I am planning to replace an old toilet, a Kohler model. I don't know the exact model, but I once saw a date imprinted on the inside or bottom of the tank, so I know it is circa 1935. I assume it is old enough that it may be a 7 gallon model. The inside bowl surface has been scraped by pumice stone in an attempt to clean it, so I think the toilet really needs replacing.
Naturally, I would like a model with a good flush, so I have read the reviews here. I would like a Toto Vespin or perhaps an American Champion 4. There appear to be advantages and disadvantages to each. The Toto Vespin is the only Toto model available with the G-max flush and CEFIONTECT and a skirt.
But it is only available in the elongated bowl. I am used to the round bowl, the space is small and I have read that round bowls flush better because the inside bowl is round (more symmetry).
The Vespin has a 2-1/16 inch trapway, whereas the Drake has 2-1/8 inch. Seems a small difference, but then the Vespin's trapway is 1/16 inch improvement over a standard 2 inch trapway and 2-1/8 inch Toto models are 1/16 inch over the Vespin's trapway. By the way, Vespin brochures say 2-1/8inch but the online spec sheets say 2-1/16 inch.
The Vespin has no ADA model; perhaps a 16 to 16.5 inch height would be easier to use. Toto ADA models almost never have CEFIONTECT available, however and I like the idea of this feature.
The American Standard Champion 3 got a better rating than Toto Ultramax on Consumer Reports. Is this review controversial here? The Champion 4 has a 4-inch flush valve instead of the Toto's 3-inch valve or a standard 2-inch valve. Is a 4-inch valve an improvement? I know it has a piston and someone said that is noisier than flapper valves. Would that be a problem? The trapway is 2-3/8 inches. That sounds like an improvement over Toto's smaller trapways, no? American Standard's website says that they have an anti-microbial coating called Everclean. Is this the same as Toto's CEFIONTECT?
Why do toilets today seldom come with a skirt? It just seems like common sense to me to use another 10 pounds of clay in making the bowl so I don't have to see or clean the exterior trapway. Sometimes I think I am going insane. I didn't even know you had to call it a skirt. I just thought they already knew 70 years ago how to make a toilet so it didn't look like its guts were falling out.
Trapway, ADA, flush or piston valve, CEFIONTECT or Everclear, elongated or round, skirt or no? It seems hard to know what features are best and what works, even with the reviews on this site. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Naturally, I would like a model with a good flush, so I have read the reviews here. I would like a Toto Vespin or perhaps an American Champion 4. There appear to be advantages and disadvantages to each. The Toto Vespin is the only Toto model available with the G-max flush and CEFIONTECT and a skirt.
But it is only available in the elongated bowl. I am used to the round bowl, the space is small and I have read that round bowls flush better because the inside bowl is round (more symmetry).
The Vespin has a 2-1/16 inch trapway, whereas the Drake has 2-1/8 inch. Seems a small difference, but then the Vespin's trapway is 1/16 inch improvement over a standard 2 inch trapway and 2-1/8 inch Toto models are 1/16 inch over the Vespin's trapway. By the way, Vespin brochures say 2-1/8inch but the online spec sheets say 2-1/16 inch.
The Vespin has no ADA model; perhaps a 16 to 16.5 inch height would be easier to use. Toto ADA models almost never have CEFIONTECT available, however and I like the idea of this feature.
The American Standard Champion 3 got a better rating than Toto Ultramax on Consumer Reports. Is this review controversial here? The Champion 4 has a 4-inch flush valve instead of the Toto's 3-inch valve or a standard 2-inch valve. Is a 4-inch valve an improvement? I know it has a piston and someone said that is noisier than flapper valves. Would that be a problem? The trapway is 2-3/8 inches. That sounds like an improvement over Toto's smaller trapways, no? American Standard's website says that they have an anti-microbial coating called Everclean. Is this the same as Toto's CEFIONTECT?
Why do toilets today seldom come with a skirt? It just seems like common sense to me to use another 10 pounds of clay in making the bowl so I don't have to see or clean the exterior trapway. Sometimes I think I am going insane. I didn't even know you had to call it a skirt. I just thought they already knew 70 years ago how to make a toilet so it didn't look like its guts were falling out.
Trapway, ADA, flush or piston valve, CEFIONTECT or Everclear, elongated or round, skirt or no? It seems hard to know what features are best and what works, even with the reviews on this site. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.
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