Buying a toilet isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things you may need to know before you jump into your purchase. First, before you base your purchase solely on cost, think about this. A pool of 2500 people found that going to the bathroom accounted for more time than previously thought. On average, people spent 102 minutes a week in the bathroom. That’s approximately 92 days over a person’s lifetime. With that in mind, there may be more to consider than cost only. A toilet is capable of lasting up to 50 years, but it’s not wise to keep a it that long. It’s recommended they get replaced every 15 years. Taking advantage of the latest in bathroom technologies will not only save you money in the long term, but the right toilet can also give you a better bathroom experience. So take your time and don’t just jump into a purchase.
Counting The Cost For The Right Toilet
We all know money doesn’t grow on trees, and we should all have a budget in mind when selecting a toilet. Our budget should have some flexibility because it’s not a big-ticket item; for example, $150 to $500 would be an excellent budget to set. You may want to consider a toilet bidet combo. Kohler, American Standard, and many other makers have quality toilets with a bidet seat for less than $400. Like everything else, there are those that scream luxury. Toto, the Japanese toilet manufacturers, lead the industry in smart toilets. Some examples of the extras for toilets are, a remote control, backlit seat, heated seat, and warm water for your cleanse, just to name a few. The product does not come cheap. The models start at $1,188. It doesn’t stop there. One toilet costs an eye-popping $10,200. Kohler’s version of an intelligent toilet can fetch as much as $4,275.
Be Wise On Water When You Make Your Choice
We’ve all heard it a million times, “Conserve water.” It’s one of the significant issues facing California with close to 40 million people. Water is a resource we cannot do without. Flushing is said to be the number one use of water in the average household just ahead of showering. When making your selection, be a miser when it comes to water usage. The Federal standard since 1994 is 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). Since that time, many toilet makers have brought that number down even further to 1.28 and 1.1 GPF. Dual flush toilets have grown in popularity. They use 1.1 per flush for liquids and 1.6 per flush for solids giving you the best of both worlds. As a side note, I’ve been using a bidet with my dual flush toilet for close to two months, and I use soft bamboo towels for drying. Since then, I have experimented with the 1.1 GPF for both solids and liquids with no toilet paper and have never had a problem.
Know Your Toilet Height
You’ll need to determine whether you want a round toilet or elongated. In most cases, adults preferred elongated over round because there is a larger opening, and the seat supported more of the thighs. Height can become another issue. A standard toilet is 15 inches in height, but for those tall men and women, they can reach heights of 17 to 19 inches. The larger/taller toilets can offer some relief for people with back or knee issues as well as better mobility for the elderly. When buying a toilet, take your time, and don’t just jump into a purchase.
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