In our experience, one item that takes up a significant amount of conversation when designing a new bathroom is the toilet.
Choosing the “right” new toilet for your bathroom improves your overall bathroom experience. With so many options, configurations, and styles to choose from, you’ll need to consider budget, lifestyle, and your daily needs before making a final decision.
American Standard Recommendations
American Standard is a leading North American plumbing manufacturer. The Company produces stylish and high-performing fixtures, faucets, sinks, whirlpool tubs, and toilets. American Standard has developed some toilet selection recommendations to help you navigate all your options and arrive at a final decision.
Here are the top eight American Standard recommendations for choosing a new toilet.
1: Learn about Innovations
There is a constant stream of new innovations that make toilets work harder, last longer, and stay cleaner than ever before. Self-cleaning toilets, for example, allow you to save time and cut out the need to do one of the most undesirable chores in the house – toilet cleaning.
2: Consider a Toilet that can Help Save Water
Not only is water conservation important to the environment, it can also help save you money on your water bill each month. Standard toilets now flush at a rate of 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). This is less than 50% of the water used by older 3.5 GPF toilets. Due to advances in hydraulic designs, these 1.6 GPF toilets work as well, and in some cases even better than older toilets in terms of bulk removal and reducing clogs.
High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) flush at a rate of 1.28 gallons per flush, saving 20% more water than their 1.6 GPF counterparts. Flushing performance on our HETs is just as good as on our 1.6 GPF toilets, making it an easy option to save water.
Ultra-High Efficiency Toilets (UHETs) flush at rates as low as 1.0 GPF, without sacrificing performance. They are the ultimate in water-saving toilets.
Dual-Flush Toilets bring the best of both worlds with an option for either a full or partial flush.
3: Choose the Right Configuration for Your Bathroom
There are several different toilet configurations to suit different needs. Selecting the right configuration will ensure that the toilet has the right look and design for your bathroom.
One-piece toilets are actually six to ten individual pieces sculpted into a single seamless unit with both a tank and bowl already attached. The result is a sleek, hand-crafted toilet with no crevices between the tank and bowl to collect dirt and odors.
Two-piece toilets have a separate tank and bowl which are bolted together upon installation. All of the American Standard bowls have a “sanitary dam” – a raised chinaware pier at the back of the bowl – where the tank is bolted. The raised area ensures offending materials are cleaned off and do not accumulate and cause odors between the bowl and tank.
Round-front toilets feature a bowl with a more compact design, perfect for fitting in smaller bathrooms and powder rooms.
Elongated toilets have a bowl that extends out further with extra room in the front for added comfort. Compact elongated toilets are available with an elongated shape that fits into the same space as a round front toilet.
4: Determine Rough-In and Size Requirements
Toilets come in various sizes, so make sure to check the width, depth, and height of your available space.
Most toilets bolt to the floor 12-inches from the wall (not counting the baseboard). This is known as the “rough-in” dimension.
Ten-inch rough-in toilets and 14-inch rough-in toilets are available for bathrooms with less or extra space than the more common 12-inch rough-in.
5: Consider a Tall Toilet for Added Comfort
The traditional toilet bowl rim height is about 15-inches from the floor. The seat ring adds another ½ to 1-inch of height. Many people find a taller toilet bowl is more comfortable.
6: Choose the Right Flushing System
Most toilet manufacturers offer a variety of flushing systems, in a range of pricing and functionality. Some will help keep the bowl clean, while others will allow you to do the job with a single flush. Look for those innovative features that make it ideal for busy and/or large households.
7: Match the Toilet to your Bathroom Design Style
Consider the design style of your bathroom when selecting a toilet. If you have a more traditional, transitional, or modern flair, there are toilet options for every look.
Traditional bathrooms typically feature two-piece toilets with classic styling, for a timeless look. Transitional and contemporary bathrooms typically feature a more updated design. Modern bathrooms may call for a sleek one-piece or two-piece toilet with clean lines and geometric flair.
8: Consider Toilet Performance
The bathroom gets a lot of use each day. When selecting a new toilet, make sure it performs to the highest standard. Choosing a toilet with great flushing performance can help eliminate clogs as well as dirt in the bowl.
Toilet performance is graded with a MaP score, which represents the number of grams of waste that are eliminated from the bowl in a single flush. A toilet with a score of 1,000g – 600g is considered to have Great Flushing Performance and will remove up to 35 oz. of waste in a single flush.
