What Toilet Brand Would Buy??

[CADplans]

I don't know if I'm right on that. Never looked for any facts on it. Just ASSumed.

Me either,, I just made a wild guess,, it is like using your front end loader to turn over the compost pile,,
that is only done to add oxygen, to promote decomposition,,,

 

[goeduck]

Too much water can saturate your leach field and create problems if it then backs up your tank because the leach field will not drain. I always thought too much water running through the tank dilutes the bacteria as well.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Here's my two cents. I have two brands that I won't buy. I ran a handyman/restoration service specializing in condos. One development of forty units had two toilets each and all were Crane.
Apparently they had a problem with the tanks cracking and spilling all the water over the floor. Naturally the water would continue to run until someone turned it off. This was a known problem but the manufacturer would only replace those that failed. The damage to this unit totaled over $30,000.00. The condo's insurance insisted they all be replaced and this was done with the full cost being borne by the homeowners. I don't want to own anything made by that manufacturer. The other brand is Kohler. I built a new three bedroom house house in 1996 that had five bathrooms and all had Kohler fixtures installed. This was done at the time because the resale market demanded this brand. Within six months all the flapper valves started to deteriorate, requiring their replacement at a cost of about $50.00 each. Kohler blamed the problem on the addition of the disinfectant that hung in each tank(turns the water blue). After the replacement flappers started to go awhile later, without the use of the disinfectant, I talked the local hardware store into obtaining generic copies for their stock. I had a few further problems with them and the person running the plumbing section at the store thanked me for getting them to carry this product as it became their best seller. I paid top buck for what I expected was a quality product and feel I was shafted. I won't consider that brand again. End of rant!

I have the Kohler toilets in all 3 of my bathrooms and indeed the gasket on the flush seal got soft and started to seep water. It doesn't have a flapper like most toilets just a cylinder with a rubber gasket at the bottom. While a bit expensive at about $6 each, they last here about 5 years. They were a red rubber but Lowes quit stocking the red color and went to a yellow gasket that is suppose to be more durable. Same price and I am on about 3 years with the yellow one. They are easy to change and takes only a couple of minutes to do and don't even have to turn off the water.

 

[Oldoak]

I am just the opposite,, I think LOTS of water helps the septic tank,,
the material needs oxygen to decompose,, water bringing in oxygen is the only way for oxygen to get in the tank.

There are two types of septic systems, aerobic and anaerobic.

Unless the septic tank has a compartment or separate tank with a mechanical aerator installed (aerobic system), it does not require added oxygen (anaerobic system).

Although I have had no clogging problems, I do agree these newer toilets do use too little water to keep the lines to the septic tank flushed out. Our toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush which I think is good.

 

[MacLawn]

Well, CAD, I think you got a good toilet. I order my two Toto toilets from a place in Atlanta that sells to contractors and they shipped to me in an 18 wheel truck! Good thing we are in Rural Living section! I was my own contractor for new bathroom, so it was okay to order from them. High dollar, but they are great. I only wish both of them had the SaniClean (or something like that) finish instead of just one! The special finish that Toto uses really keeps it clean.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I recommend American Standard too. They did a great job of engineering both the 1.6 gallon and 1.2 gallon flush. I have one of each, and just ordered a third for the shop. If you are on a septic system, the amount of water is very important. Push too much water through a septic and the solids do not have time to settle out. Push solids into the drain field and you are stuck with a very expensive repair job. In the long run, you are better off to go all water conserving appliances and fixtures. A front loading washer will add years to your septic system.

 

[Bird]

We've had the water saver ADA TOTO toilets with "soft close" seats in both bathroooms now for more than 5 years; best toilets we ever had, as far as I'm concerned. I didn't know there was any problem finding them now.



That's right; 16.5 to bowl, about 17.5 including the seat.

One of our Totos had the water keep running yesterday. As I mentioned before, they were installed just over 5 years ago (one in May, the other in June, 2013). So this morning, they were both "rebuilt" internally; one needed it, so the other was preventive maintenance.:laughing: Hope they are trouble free for another 5 years.