If your toilet is outdated, near the end of its life span, or requires frequent repairs, you may decide to replace it. While preparing to get a new one installed, you might want some advice on how to select the best fixture for your space. Here are a handful of things professional plumbers recommend thinking about as you get ready for a replacement.
4 Factors to Consider When Replacing a Toilet
1. Style
Toilets are available in one-piece, two-piece, and wall-mounted styles. A one-piece fixture has a tank and bowl that are pre-molded together. This can simplify installation, as a plumber will only need to mount the unit to the floor and attach it to water lines.
Two-piece toilets feature a separate tank and bowl that a plumber can bolt together during installation. These fixtures are often lighter and easier to fit into compact bathroom areas. Wall-mounted units have a tank that is installed behind the wall, leaving only the bowl jutting out, which can save space.
2. Bowl Shape
Standard toilet bowls have an elongated oval or circular shape. Though they may take up a few extra inches of space, oval units can provide a greater surface area for sitting, which promotes comfort. These units are also ideal for accessible bathrooms, as they can make it easier for those who use a walker or wheelchair to maneuver around them. Toilets are also available with rounded bowls with a circular or square shape, which are more compact and may save space in smaller bathrooms.
3. Clearance and Placement
A toilet should fit into your bathroom so that it leaves about 10 to 14 inches between the wall and the center of the wastewater pipe beneath the fixture. Additionally, the toilet and its placement should allow plenty of elbow room on either side and provide easy access to the tissue holder. Leaving about 30 inches of open space in front of the toilet provides plenty of room to access the fixture and sit on it without feeling cramped.
4. Eco-Friendly Options
Toilets may use over 1.5 gallons of water during each flush. If you want to conserve water and keep your utility bills to a minimum, upgrade to a low-flush toilet, which uses less fluid to provide a complete flush. Additionally, you might opt for a dual-flush fixture, which uses a lower water volume to flush liquid waste and slightly more to flush solid waste.
The next time you need a new toilet, get in touch with Bernie Buchner Inc. Based in La Crosse, WI, these plumbers provide new fixture installations along with plumbing repairs and maintenance to clients throughout the Tri-State Area. Call (608) 784-9000 to book an appointment, and visit the website to learn more about their plumbing services that can keep your system clean and fully functional. Text JOIN to (608) 480-8709 to receive text message updates.