Most Standard Toilets
Most Standard Toilets
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Exploring the alternatives to the standard toilet: More than a Porcelain Throne
There are more options nowadays in choosing toilets other than wanting white or off-white. There have been two driving factors pushing toilet innovations: 1) increased environmental awareness and 2) a desire for more comfort and/or convenience while using the toilet. The market has responded and provided consumers with a wealth of options.
One of the most popular demands for toilets with advanced features is reduced water usage. There are two main methods that help appease this consumer demand and those are dual flush toilets and low flow toilets. The latter can occur in a few ways, some manufacturers like Toto have devised improved methods of forcing water down the drain, to increase pressure but use fewer gallons per flush (gpf). Dual flush toilets are an Australian innovation and involve a two-button system in place of a lever. One button delivers a small flush load, designed for liquid waste; the other uses more water to get rid of solid waste. This allows you to be eco-friendly while avoiding letting liquid waste sit in between uses.
Other than these two ways of achieving the same, highly desirable goal, the add-ons for toilets can get downright science fictional. A favorite is the heated seat, especially for those that live in colder climates. This uses a special electric coil powered by a wall socket or a battery to heat up the seat and make it less unpleasant on cold winter mornings.
Urinals are also becoming more popular in households, especially those with more males in the home than females. They are easy to install and use even less water than the liquid waste flush of a dual flush toilet. Many have an aversion to them, thinking they’re too crude or unappealing. However, standard bathroom use is usually an in and out affair. If it’s for a bathroom primarily used by a male, or one that gets a lot of use from visitors, it can be an ideal addition.
Another idea that’s somewhat unpopular but is gaining acceptance is bidets and washlets. Bidets are separate fixtures that are used to wash your genitals after using the toilet. It’s very popular in Europe and actually more sanitary. If you wash your hands after using the bathroom, why not everything else you used? A washlet is a combined toilet and bidet unit. Currently only Toto offers this integrated solution, but it’s a well-designed alternative.
The last feature I’ll mention is rather amusing due to how superfluous it seems, but there are automatic lid closers. These can detect the presence of someone approaching and raise the lid automatically to accommodate them. Once a person is done with the toilet, they will close down afterwards. This has a benefit of having nothing fall in the toilet when you’re not paying attention, and preventing animals from getting in as well.
Of course it’s always wise to get a toilet that is WaterSense approved. WaterSense is a program partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency to help reduce water wastage across America. This ensures that the product has been rated to the water preservation standards set by the agency in order to help you help the environment.
About the Author
Jason Land is a blogger at http://bathandkitchenfixturesblog.com/ and works for www.plumbtile.com. He specializes in providing his expertise in the bath and kitchen fixture industry from his experience with one of the leaders in architectural home improvement and decoration.
