model Kohlers use the same parts - you have to know the tank number to be sure to get the right ones. So the first time I tried to get the right parts, I did not have the necessary information and had to go back to the plumbing supply place.

[Archae]

7. I have no trouble getting Kohler parts...

Of course, living within eyeshot of the Kohler plant helps... :-)

[csziggy]

8. Once we figured out that the look alike parts from the big box stores were wrong

It was not a big deal. Any of the plumbing supply places have the parts. I just hope this does not bode poorly for the future. My parents have toilets that were advanced designs when their house was built in 1968. Now parts are completely unavailable for them. Once my sister tried to replace the seats and when she finally found them they were $125 per seat. Time caught up with her though - apparently some plumbing supply dumped all their old stock on Habitat for Humanity's store and she found just enough seats for every one of those odd toilets for $4 per seat! But the plumber has not been able to find the right parts to fix the insides. He's jury rigged the with twist ties and zip ties, among other things, but they just don't work right. We're now trying to convince Mom that the best route is to replace all the toilets with modern ones, but so far she is not willing to spend the money.

[Duer 157099]

9. I also have Kohlers and I'd check out replacement part costs first

First go to Home Depot (or wherever) and price the flapper and other common parts that may need to be replaced after a couple years. Some of the Kohler parts are really expensive, depending on the model that they are used in.

So, look into that.

[csziggy]

18. Neither Home Depot or Lowes carries flappers or the other common parts

That work properly on Kohlers - at least not on the Kohler toilets we installed less than four years ago in our new house. These are not specialty toilets - they are as standard type as Kohler makes. HD and Lowes sell parts that look similar and that sort of work, but they DO NOT work properly. In order to get our toilets to work the way they are supposed to, without having to hold the handle up for ten seconds to get it to fully flush or fiddle with it to get it to seat properly so they did not run, we had to go to a REAL plumbing supply house and get real Kohler parts.

The real Kohler parts were not much more expensive than the crap they sell at the big box stores, and we spent far more than the difference in hassle and in having to get our friend the plumber out to re-install them, so it was worth it.

[jmowreader]

28. If the big box has Kohler toilets, it has Kohler toilet parts too

The Home Depot I worked at had a very large collection of old Kohler toilet parts, made by Kohler.

[spinbaby]

10. Oh, get a Toto

Their commercials are so cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmaDCCIgxFM

[MiddleFingerMom]

23. So tell me, Toto...

.
.
.
...do you have a problem with shit sticking to your fur?
.
.
.

[retread]

12. This one has "served" well for many years.

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. Flush capability ratings

With the 1.6Gal flush requirement.
Make sure it's able to do the job satisfactorily.

http://www.cuwcc.org/MaPTesting.aspx

[guitar man]

14. Get a Ferguson

they are the best there is :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH4fQdu7qYM

[Yavin4]

15. New Idea: Adjustable Toilet Heights

You can crank the seat up or down according to your height.

This could be the idea that brings mfg back to the USA!

[LibertyLover]

16. I like Kohler fixtures

very much, although they are expensive. Go for the oval seat. We had two toilets with that type of seat in the house we used to own and they were comfortable. The house we are renting now has one tiny bathroom with non-matching fixtures. The toilet is small and uncomfortable to use as it is jammed between the tub and the sink.

[LynneSin]

17. Here's some toilet choices for you

And since you'll need to wash your hands afterwards....

[sammytko]

20. I also recommend the Bemis brand of lids.

They lok/unlok for ease of cleaning.

http://www.bemismfg.com/easyseats/easyclean_video.php

[dembotoz]

21. american yes, but kohler just really screwed their union and bemis family

is where Ron Johnson-the replacement for feigold got his money.

just saying

[GoCubsGo]

22. My dad, who worked in plumbing and heating wholesale...

...never had a good thing to say about Kohler. Part of it was the union/political thing, but he also said their products got unnecessarily complex (as far as valve stems, etc. go.)

[davsand]

24. When I replace one I will shop for ONE thing.

I am sick unto death of keeping a plunger handy. I want the super-mega-ultra flush model that never requires any help. My family is not a bunch of Clydesdales leaving huge piles in our wake, but it seems like that stupid toilet will clog every time unless you stand and watch it flush.


:mad:


Laura

[MilesColtrane]

25. Anything endorsed by John Madden

Or, the Quattro™ by St. Thomas

It flushes golf balls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zKbJWl9nW4

[nytemare]

26. Check your area on google to see about rebates

for water saving toilets. My mother got a certificate in the mail that paid full price for most of the toilets. It paid up to a certain amount for some, totally paid for the one she got. She just gave the certificate to Home Depot at the Customer Service desk, and she was off.

I think she got one of the tall American Standards. It is nice.

[Kali]

27. Indoors for nights and bad weather

but a well-situated out house can be a real pleasure on a nice day.}(

[MicaelS]

29. Caroma

Management just installed these where I live, and they great. Very deep bowl. Very little water used, as little as 3 liters for the urine only flush. High pressure flush, you would think they were compressed air toilets. They claim they virtually uncloggable and I believe it.

http://www.caromausa.com/products/index/cu_products69.php

But, they are very expensive. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Sydney+Smart%E2%84%A2+270+Round+Front+Plus&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8623635678315701576&ei=xBMgTc3HA4bGlQeck_jLDA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDUQ8wIwAQ#

[DeadEyeDyck]

30. How do you vote?

Squat over a hole and I am happy