How to Choose a Toilet
Posted by jefferson on May 15, 2012 in Saving Money | 37 comments
People have given me a strange look the last couple of days when I tell them that I gave my wife a toilet for Mother’s Day. I don’t get it, I really can’t imagine a more romantic gift. But all kidding aside, this is exactly what she wanted. Our master bathroom continues to be the area of our house that is most in need of renovation, and having a nice toilet makes the room just a little bit more tolerable. Since the old toilet was recently broken, replacing it quickly became a priority.
Sure, blogging about toilets is a bit of a poopy thing to do, but here at See Debt Run we share life as we experience it. If you haven’t purchased a toilet in the past few years, you might be in for a bit of a surprise when you get to the hardware store. Toilets probably cost more than you think, and there are a staggering number of options that you need to sort through.
Where to Buy a Toilet
You really have three good options when it comes to purchasing a toilet: a local plumbing supply specialty store (especially if you are looking high-end), a big hardware box store (Home Depot, Lowe’s), or you can hire a plumber and have them get the toilet for you. Since we are on “Mission Frugality” right now, we chose the box store option.
What Features Should I Look For?
There have been some interesting recent trends in toilet technology (I truly love that sentence).
- Height: If the toilet is going to be used primarily by adults, you probably want to go ahead and purchase a “Right Height” or “Comfort Height”. Different brands call it different names, but basically you should look for a model with a floor to rim measurement of at least 16 inches. This popular option will help you sit upright, and is generally much more comfortable for adults.
- Elongated vs. Round: I will try to keep this “G” rated, but if you are a gentlemen, sitting on an elongated seat will provide you with much more room up front. The classic “round” seats can be tight quarters at times, and the elongated versions are much more comfortable. Before purchasing an elongated toilet however, you should make sure that there is enough room in your bathroom. The overall bowl will be a bit larger, and you will need to make sure that you have clearance from any swinging doors, and acceptable legroom in front of the toilet.
- Flushing Options: You will see a bunch of different options here, with gimmicks like “dual-flush” and “zero-stopper design.” Most of these don’t add much value, but some high-end toilets also offer a “pressure flush option,” which is very powerful but also extremely loud. With all toilets, you will see a “flush power rating” next to the display, and it would be wise to pick a toilet towards the high end of the scale, to make sure that it can clear anything that you drop in there. I would recommend that you choose a toilet with the traditional flange tank, to make sure that it uses the traditional “swirling” motion during flushing, which helps clear the bowl.
- Glaze: This one was pretty huge for us, as some newer toilets offer a special anti-microbial glaze that will prevent any mildew or or bacteria from bonding to the sides, and thus prevent staining and keep stinky smells from gathering. This means less scrubbage and cleaning. Rock on!
Brand Name vs Generic Store Brand
At the box stores, you will generally be limited to toilets by Kohler, American Standard, and a store brand like “Glacier Bay”. The store brands can be a bit of a gamble, as the box stores sometimes change their providers, and quality can vary wildly. I spent a good amount of time reading through some plumbing forums before making our purchase, and they claim that the failure rates on the generic brands can be frighteningly high. It can also be difficult to find replacement parts for these brands. The Kohlers and the American Standards perform much better, have fewer problems, and have readily available replacement parts.
The forums also mentioned that high-end toilets, like those made by “Toto”, have by far the best performance and require the least maintenance. The cost is much higher for these toilets of course, but you do get what you pay for.
How Much Do Toilets Cost?
For the generic store brands, most toilets cost around $100 at the box stores. You can get them a little bit cheaper if you watch for sale prices, but this amount is pretty standard. To bump up to Kohler or American Standard, you are looking at $180-$250, depending on what options you go for. To bump up further to the Toto or similar, you are looking at $350 and up. All and all, I can honestly say that these prices were much higher than I was expecting.
Can I Install a Toilet Myself?
In the famous words of Steve Jobs, “You Can Do It.. Don’t Be Afraid.” Installing a toilet is one of the easiest DIY tasks around, you shouldn’t be afraid to tackle it. I know, I know. Poop is gross. But installing a toilet really isn’t that bad. The only gross part of the whole process, is removing your existing toilet, which only takes a few minutes. The installation process itself is mostly just tightening a few bolts, and doesn’t require any plumbing skills. The most important part involves putting a wax ring on the bottom of the toilet and slowly lowering it over the opening in your bathroom floor. You have to be careful here, to make sure that you don’t move the toilet after pushing down on the wax ring, as this will form a watertight seal, and keep water from escaping from underneath your bowl.
If you aren’t comfortable installing at toilet, call a professional. However, I am not a big DIY guy, and have installed multiple toilets in my day without issue. I should note that a two-piece toilet can weigh around 100 pounds (total), so you might need a friend to help you carry it into the bathroom.
The Verdict.
After some careful deliberations, we decided to go with the:
American Standard CADET® 3 FloWise® RIGHT HEIGHT ELONGATED COMPLETE TOILET
The price was lower than some options, so it didn’t completely bust our budget, and this toilet has everything that we were looking for. It has the right height, the elongated seat, the anti-microbial glaze, and is generally very well-reviewed. It is comfortable to sit on, very quiet, and seems to have a powerful flush.
The only downside to this toilet is the seat itself, which feels like it is cheap flimsy plastic. I am told that this is pretty standard for the price point, but it is still annoying when you are spending around $200. The model that we purchased actually has a “no slam” lid which slowly lowers itself (making it impossible for the kids to slam it down) but even with that– we will probably replace it with a ceramic seat at some point in the future.
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Very nice! I’m a big fan of the seats that don’t slam myself… I’m sure Michelle appreciates the gift!
The no-slam seat has been pretty nice, actually.
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
This is the most awesome post I have read in a while. One of these days we’re going to have to replace both the guest bedroom toilet (My mom always clogs it when she visits. Always.) and the children’s room toilet, which has suffered heavily from a potty training boy (we’ve replaced the seat, but who knew they could do a number on the actual porcelain).
Glad that we can help out! .. Changing out the toilet isn’t too hard.. You can do it
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
Funny topic Jefferson. That’s awesome that you got it for Mother’s Day. I’d probably be too worried about trying to install something like this myself. It sounds easy enough, but not the kind of thing you want to mess up on. The price is actually about what I would expect considering what it is and how much use it will get.
You should try a little DIY every once in a while, Jeremy.. You might surprise yourself.
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
blogging about toilets can be a little poopy. I come for the tips, I stay for the puns!
Perfect!
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
This is embarrassing! I don’t even tell people you got me a toilet for Mother’s Day! I just talk about all the other lovely things we did. First, my 11-year-old made breakfast-scrambled eggs, pancakes, and bacon! Then, my 8-year-old gave me some homemade gifts. My 10-month-old took a really good nap. My husband made a delicious dinner, packed it up and took it to the park where we had a nice picnic and the kids got to run around (and crawl around) the playground. I think it was a really great Mother’s Day and I felt very special and loved! The toilet? We needed one! I know there are probably a ton of people that think I’m a brat for needing a functional en suite master bathroom when I can just fumble down the hall to the kids’ bathroom if needed, but it was getting annoying! Everyone kept forgetting that the toilet was broken…and using it anyway! So yes, I got a toilet for Mother’s Day….kind of…
Sounds like your family gave you a great Mother’s Day. The toilet was just a bonus. lol
I had a great day! You’re right.
Michelle recently posted..How to Choose a Toilet
This is all true.. Mother’s day in the SDR household is all about making Mommy feel special. Our boys did all the heavy lifting for me, and made Michelle feel extra loved and appreciated.
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
Love that you got this for Mother’s Day – although it looks like she might be embarrassed by it.
I think it’s a great gift!
We got our toilets from Home Depot but there definitely were a lot more options than I expected. The elongated vs round was a huge thing for my boyfriend whereas I didn’t really care as much. Strange topic but there’s definitely a lot to say about it!
We got ours from HD as well, and it was overall a good experience.
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
This post was the S$#t. (Okay, somebody had to say it, Jefferson….)
This was too funny. I love some of the words and phrases you “dropped” in there. Too awesome.
It’s good to know you can easily install it yourself because with our pending new house purchase, there might be some things that we try to DIY. I’m NOT very handy, but at least I know I might be able to install a toilet!
Jason, installing toilets is one of the easiest DIY projects there are.. I’m glad you noticed my plentiful puns.
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
Beat us to it! I’ve had this one in my head for a while now..
Good work!
Aaron.. Seriously, bro. Feel free to post on the same topic. The personal finance world is far too small to avoid posting repeat topics.
jefferson recently posted..Using Credit Cards and Paying Them Off Immediately…Too Dangerous?
Hahhahah LOL at AverageJoe’s comment. This post definitely was the $h*t.
My BF always buys toilets at Home Depot. Okay maybe not always, but Home Depot is his one stop shop for everything. I have no idea how men can spend hours in there…but I like how we save money by shopping there. He is about to help his parents replace their toilet so this post couldn’t have come at a better time!
I love the Home Depot.. So many projects, so little time.
jefferson recently posted..You Should Quit Your Job! 5 Signs That It Is Time To Move On
Great idea for wife’s gifts. Thank you, I will buy her an automatic screew driver instead of flowers. Dude you rock!
I remodeled a church’s bathroom for my Eagle project, and installing the toilet was the single easiest part of it.
On the debate over elongated vs round, I’ve never really liked the elongated seats. I always feel like I’m going to fall in.
Maybe you found an extra super-duper elongated version.. Or maybe I just have a giant rear-end.. because the elongated seem to fit just right
But yes, installation is a breeze.
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
I did not think the rear-end was the reason guys preferred the elongated toilet. ???
The “front end” is certainly the reason why the elongated is better for us guys..
Thanks a lot for sharing such informative and wonderful page.
Perth property investment recently posted..Value of Teams
You’ve got a special wife! You’re right, the toughest part of replacing a toilet is the weight! When I did it, I had help at the retailer getting it into my vehicle, but at home had to open the box while still in the car and move it piece by piece.
I’m curious about the old toilet–did you find a way to recycle it?
Kurt @ Money Counselor recently posted..Facebook IPO: Not for Me
You are right about the weight .. it was quite heavy, but I managed. The guy at the store helped me load it up, but I took care of it at home.
Good question about the recycling. I didn’t think anyone would want a used toilet, but I would love to keep it out of the landfill, if I can.
jefferson recently posted..Applying Blackjack Strategies to Your Finances
Before reading this post, I would have thought that installing a toilet would have meant having to dole out some money for labor costs. As I’m not very handy, I would never have thought about doing it myself. But now, I think that I could actually do it. For me, it would just be a matter of having the confidence to do the installation, and of course following the instructions.
Anthony Thompson recently posted..Self Manager – How to Get Your Online Business Off and Running
Anthony, this is one task that you can certainly do yourself
I believe in you..
jefferson recently posted..You Should Quit Your Job! 5 Signs That It Is Time To Move On
My friend installed a handicapped toilet (he’s not handicapped) and he loves it because it is taller than the standard toilet. Luckily the previous owners of our house installed nice Kohler toilets than run $300-400. Not sure that I’d spend that much if I were doing it, but hopefully I won’t have to replace them.
John @ Married (with Debt) recently posted..Life Stole Our Tax Refund
The Kohlers are certainly nice, but the American Standard is right there as well.. You are lucky that your previous owner had good taste! (at least expensive taste)
jefferson recently posted..10 Fabulously Free and Family Friendly Things To Do In The Lou
How romantic!
I must say a functioning toilet in the house is actually a godsend. My husband recently replaced the innards of our toilet (I know, getting all fancy-toilet-lingo on you…), and I’ve never been so happy to have the toilet work. Now, whenever I flush, I don’t have to reach into the tank and reset the thing-a-ma-jigger (more fancy plumbing lingo…). I’ve never been so happy to have a properly functioning toilet in my life. Romance? Yes!
Christa recently posted..Kid-Friendly Recipe: HDMPC
Oh my, Christa.. I know the feeling. Whenever something that you use often isn’t working right, it can be quite frustrating!
jefferson recently posted..Applying Blackjack Strategies to Your Finances
Interesting article, what are your thoughts on setting up a urinal near the same toilet to avoid all the usual couple arguments about toilet seat up etc.
Money Infographics recently posted..8 Factors about Spending Republicans failed to disclose [Infographic]
You are hilarious… But even as a guy, I think urinals are rather gross.