Toilet Suites – Features, Benefits, and How to Determine What Makes a Quality Toilet
Have you ever heard the old saying “you get what you pay for”? When it comes to bathroom suites, it’s really true, not just an old-fashioned sales pitch cliché. We know that most toilets do the job, so what is the real difference you are paying for? Here are some tips on things to consider when choosing which bathroom suite is best for you.
Kind– The look and style of the toilet play a key role in determining the price. As with most things, when it comes to renovating or redecorating the image it plays an important role. The cheapest suites are Link gold Toilets with connector where the pot and the cistern come separately and then are joined by a pipe. Coupling closed the suites, a middle-of-the-road option, have the cistern positioned on top of the pan, giving it an all-in-one look. The most desirable Facing the wall the bathrooms are sleek and streamlined and flush with the wall. They have simple, easy-to-clean lines and generally have a sleeker modern design.
convenience– When looking for your next toilet, you may want to consider ease of cleaning. Wall Faced Suites are easy to maintain with their smooth lines and easy to clean. The wall-mounted toilets also sit flush against the wall, while the Link and Close Coupled suites have a gap between the tray and the back wall. As a result, dust and dirt accumulate in the space around the spout and the back of the pan, making cleaning a repetitive task. Another practical feature to consider is the distribution of the water around the bucket when the toilet is flushed. To check this, you can run your hand along the bottom of the inner rim of the toilet (I highly recommend doing this only on the model with a screen!). If you can feel holes around the edge, known as ‘Boxed edge’, this indicates that the water will be evenly distributed around the pot, giving a cleaner and more thorough wash. Other features include Silent redness mechanism and a Teflon coated pan to avoid stains and allow effortless cleaning. These are ‘luxury’ style features that are not necessarily a must, but do add to the quality of the toilet. You need to weigh the time saved during your bathroom period against the added expense of purchasing it.
Toilet seats– Soft-close seats are becoming more common in a variety of toilets. Soft-Close seats prevent the bumps and squeak that accompany them. It also leaves the men of the house with no excuse to ‘forget’ to lower the seat, since with the slightest touch the seat slowly descends. For those of you with young children, the slow descent helps prevent finger jams. A parting tip about the soft-close seat: Trust that the soft-close will do its job of closing and not force the seat. This can damage the hinges and the “squishy” no longer exists.
Most bathrooms have a plastic seat, however the degree of plastic varies by bathroom. You can feel the quality of the seat when you pick it up. Lower quality seats weigh less and have a very flimsy, if not ‘flexible’ look and feel. A stiffer and heavier seat mold will provide much greater comfort. The quality of the seat hinges also influences the price. The more luxurious suites come equipped with stainless steel hinges which are generally more durable than plastic hinges. The bathroom is a place you visit every day, so a comfortable toilet and the right sanitary ware will help make your routine less monotonous and more relaxing.
Cistern quality– Today, most bathrooms have ceramic cisterns. To check this, touch the cistern and you will feel and hear the difference. Some cheaper models still come with a plastic cistern. Plastic cisterns are not as robust as ceramic ones. Ceramic cisterns may be more expensive, but you won’t replace them as often and because the ceramic material is carried through the pot to the cistern, they also look more elegant.
Plumbing and flexibility– Wall-facing toilets are generally better able to accommodate different plumbing options, in particular they generally come with the option of a P-Trap or S-Trap connection. This can be useful when you are replacing an older suite, as most wall-mounted toilets come with a flexible bend so the plumbing can fit a number of different sizes and accessories. With a Link or Close-Coupled suite, you often need to specify where the plumbing is, as they are generally not as adaptable. Everyone wants to avoid renovation problems, so I advise you to make sure you know the plumbing requirements you will need. The main thing to look for is whether the outlet on the back of the tray connects to the wall (P-Trap) or the ground (S-Trap), the measurement from the wall to the center of the pipe, and if you need a “rear” or “bottom” entry. Talk to your plumber about these technical aspects if you are unsure, as it is important to make sure these details are correct.
When people are designing their new bathroom, they tend to be so preoccupied with the tub, shower, tile, vanity, and wall cabinet / mirror that toilets become an afterthought. Toilets are probably more important because they tend to be used more frequently than other bathroom fixtures and as they have functional parts they can ‘break’ if they are not of good quality. In an age where dollars in your hip pocket are more valuable than ever, it’s easy to appreciate and understand that you may have reservations about unnecessarily giving up money in a bathroom. I hope the features mentioned in this article help you understand that when it comes to bathroom suites, your money is well spent, and in the long run, you will save too!