Toilet question:

[Mist]

I just got a house (yay!) But the toilet in it is an older model that uses about 5 gallons to flush. Any recommendations on a GOOD low-flush toilet? The ones I've come across as a renter have needed almost constant cleaning, and have fairly anemic flushing power (handle has to be held down to help them flush). I saw an advertising tape running in the plumbing section of Lowe's the other day that featured the Eljer Titan. Supposedly it's a low-flush toilet with a vigorous flush. It's about $230. Any advice or recommendations are most welcome!

[Longhorn]

1. My husband recommends this one:

http://www.totousa.com/productpage.asp?PID=803

He said you can find it for under $300. It has a high-volume and low-volume flush -- you decide which one you need each time you flush. He said the only downside is that it should be installed by a plumber, which will cost another $200 or so. He's a remodeling contractor so this issue comes up pretty regularly. This is a Japanese toilet and he says, "The Japanese have got it down." :)

[Stinky The Clown]

2. I've bought five Kohlers in the last few years. They work great.

There might be better ones out there, but the standard Kohlers as can be found at the big box stores all use the same flush design. I have the cheapest ones in my rental and there are no problems with them there. I have three at home that cost more but have the identical innards and they work fine here.

No need to spend big money. Literally the cheapest Kohler you can find will work as well as all the others.

I can't comment on any other brands as I don't have any first hand experience with them.

[eleny]

3. We have that Titan

It works great.

In the new bathroom we got a Toto at the suggestion of the plumber. We're very happy with it.

[Digit]

4. Wrap a brick in aluminum foil and put in the tank...saves water...

and you can use the money to take care of other more immediate concerns. You might even need TWO bricks, hard to say. My plumber was the one to recommend the adding of the tin foil..guess it is to keep it cleaner.

Sounds like your home is an older one, as is mine, and the biggest thing that made a difference was adding insulation in the attic. I also had someone go through and make sure I had no air leaks in my ductwork which was in the crawl space. This will help you with your energy bills.

[Kolesar]

5. Bricks will dissolve and you don't want grit in your valves

Paving bricks would probably be last longer but don't take my word for it. There are some poorly designed commodes that might not even flush without a full five gallons of flush-o-power.

How about a plastic bottle full of marbles and water to displace some volume? Also, with most flush mechanisms, you can move the float down so that the tank does not fill all the way. good luck

[Longhorn]

6. Since the toilet isn't designed for less water

it may still take two flushes using the brick method. But sometimes, one flush will be enough, so it can certainly save money and it's cheaper than a new toilet.

[Warpy]

8. You can buy plastic "toilet dams"

that wall off water on either side of the tank so that you use less water per flush. The seal doesn't have to be perfect and they work really well. I used them back in the 70s and 80s. I know they're still sold online and possibly in hardware stores. They don't tend to put grit in the works like bricks do, even when they're wrapped in plastic or tinfoil.

A plastic milk jug or two filled with water and put in the tank right after a flush will do the same thing.

I live in the desert where the ultra low flow toilet is mandated by law. If you want to sell a house, it has to have one. It is terrible. I have to keep a gallon bucket next to it for those, um, bigger flushes.

[Mist]

7. Thanks for all the input! I've come across a lower-priced Toto (about

$240), which is competitive with the Titan. Both seem a good value. If I feel I want to spend less, a Kohler seems a great option.

When I saw the high-water mark of this older toilet in my newly-acquired house, I immediately put a gallon jug of water in the tank, to displace at least some water. A friend thinks it looks like a 6.5 or even 7 gallon flush toilet. As well as being a water-hog, it has a S-L-O-W flush, needing to have the handle depressed for a count of 7 to flush. A real white elephant of a toilet! My conscience tells me I should take it to the dump rather than put it on the curb for someone to get as a free toilet. They'd discover quickly how costly this particular toilet would be!