Many people are not sure what type of toilet bowl they should buy for their home. There are many things to consider when making this important decision, such as the quality and price of the product. The following guide will help you make an informed decision about buying a new toilet bowl for your bathroom.
Why Do You Need to Choose Your Own Toilet Bowls?
It’s true that you can often buy toilet bowls as part of a kit, but this is not always the best choice. The reasons for this are:
- One size does not fit all – if your home has children or elderly members of the family then it makes sense to get a model which will be easier for them to use. For example, an elongated bowl might make things more comfortable and easy when using facilities in confined spaces such as boats or camping sites. A rounder bowl with more room around the rim would be better suited to people who need space due to mobility issues.
- Another advantage of choosing your own toilet is that it allows you the freedom to choose a model with features that would not normally be included in a standard kit. For example, if your plumbing system has problems flushing lightweight items then an elongated bowl may be better for this reason.
- Better quality control – when buying parts of a bathroom suite as part of one large purchase there are fewer chances of getting faulty models or having stock outages on individual pieces because they’re stocked by many different suppliers. If you buy each piece separately from different stores then there will inevitably be more chance of running into these issues since the supplier stocks might not match up across retailers and manufacturers.
- You can choose what style suits your needs best. Different shapes have different advantages so choose the one that will suit your needs best.
Better for seniors:
the larger size and shape of an elongated bowl make it easier to sit down on, while those with mobility issues may find a raised seat more useful.
Better with kids at home:
A round bowl is less likely to collect dirt and bacteria around the edges, while a more angular design might make it easier for kids to clean.
Common Toilet Styles
One piece
The ultimate in simplicity: one single unit. One-piece toilets are becoming more popular due to their ease of installation – there won’t be any bolts or nuts that will need tightening down when installing these types; just pop them into place by hand. These models come in many different shapes but are usually elongated so beware of being too tall for this style.
Two-piece
One of the most common types is a two-piece toilet, which means that it consists of separate components – one for seating and one for flushing.
Two-piece toilets are easy to install and remove. These are often made with porcelain or ceramic material and can be either round or elongated shapes. However, this isn’t always the case as there are also many different models available.
The inside components can be removed for easier cleaning if necessary. However, the seat is usually mounted on top with a hinge so you don’t need to do any extra work when removing it from the bowl.
High-level Toilets
High-level toilets are often better for people who need extra help with basic tasks such as getting up, and they’re also great if you have a smaller bathroom. This is because the toilet sits higher off of the floor (~15 inches) which can make it easier to get on and off without having to worry about hitting your knees against the lower part of the rim.
Hitting your knees against the lower part of the rim is never fun; especially if you have arthritis or other joint problems. A high-level toilet allows you to be seated higher so this doesn’t happen as often.
A majority have high seats so don’t need any assistance getting up off them after doing business there. This style makes cleaning much simpler.
These high-level toilets are most likely to come with a wall-mounted rod to make them easier for cleaning.
Low-level Units
One of the few styles available with a low seat height. These models are perfect for people who need assistance in getting up and down from their toilet or for individuals who have difficulty standing from a seated position and those with mobility limitations.
Wall-hung Toilets
Wall-hung toilets are the perfect choice for those living in a tight space without much floor to work with. These models are sleek and slimline, which means they’ll fit snugly into your bathroom or cloakroom – it’s worth remembering though that these types do have a higher seat height than other styles of the toilet bowl so be sure not to go too high if you’re shorter on stature.
Back-to-wall Toilets
Back-to-wall toilet bowls are perfect for those who want to make the most of their bathroom space. These models are designed so that they don’t take up any floor space at all. Instead, you’ll find mounting holes on either side which means these will fit neatly against a wall without blocking your sink or shower cubicle.
You might be interested in this article: 10 Easy Ways to Unclog a Toilet Fast: No Plumber Required
Where Can I Buy the Cheapest but Quality Toilet Bowls?
You can buy toilet bowls from toilet shops, but be careful as you might end up spending more to get a good quality toilet bowl. You should also check out some online stores that sell toilet bowls at very low prices and high-quality products. They have the latest models of toilet bowls and they ship for free.
Pros and Cons of Buying Toilet Bowls
Online
Pros
Low prices and good quality toilet bowls are available online. On the other hand, you might be getting a toilet bowl that is not as high quality as it claims to be.
Another advantage of buying online toilet bowls is that you can buy toilet accessories to go with them. This way, everything will come together and look more cohesive in your bathroom.
Cons
The disadvantage of online shopping for toilet bowls is the lack of customer service when you need a replacement or have other issues with their product.
Tips:
If I order toilet bowls from an online shop what should I do when they arrive?
The first thing you want to do after receiving your toilet bowl package, whether delivered by mail or brought home from the store, assembles them all according to the instructions found in the manual included inside.
Second, check if there are any damages incurred during shipping; usually this would be evident through cracks or scratches on either side of the porcelain bowl. If the toilet bowls arrive in perfect condition, it is time to install them.
The third step you want to do after assembling your toilet bowls and checking for damages is to pour water into each toilet bowl until it reaches the brim of one side.
If this doesn’t work remove an inch or two from the top so that they are all full but not overflowing with water (toiletries should never be stored inside a full toilet).
Finally, go back and check again for any scratches or cracks on either side of the porcelain bowl. These could have gone unnoticed before because everything was covered in plastic wrap, bubble wrap, packed peanuts etc.
Toilet Shops or Stores Near Your Neighborhood
Pros
You get to see what you’re choosing before purchasing, but toilet bowls can cost more than they should in this case so be sure to always check the toilet bowl price before buying.
Cons
The disadvantage of buying from shops is that toilet bowls are not always in stock.
Most shops will have the toilet bowl you want, but they might not be available at that time making it difficult to keep your desired toilet bowl waiting for purchase when it’s already been sold out elsewhere (unless of course, you live near one).
Tips:
The best option is to order online because this way a toilet bowl can arrive quickly and straight to your doorstep with no trouble.
You get to choose what the toilet bowl looks like from home without having any physical contact so the risk of injury or infection is minimized.
However, shipping costs may make this more expensive than buying through other means. If budgeting is important then go ahead and visit stores first before ordering online.
Toilet Bowl Flushing Mechanism
The toilet bowl flush mechanisms can be found in the toilet’s tank and, depending on what type of toilet you have, will either use gravity or a pump to push water through the pipes. The more expensive toilets come with two tanks that are connected by valves; these allow one tank to fill while functioning as an overflow reservoir when there is too much pressure from waste.
Gravity Flush
A simple lever inside the toilet closet (or behind) – essentially a “pump” if you’ll listen – forces air into the toilet’s tank, pushing water in the toilet bowl down and away.
Manual Flush
For those of you who don’t want a fancy toilet with all sorts of bells and whistles (or really any flush at all for that matter), then manual flushing is best.
Separate toilet
If you’re looking to avoid touching your toilet, this one’s for you. This toilet requires no placement of the user over a filthy toilet seat or lid and usually comes with its own built in bidet so that users can have an easy time cleaning themselves off post-poop, which I imagine would be really helpful if they’ve had any sort of bowel movement troubles such as diarrhea or constipation.
If you decide not to purchase your own toilet flushing mechanism, then it would make sense that whoever installed your toilet did their job well enough so that we wouldn’t need another one.
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