When it comes to purchasing new plumbing fixtures, it’s safe to say that you have options to pick from! This is true about faucets, toilets, showerheads, bathtubs and so on. While some may have more possibilities to pick from than others, the ever-growing plumbing industry presents homeowners and facility managers with a plethora of options to consider! If you’ve read some of our previous blog posts or even follow us on Instagram, you’ve likely seen the many various styles of faucets that you can choose from. This includes picking the perfect finish that aligns seamlessly with the other elements in your bathroom or kitchen, picking the perfect brand that ensures you get a solid return on your investment, picking the perfect style that is compatible with your existing sink/countertop, and a number of other characteristics. All in all, you’ll have no shortage of options to take into consideration!
While the plumbing fixture that we’ll discuss today doesn’t have nearly as many options to pick from as faucets, that doesn’t mean every single home or commercial facility has the exact same one. That plumbing fixture I’m referencing happens to be the toilet! If you haven’t been toilet shopping in awhile, you may even find yourself a little surprised with the sheer number of options available. Throughout this week’s blog post, we’ll walk through the various different types of toilets and hopefully simplify the purchasing process!
The Many Styles of Toilets
To get this blog post started, we will discuss a few of the more common types of toilets. These will likely be the ones that you’ll see in the large majority of homes or commercial facilities. As we continue though, we’ll start to mention more toilets that may not be as common, but could still be worthy of your consideration!
One-Piece or Two-Piece – First and foremost, you’ll likely find yourself looking at either one or two-piece toilets. Two-piece toilets have a separate tank and bowl, while one-piece toilets are all-in-one. No surprises there! In regards to noticeable differences between the two, there are a few things I wanted to mention here. One-piece toilets can probably be thought of as the more-modern option between the two. One-piece toilets will likely be a little heavier (since everything is all constructed together. You could even say that one-piece toilets could be easier to clean since there are less openings where germs/debris could find their way into. Granted, with all of these advantages, you will also notice that one-piece toilets can come at a higher price tag than their two-piece counterparts! In the end, both are more than capable of getting the job done, but there are certainly differences between the two!
Single Flush or Dual Flush – While the decision between a one-piece or two-piece toilet is impacted by a few different things (including the aesthetic appearance), our next topic is going to be more performance and efficiency-related. As its name suggests, a dual flush toilet has two options: one (a full flush) is designed for solid waste, while the other (a half flush) can be used for liquid waste. The advantage this provides is that the half flush will use less water per flush, thus allowing the toilet to operate at an increased efficiency level. Now…the other half of this section is a single flush toilet. Just about everyone is likely familiar with this style. These toilets have been around for years, are easy to maintain and even improved their GPF (gallons-per-flush) levels over the years too! Like we said with one-piece or two-piece toilets, each of these flushing styles have proven time and time again to be capable of being a reliable toilet.
Color – While you will likely come across a number of finishes/colors with faucets, it’s safe to say that white is by far the most common toilet color. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for something a little different, you can certainly find a toilet that matches what you have envisioned for the space. After all, just take a peek through the websites of any of the popular toilet brands. You’ll find toilets for sale in a variety of colors, including black, gray, tan and so on.
Wall-Hung or Floor-Mounted – The next topic of discussion is definitely capable of having an impact on the aesthetic appearance of the bathroom. Wall-hung toilets possess that modern look which we mentioned above with one-piece toilets. However, particularly on the residential side of things, you will notice that wall-hung toilets are typically going to entail those more elegant (and pricier) options. On the flip side, floor-mounted toilets are going to be the ones most people are accustomed to seeing in residential homes.
Brand – We mention this with every plumbing fixture, but it’s important to understand that there is value in purchasing a toilet made by a well-known name brand. As you can likely guess, there are certainly a handful of brands which are extremely popular in different aspects of the plumbing industry. While there are a few attributes that will come into play when deciding on a new fixture to purchase, reliability and functionality will likely be near the top of that list. After all, the last things you want to find yourself dealing with are constant plumbing issues popping up throughout the year!
Smart Toilets – As we enter the final section of this week’s blog post, I felt it made sense to feature the latest and greatest in toilet technology. Much like many other aspects of the plumbing world, innovation has had a significant impact on what all is possible with plumbing fixtures nowadays. In regards to toilets, it truly is cool to see the various features of smart toilets. Heated seats, automatic opening/closing of the toilet seat, built-in deodorizers and plenty more! Not to mention, the stylish design of smart toilets will ensure it becomes a statement piece instantly in your bathroom! If you’re looking for a toilet that has it all, this is the answer!
To sum it all up, would you agree that there are a few variables that come into play when purchasing a new toilet? By the way, we didn’t even get into the difference between round and elongated bowls, as well as the height of the toilet. Each of which could also factor into your toilet decision! In the end, we’re confident you’ll be able to find something that matches what you have envisioned.
Need a Toilet Repaired or Installed in Kansas City?
As a residential, commercial and new construction plumbing company serving the Kansas City area, toilet-related projects are something we work on each and every week. Whether that be repairing existing toilets, installing new ones or anything else, we have you covered on all toilet projects!
Throughout this week’s blog post, we highlighted a variety of the different types of toilets to pick from. While it’s easy to think that all toilets are essentially pretty much the same, there are definitely a number of variables that may impact which toilet you pick out. We hope you learned a thing or two and will feel more comfortable in narrowing down your toilet search. If you would like to speak with a member of our team and request a free estimate, feel free to give us a call at (816) 348-3481.