Which toilet bowl is best to choose

One of the most important conditions for a normal life in an apartment is properly working sanitary fixtures. One of the key points in this is the correct selection of sanitary ware. This article will talk about how and what kind of toilet bowl to choose.

Way of installation

First of all, you need to choose a toilet bowl by the method of installation. There are floor and hinged. Floor – the classic genre, familiar to everyone since childhood, it is worth recalling only that there are still corner models – they are often forgotten. Suspended toilets appeared in our country not so long ago, they differ in that they are attached to a steel frame, which is hidden behind a false wall. On the same frame behind the wall is installed flush cistern, at the bottom are located supply pipes of cold water and sewage. This frame is usually called installation.

The toilet bowl with installation is certainly more aesthetic – only the bowl is visible, which hangs on the wall. This way of installation makes cleaning easier, since the floor is free, and the suspended bowl is not difficult to wash. The minus is that you need to indent from the main wall about 30 cm, and this is a loss of space. But behind this wall you can place the distribution of pipes and other communications. There is another feature – installation work is somewhat more complicated, the price for the services of plumbers is much higher, although you can also cope independently.

So, on this parameter, the choice of toilet bowl is determined mainly by the size of the toilet or combined bathroom, as well as your preferences.

About how to install a toilet bowl with your own hands read here.

What materials are made of

The most common are porcelain and faience toilets, but this is far from the only materials from which they are made. There are also made of natural and artificial stone. Products made of natural stone are very beautiful, quite hygienic – the stone is polished to get a completely smooth surface, so it is easy to take care of the products. But stone toilets weigh a lot, cost a lot, and they also do not well tolerate shock loads – they can crack.

Artificial stone toilets are made of composite compositions, which include crumbs or dust of natural minerals. Externally, they differ little from stone, but the cost is much lower, the decorativeness is at a high level, so it is not a bad option for those who like non-standard solutions.

Metal toilets also belong to the category of exotic. They are made of stainless steel, which makes them almost eternal. The disadvantage – a considerable price, a small range. It is also worth considering that their non-standard appearance should fit into the surrounding environment.

So it turns out that you have to choose a toilet bowl from two materials – porcelain or faience. Which material is better? Undoubtedly – porcelain. Its surface is less porous, smoother, there are fewer traces on it, almost no plaque. It is easier to care for porcelain toilets, their surface even after many years looks white and shiny. Faience is much cheaper, but its surface is not so smooth, and the color is usually not so white. So, if you choose the material of manufacture of the toilet bowl – faience and porcelain, then take porcelain.

Types of toilets by bowl

The comfort of using the toilet is largely determined by the shape of the bowl. There are bowls of three types:

• plate;
• visor;
• funnel-shaped.

Brief characterization

Plate toilet bowls are named so because the flush hole is displaced forward, and the bowl has a flattened bottom, similar to a shelf or plate. Hence the name – plate, sometimes this type is called with a shelf.

With such a structure, waste remains on the ledge, washed away when the water is drained. It is such a design when falling waste can give splashes, which is very unpleasant. If you have such a problem, you can solve it by adjusting the drain – make the water pressure less.

Even more chances to get splashes in funnel-shaped ones. In them, the drain hole is almost in the middle. The odor in this structure is minimal – excrement immediately falls into the water, traces on the surface are almost not left, when the water is flushed, everything is finally cleaned. However, splashes and splashes are very common when dropping waste.

No splashing at all usually happens in canopy toilets. They have a drain displaced forward, and the back wall of the bowl is flat or even slightly curved. Once on it, the waste slides off, so there is really no splashing, but there are traces, and the odor is more noticeable. Even when the water is drained, the traces do not always disappear, you have to help with a brush.

Therefore, if you want to have less splashes, choose a toilet bowl with the shape of the bowl visor.

What is an antisplash system

When talking to salespeople in stores, you can start to tell you about the antivsplash system. This system is a narrow drain hole with rounded edges and a low water level in the bowl.

With the size of the drain hole is quite simple – you can assess visually, but how to understand to what level the water will be drawn? It is necessary to look at the toilet bowl outlet (spigot at the back). Water will be at the level of its lower edge. Another option is to look at the scheme in the technical catalog. All dimensions are marked there, including the water level.

Another characteristic sign that the splash will not be – an off-center drain hole. This is probably the most important sign.

What to do if the toilet bowl is standing, but there are splashes? There are two ways out – to shift relative to the drain hole or to throw a few pieces of toilet paper in there beforehand.

Types of drain

To decide which drain in the toilet bowl is better, let’s consider the features of each. There are three systems of drainage:

• direct (cascade, horizontal);
• circular:
  • circular straight;
  • circular twisted.

With a direct flush, water is released from the drain hole of the cistern in a powerful stream. This covers about half the volume of the bowl, but in the most polluted part there is a powerful flow. Such a system is characteristic of all models that were produced in the USSR. The disadvantage – half of the bowl is not washed, you have to clean it with a brush.

Circular flushing is characterized by the fact that the edge of the bowl is made in the form of a groove with holes located in it according to a certain scheme. When flushing, the water falls into this groove, spreads around the entire circumference, through the holes getting into the bowl. It is distinguished by a more even distribution of water, quieter operation. Such flushing is more rational, but there is a solid disadvantage – the possibility of overgrowth of small-sized holes.

To choose a toilet bowl on this basis is also simple – a circular flush is better. Only pay attention to the fact that the rim was ceramic and did not have plastic inserts. If there are plastic elements – it is only an imitation of a circular flush, which works no better than direct. And toilet bowls with a circular flush have a high cost, and such a discovery is very unpleasant.

Type of outlet

The type of water outlet from the toilet bowl does not give any advantages. Therefore, the choice of toilet bowl in this case is simple – put the one that fits your sewerage system.

The outlet is of three types:

• Horizontal. From the name it is clear – it is parallel to the floor plane. This type of toilet is suitable if the sewer outlet is at a level of 10-15 cm above the floor.
• Vertical. The drain hole goes downward. Such toilets are installed if the sewer is hidden in the floor and its outlet is directed upwards.
• Oblique outlet. These models are convenient to connect, if the sewer spigot is at floor level or slightly above. Just keep in mind that the angle of inclination can be different – 30, 40, 60, 75 °. You choose the one that will best dock.

The choice of toilet bowl and in that case is not difficult – it depends on how the sewer spigot is located. If you have an old device, you are not going to change the sewerage system, everything is even easier – the new one should have the same outlet.

Cistern type

The cistern in the floor toilet bowl can be of four types:

• Compact. The container for water is attached to a special protrusion-shell, there are models with protrusions on the cistern, by which they are connected to the bowl. The advantage – the tank can be easily replaced, the disadvantage – possible leaks in the place of connection with the bowl. Cisterns of this type in shape are usual rectangular and angular.
• Monoblock. In such a toilet bowl cistern and bowl – a single unit, leaks simply can not be. The disadvantage – in case of damage it will be necessary to change the whole structure.
• Removed cistern (high and medium). The tank for water is fixed on the wall with different heights, and with the bowl is connected by a pipe. Such a design can be considered a classic, the disadvantages are the possibility of leakage at the joints.

What toilet bowl in this case is better to decide is difficult. All have their own minuses and pluses. We can only say that the more popular model is compact. Separately, the bowl and cistern are easier to transport and mount than a monolithic design.

Fittings for the toilet bowl

In the toilet bowl there are fittings of two types – for dialing and flushing water. You should not save money on this part of the toilet bowl, because the comfort of using the device largely depends on how well the water drain works. The good news is that these devices can be changed at any time, and you can do it yourself, and the bad news is that good fittings for the toilet bowl cost a decent amount of money.

There are two systems of flushing – lever and with a button. Toilets with lever drain have a small lever on the side of the cistern. To drain the water, you need to press this lever. The device is simple and understandable, easy to adjust and repair. The minus is that you can not adjust the amount of water that is drained at a time – always leaves the entire tank. At current water prices, this is unreasonable.

Toilets with a push-button flush have a button on the lid. It can work in different ways:

• Water pours as long as the button is pressed. On the one hand, this is good – you can control the amount of water, but on the other hand, standing and holding the button is not very fun.
• Pressing the button drains the entire volume. The disadvantages are obvious.
• Flush system with two buttons. The fittings of this type are more complex, and therefore more expensive. But there is an opportunity to dump half the amount of water or completely the entire volume.

How to choose a toilet bowl on this basis? Only on the basis of personal preferences. The only rule is that it is better to trust proven brands. Maybe inexpensive, but well-known, which have been on the market for several years.

Selection of fittings

Bad fittings can lead to a quick breakdown or work with water leakage. This will lead to higher water bills. It is better to choose from reputed brands or according to positive reviews. For an example, here is a quality Iddis toilet fittings.

Additional functions

Modern technology makes our lives more and more comfortable, and the toilet bowls are not bypassed by innovations. There are models with various additional functions. One of the most popular is a toilet bowl with a bidet function. In the bowl or seat (there are also such) built-in sprinklers, which on command leave and pour warm water. The temperature is set from the control panel, which is usually located on the side.

Of other interesting functions – heating and backlighting. How much you need backlighting is a controversial question, but the heating of the rim of the toilet bowl can in winter and will be pleasant.

Interesting models: photo

Surely you will not be surprised to learn that in the development of toilets are involved designers – very unusual are their forms. If earlier it was easy to choose a toilet, when there were five models, today it is very difficult to choose from hundreds. But you can find sanitary ware designed in a certain style – from classic to modern or hi-tech. Photos of some interesting in terms of design models posted below.