Tips for Buying a Toilet

A toilet is much more than a place to go when nature calls. It's also a piece of home improvement that can make your bathroom look and feel like new. From features like dual-flush systems to stylish finishes, there's plenty of reason for replacing your old toilet with a new one.

This article will go over everything you need to know about buying a new toilet so that you can choose the perfect model for your needs.

The Typical Toilet Suite

Toilets are made up of two main parts: the toilet bowl, where you sit, and the cistern in the wall, which stores the water for flushing. When you flush the toilet, water from the cistern rushes into the bowl and washes your waste away.

The S trap, P trap and Skew Trap

There are a few different types of toilet drainage systems that you should be aware of when shopping around for a new toilet. Let’s briefly go over them now.

If your toilet has an S trap, it means that the pipe exits from the back of the toilet, through the floor and connects to the sewer. This is the most common set-out in Australia.

If your toilet has a P trap, it means that the pipe exits from behind the back of the pan and connects to the sewer through a wall or floor.

Finally, if your toilet has a skew trap, it means that there are two pipes that exit from either side of your toilet and connect to each other through a wall or floor.

Water Inlets

When buying a toilet, check where the water inlet is. A bottom inlet is usually under the cistern, so it has exposed plumbing. A back inlet comes from behind the cistern and is often concealed, which is tidier in terms of design, but you'll almost always need to call out a professional plumber for back inlet installs.

Toilet Designs

The most common toilet suite design found in homes is one that includes a toilet pan and a cistern, with a separate tank that holds the water. This type of design has been around for many years and has been found to be effective in most situations.

However, it can sometimes be difficult to clean the pipes when they’re visible. This problem is solved by newer designs that join the cistern and toilet pan into one unit or even eliminate the cistern from view completely.

Toilet Seats

The most common type of toilet seat is a standard seat, which is typically made of hard plastic and has a lid that opens when you flush the toilet. If your toilet doesn’t have a standard seat and you don’t like the look of a traditional one, there are other options available.

For example, another type of seat is a soft-close hinge mount. This type of seat provides more comfort for users since it doesn't slam down on them when they sit down on it. It also helps prevent damage to floors and walls from slamming down too hard when used regularly by people who may be heavier than the average weight.

Bidets and Smart Toilets

When it comes to buying a toilet, there are a lot of options out there. The first thing you need to think about is whether you want a bidet or a smart toilet.

Bidets are traditional toilets with an extra feature: they spray water on your backside as you clean yourself. This can help you feel more comfortable and cleaner after using the bathroom.

Smart toilets do everything bidets do and more! They are often powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and can be used for things like automatic flushing and cleaning themselves. They also have advanced features like voice control, remote access, and more!

Conclusion

There is a lot to consider when shopping for a new toilet, but hopefully, this guide has given you a few ideas. Just remember to call your local plumber when it comes time to install your new toilet so that you can avoid any potential problems. Happy shopping!