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Choosing The Right Toilet Suite For Your Home

25 November

Are you looking to renovate your home or your bathroom styles for a more contemporary design with new toilet pans and other toilet packages? Or are you only changing an old dysfunctional overflowing toilet? Change your old toilet trap pan and whole bowl for something new and better. If you want new toilet suites, there are various factors to consider when buying toilet suites. Most of us know how to use a toilet, but not what to look for when purchasing one. We need to consider the colour, design which will fit your bathroom styles, and flushing performance and water usage to find the perfect toilet suites for our home. Do you want a close coupled toilet, or rimless toilets or is a back-to-wall toilet suite better for you? The entire selection process can get quite challenging. Especially when you don’t know what you want, or you live in an old house, and you’re not knowledgeable about what’s best for you or where you can get the spare parts like a bottom inlet cistern if you want to keep the old toilet suites and just fix it. Since, probably, you might think not all the toilets available in your area are suitable in older homes. All you know is you want a comfortable toilet seat! Or a toilet bowl you won’t be ashamed to let your guests use.

Let’s face it; most of us take our toilets for granted. That’s until we break it and we have to find spare parts or build a new bathroom. And that’s when we realise that the plumbing language is quite a mess.

We have this informative guide to explain the various types of toilets in the market and what to look for when choosing a new one.

By the end of this guide, you will be able to choose a suitable toilet for your home.

So, let’s get straight to the good stuff!

Understanding Conventional Toilet Suites

There are two major components in a toilet:

1. The Toilet Pan

The toilet pan is the part of the toilet on which you sit. We are all familiar with it.

2. The Cistern

The cistern is the part that holds the water for the flush. When you trigger the flush, the water is released into the toilet pan to flush away the waste to the sewer line.

Main Types of Toilet

In choosing a toilet, keep in mind that there are four main types of toilets to choose from:

1. In-wall Cistern Toilets

The in-wall cistern toilet or the hidden cistern toilet comes with a concealed cistern behind the wall. In wall toilet suites, the pan is mounted on the wall or the floor. It sports a button plate on the front, using which you can access the cistern for maintenance or activate the flush.

Most people believe wall toilet suites to be an expensive option for a toilet, but that is not the case. You might be surprised to know that they are more affordable than back to wall toilets. But, installation is a bit trickier, which is where it might end up costing you more.In Wall Cistern Toilet

Pros

  • Repairs can be quickly done by removing the button plate
  • It doesn’t require much maintenance
  • It offers quiet performance and is easy to clean
  • A popular choice

Cons

  • Major repairs can prove to be costly

2. Wall-hung Toilets

Wall-hung toilets are one of the most popular types of toilets. Over the years, it has become an absolute must for modern toilets in Australian homes. This is because of their classy, spacious and elegant look and top-notch versatility.

These toilets are mounted to the wall and are elevated off the floor. This provides an illusion of extra space. As such, these toilets are ideal for powder rooms and small bathrooms.

Wall Hung Toilet

Pros

  • Offers quiet performance
  • Easy to mop and sweep beneath the toilet
  • An ideal choice for people with disabilities.
  • Not just space-saving and water saving but also feels more spacious

Cons

  • Requires planning before installation

3. Back To Wall Toilets

As far as the back to wall toilets are concerned, they sit right against the bathroom wall, leaving no gap in between the wall and the back of the pan. A major advantage of using back to wall toilet is that it’s easier to maintain and clean since no grime or dust can form behind the pan.

These toilets can come in a pan-only option with a hidden cistern, providing a more streamlined look or a close-coupled design.

Back To Wall Toilet

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Sports a stylish and sleek body
  • Easy to maintain

Cons

  • A bit on the expensive side

4. Close Coupled Toilets

Close-coupled toilets are undoubtedly the most commonly used toilets out there. The cistern is mounted to the top of the toilet pan/bowl as an entire unit. As for the flush button, it is placed on the cistern’s top. Unlike older models, no visible pipes connect the pan to the cistern.

Close Coupled Toilets

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Cost-effective
  • Ideal for those who have fixed plumbing

Cons

  • It tends to accumulate dust
  • It doesn’t offer much in terms of style

Measurement Requirements

When buying a toilet, you’ll need these measurements

1. Height

The height of the toilet is crucial for those taller than average or those with disabilities. More often than not, toilets are installed at 39.5 cm height, while ambulant toilets are installed between 46 and 48 cm, making them easier to use for such people.

2. Projection

This is the amount of room your toilet takes up. If you replace a toilet with one that extends too far, it may obstruct a door, cabinet, or shower. After you’ve installed it, it isn’t easy to fix. So, be a little careful when it comes to projection.

3. Set-out

It’s the distance between the waste outlet’s centre and the wall for an S trap. A P trap is the distance between the outlet and the floor. Ensure that you take note of the location of the inlet as well.

Other Important Factors To Consider

Found any toilet to your liking? Maybe, you want something better, like smart toilets. Well, here are a few other factors you need to consider when buying a toilet whether you choose a traditional or smart toilets.

1. Plumbing

First and foremost, ensure whether you will need to replace your existing plumbing or not, especially if you are going with an in-wall cistern toilet. Keep in mind that installing this type of cistern can be pretty challenging in space and more expensive.

Therefore, it’s best to get in touch with a plumbing expert so that you are well-informed about your options for a suitable toilet for your home.

2. The Seat

It only makes sense to choose soft-closing toilet seats, which are a quiet and practical alternative to conventional toilet seats in this age.

Soft-closing seats offer a functional and modern design, making them close slowly in a controlled manner without any effort. The main advantage of using these seats is that they create minimal noise and are safer for children. Not to mention, they are easier to maintain and often feature a quick-release function that allows you to remove the seat entirely without any hassle.

3. Ease Of Cleaning

Most people do not enjoy cleaning the toilet. But today, many brands offer hygienic and innovative features that allow us to clean our toilets easily. For instance, many new brands are incorporating cutting-edge flushing techniques to increase water efficiency and flushing power.

The nano glaze coating is also a great feature to look out for in modern toilets. It is nothing but a coating placed inside the toilet pan, which prevents bacteria and grime build-up, making cleaning a breeze.

4. Water-Saving Features

Ensure that your toilet has WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme) star rating and that it displays the amount of water used per flush. It is a must-have for all toilets sold in Australia.

Installing Your Toilet

We recommend contacting your trusted plumbing company with a full range of plumbing services to install your new toilet for the right price. Whether you want a conventional back to wall pans or an innovative design featuring smart features, reach out to a plumbing expert! Here is an example of a new toilet we installed at a Gold Coast home.

Finding The Right Toilet Suite For Your Home

With that, we have come to the end of this guide. We hope it helped you gain valuable information about choosing suitable toilet for your home. Before we sign off, here’s our last word of advice: Make sure to get in touch with a trustworthy plumbing company because only they know the quality brands and can install this important fixture correctly, plus they know all about the special price you can get. They know where to get the spare parts too if ever you’re faced with a troubled newly-installed toilet.

Found something you like not included in the list above? Considering a rimless toilet as the perfect choice and great addition to your home? Or do you need your wall hung pan fixed and your toilet pans changed to a soft close seat? Not sure who to call for your toilet suites project? You can depend on us and our full range of plumbing services provided at the right price.

And it’s a wrap. Follow us for more information or call our professional plumbing team. Happy buying a toilet!