Which L/F Toilet??

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Apr 23, 2003
Messages
1,604
Location
Nowhere NM
The time has come to replace my toilets and I'd love some feedback from you guys. I have Lowes and HD available to me for supplies. I'm on a septic so I'm looking at 1.2gal/flush.
Are 1.2gal flushers good enough for normal use. Is any brand to be avoided or recommended? Kolher and Am Standard seem to be all that I have to pick from without traveling 200 miles.

Thanks for your help on a stinky subject.
Smoky
 
I installed 2 Kohler wellworth 1.6gpf elongated toilets in 2009 and they're great. Kohler or Toto are the only toilets I'd consider.
 
I have installed two new toilets last year. Based on Reviews i bought the jacuzzi http://www.lowes.com/pd_104784-69094-HF20959_0__?productId=3290786&Ntt=jacuzzi+toilet&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Djacuzzi%2Btoilet

I have been greatly pleased with this guy. If i ever bought new toilets, this would be on the top of my list.

The second toilet was the AS cadet3 which im not all that happy with. It dont seem to clog or anything but you have to hold the handle down for it to flush fully. You cant just pust it and walk away. Also the back tank mounts very flimsy on the bowl. There are not braces, it just gets tightened down on the rubber seal so it feels very flimsy. No major problems or anything but i would probably choose something else if i was to do it over. Do your self a favor and do lots of research and dont skimp on this. These jobs are not something you want to do over again. Good luck
 
Quote:
but you have to hold the handle down for it to flush fully
There's gotta be a way of adjusting that....does it have the "chain" mechanism that hooks to the flapper? If so, try shortening the chain by a couple "wrungs".....


Other than that, it may be part of it's "water saving" feature. I know when we were little, our father set up the toilets like that so we'd only have to basically "tap" the handle for pee, or hold it down for poo, so the toilet uses less water.
 
We were redoing our bathroom and bought an AS champion 4. It was elongated and high seat (were both fairly tall so it worked well). Well made, everything porcelain and construction-wise is solid, though the seat and flush handle do not have as solid a feel as older toilets. I figure this is OK as we can upgrade those parts easily.

Yet to have an issue with it, though it seems like every now and again it runs for a second or two to repressurize?

It was cheap and off the shelf at HD. I'd buy it again in an instant. $250ish?

Dont recall if it was US made. Im pretty sure US made toilets are not available anymore though...
frown.gif
 
I bought an American Standard from HD 10 years ago. I think the "lever hold down" is a water saving thing..."small flush/big flush". The BIG problem I had was finding a bowl section that sat level. I returned mine and opened ALL the boxes to find one that was cast level (I didn't want to shim). The pro forums contend that the big box stores get the "seconds" vs. a dedicated plumbing shop. I'm not sure I believe this self serving (for them) idea, but who knows. The toilet works excellent.

The Terry Love plumbing forum has a section dedicated to toilet reviews. http://www.terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm
Check out the toilet forums too! http://www.terrylove.com/forums/forum.php
 
I Just replaced a 32 year old model, that came with the house, with a Kohler. The Kohler is a 1.6 gallon or less model.
I couldn't be happier.
You tap it for #1 and hold it down for #2. It uses very little water for #1.

After Thanksgiving Lunch and Thanksgiving dinner I can plug the "Marathon II" which is a "St. Thomas Creations" brand that came with the house. It is temperamental and you only have the ability to "flush" it. No "Tap" for #1.

My suggestion is also to get the elongated bowl. I find it more comfy when reading.
 
I'd make sure that any L/F that I used had the provisions for a #1 flush and a #2 flush.

That would be a must.

I'm partial to American Standard units.
 
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
I bought an American Standard from HD 10 years ago. I think the "lever hold down" is a water saving thing..."small flush/big flush". The BIG problem I had was finding a bowl section that sat level. I returned mine and opened ALL the boxes to find one that was cast level (I didn't want to shim). The pro forums contend that the big box stores get the "seconds" vs. a dedicated plumbing shop. I'm not sure I believe this self serving (for them) idea, but who knows. The toilet works excellent.

The Terry Love plumbing forum has a section dedicated to toilet reviews. http://www.terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm
Check out the toilet forums too! http://www.terrylove.com/forums/forum.php


Terry's site is a wealth of information. Good site, IMO. Not always up to date though.

It's hard to find a toilet perfectly level (or a floor, for that matter). I always shim using composite shims. It's easy enough to do.
 
I have Toto toilets for the last 5 years and they are really effective with that few amount of water used (1.6gpf or 6.0lpf).

No need for double switch if the technology is there, and you have it with the Toto toilets.
 
When we built our house 12 or 13 years ago we had Kohler low flow toilets installed. Big mistake-we constantly pulled out the plunger for even the smallest volume of waste. It was nerve wracking to actually use some toilet paper.

About 4 years ago I finally replaced all 4 with American Standard Champions-the ones that demo with the bucket of golf balls.

I have yet to use the plunger on any of them and I couldn't be happier.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
When we built our house 12 or 13 years ago we had Kohler low flow toilets installed. Big mistake-we constantly pulled out the plunger for even the smallest volume of waste. It was nerve wracking to actually use some toilet paper.

About 4 years ago I finally replaced all 4 with American Standard Champions-the ones that demo with the bucket of golf balls.


I have yet to use the plunger on any of them and I couldn't be happier.




I almost bought these last year, but i read a lot of reviews stating they were impossible to plug, but the internals leaked and the parts to replace them were expensive and you had to order them. Maybe this is fixed on the new versions but might be something to look into. Good to hear you have had no problems with yours.
 
Last edited:
We've had two Brigs Vacuity toilets in our house for many years. I like them, simple, yet clever. When you flush it, the water draining from tank creates a partial vacuum which is applied to the backside of the draining bowl. You get sort of a push-pull action to drain the bowl. 1.6 gpf and they flush about as reliably as any toilet I've had.
 
Most toilet makers have several, if not numerous, models in their line up.
Some work better than others.
Few rate their own products, at lest not impartially, so who knows which is the better 'flusher'.
 
Originally Posted By: cbear
Why not rebuild the old one, or do you wnat L/F since you are septic?

The old one is cracked and the finish is wearing through. I have one LF Kohler and it is about 10yrs old and plugs occasionally. I just want to be through with the majority of toilet problems.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom