Kohler Cimarron toilet review, Owner comments and pictures

[maddog]

We've had the elongated, comfort-height Cimarron for about a year now and are very happy with it. It was very easy to install. I especially like the bracket on the bottom of the tank - no bolt holes in the bottom of the tank to worry about.
The flush is great - have not had to plunge a single time. It re-fills quickly and quietly. It's true that the bowl wash is not as good as some others, but it really isn't that bad. A quick brush every once in a while sure beats having to plunge! And our local HD carries the replacement flapper in case that ever needs replacing. I would recommend this toilet and will probably be installing another one when we get to the next bathroom.

[drewc]

I've been using a Cimarron (round bowl version) for about a year. This is my home's first 1.6-gpf toilet, and it has produced mixed results.

We bought it because of its availability (it was at both Home Depot and Lowe's), reasonable price (just over $200), and strong results in the most recent MaP testing (800 g of solids passed).

Positives: Its flush is powerful, quick, and hardly ever clogs -- I've had to plunge it just once, and that was within the first week of use. Other than cleaning, no maintenance has been needed so far. As I mentioned, it is inexpensive and available at national chain hardware stores.

Negatives: The flush is a bit noisy towards the end. But my biggest complaint is the flush's inadequate cleaning of the bowl: smeared remnants of solid waste are left near the trapway almost half the time. (Note: see update below.)Sometimes I can clear the residue by holding the lever down or flushing a second time, but if that doesn't work then I must use a toilet brush. Cleaning was never a problem with our old toilets, although of course they used much more water as they were ancient, 5-gpf American Standards. The cleaning issues have been significant enough that I decided not to buy another Cimarron.

After the Cimarron experience, we replaced the toilet in our master bath with an elongated Toto Drake. While not perfect, the Drake cleans better than the Cimarron, and given the closeness in price I think the Drake is the better buy.

Update (Jan. 10, 2008): It has now been about two years since we installed the Cimarron, and my opinion of the toilet has improved with time. For reasons unknown to me, the bowl-cleaning performance has been much better recently, and I rarely have had to use the brush after flushing. Perhaps the surface of the bowl was made smoother with repeated flushes.

The flush's power remains strong, as I have experienced no clogs in the past year. I still prefer the Toto Drake -- the Cimarron flushes more loudly and takes longer to refill the tank than the Drake -- but the difference between them is not as large as it once was.

[inspctr70]

I bought a Kohler about four weeks ago to replace my Briggs. I would have to plunge the Briggs every time I used it. The Cimarron is grate. I haven't had to plunge it yet and don't think I will have to. You flush it and it's gone. It took me about an hour to install it, with no problems. The only regret I have is not replacing the Briggs a long time ago.

[Ellison]

I've had the Cimmaron for 4 months now, and I have mixed feelings about it's performance.

The toilet's best feature is it's bulk waste disposal. Like the web site for it http://www.josplumbing.com it does not clog easily. As in "at all". My Cimmaron has to deal with the most demanding members of my family, my wife and my one year old daughter. My wife uses what I swear is enough Charmin to stuff a small pillow. Our old toilet from "Lamosa" could never cope, I'd be at it day and night with the plunger. My daughter is in Pampers, and those were a definite "forget it" for our old can. The Cimmaron has no problem swallowing the charmin or the Pampers, altho it does have a major issue with the bowl. We've traded the plunger for a brush; there is no "wash down" on several parts on the bowl as most of the water is pushing everything in the drain. If my wife put the diaper in "upside down" we're in for some streaks. We're back to double-flushing for #2 because of this - once to get everything down, another to rinse off the brush.

This is definitely not the toilet you want for the "fresh bowl" feeling.

-E

[Cass]

Unless there is something new about pampers that I don't know about they should never be flushed down a toilet. All the ones I delt with with my 4 kids were wrapped up and thrown in the trash.

[OldPete]

I'll throw my own little "review" into this mix.

I bought the Cimmeron about a year ago -- as part of a bath renovation. I finally installed it about 3 weeks ago. I have used it a total of about 8 times. (8 times for "solid" waste ) -- In a most gentle way I can say that I am the producer of a very large solid waste -- I hope that is the right way to phrase it. In addition I have purposely used a lot of paper as well.

I can also tell you that the toilet it plumber to go to a 90* closet flange and then does a 6 foot run at 1/4" slope per foot and then into another sweep 90* and then down the lower-level wall and into the crawl.

I have the toilet set to fill the tank at the point JUST BEFORE it flows into the "black tube" (if you have this toilet you know what I mean) -- so it is a bit above the intended gpf rating.

I can tell you that this toilet is a friggin' god-send!!! It flushes down everything on the first shot and cleans the bowl just fine... now, not to be too graphic, but we are talking about toilets and "solids" -- I don't know how it will clean the bowl with "wet solids" (if you get my drift) -- as I haven't had that yet.

I was VERY close to returning this toilet and going with a Toto since my GF has one in her place and it is very impressive.

I am happy I got the high-sitting model and I really like the elongated bowl (although I don't know exactly why) -- I also got the Bemis soft close seat cover.

All in all -- a great looking and so far, a great performing unit.



MODS: My apologies if I'm too graphic.

[skhndrsn]

We needed an ADA (comfort height) toilet on short notice for a family member when a flare in her rheumatoid arthritis made the standard height impossible to use. I called a local plumbing company and let them talk me into the Kohler Cimarron they had in stock to install that day. BIG MISTAKE! I knew from reading the forums that the Cimarron had bowl wash quirks, but this was horrible, unless I was willing to clean after every use (and I was SO not). And I could smell it. Immediately. Ugh. Called them back and found out they could have gotten me the Toto Drake I asked for in 24 hours, which is what they did after I insisted. What an improvement! Flushes everything, a snap to install, and no odd smells. As to cleaning, it needs no more than our old water hogs needed. For anyone with handicapped or otherwise weakened family members, both of these new low-flow toilets were too stiff for our family member to flush. We installed a foot pedal ($30. Foot Flush), which worked great but eventually caused knee problems on the flushing leg. We then went to a wireless automatic flusher (Auto-Flush for tank toilets $144.) It's just super. Anyone with kids or with toilet-trained cats will like this option too. Very easy install and wonderful hands-free flushing on our Toto Drake. We're planning to install Totos in the rest of the house. Couldn't be more pleased. Run, don't walk, AWAY from Kohler.

[Sofa King]

Confucious say: He who sits on Kohler Cimmaron is high on pot.

[mawingo]

Either the bowl and floor is not level, so the water siphons out,

or you have a porous Kohler bowl.
Water leaking out is not a good sign.

Just another reason I avoid Kohler.

I have two of these installed and overall think they're great, but the small water spot is annoying. As soon it's done flushing, it just stays at the bottom , barely filling the hole at the bottom. It doesn't stay at one level and then come down. I can let a little water in manually to a level I like, and it stays that way until it's used again. But it starts all over again. Both toilets behave exactly the same way. Are there any other options for getting the water level up, or is it just as Terry says above?

[wally]

I own two of these Cimmarons. They are garbage. Keep your scrub brush handy. I am embarrassed when I have company over that they may end up having to clean them. Will never trust a Kohler product again.

[Reader Review]

I'm disappointed with the Kohler Cimarron. The flapper is poorly designed and closes too soon. I purchased another flapper which didn't work any better. I contacted the company and they sent me a flapper that was no better. I'm unable to purchase an "adjustable" flapper for the Cimarron because they don't fit this design. If I plug the hole on the side of the flapper it works like it should. I'm currently trying to find a permanent fix now that will last. It just needs more "float." I have to hold the handle down to flush properly and I have only 1/4 inch slack in the chain.
Otherwise, it was an easy toilet to install. Came with all necessary hardware. If the flapper worked properly I would rate it a 10. I paid considerably extra for the Kohler brand and regret it now. I would currently rate it a 3.
Mike S

[Reader Review]

I installed the Koehler Cimarron Comfort Height toilet last week and am extremely pleased. My old 5 gallon flush Trylon toilet would need to be flushed twice in most cases. I have not needed to flush the Koehler Cimarron more than once. What a relief I am using so much lesss water and the toilet actually works. I could not be more pleased.
Bill

[becky t.]

My husband and I purchased a Kohler Cimarron less than two weeks ago for the girl's bathroom because we were tired of the old toilet needing the plunger every other time. We bought this one because it said you could 'flush it and forget it'. I was leery at the shape of the opening on the bottom since it was like a elongated rectangle, but , I thought .....we'll never need the plunger. Yeah, right! two days ago it clogged and guess what? A plunger will not work because of that weird shape! We tried two different plungers, and nothing! After two or three hours of trying buckets of water, etc. we gave up and called a plumber the next day. (my arms are still sore, BTW!) He had a super duper plunger and worked at it for about ten minutes and thankfully got rid of the clog. He said take the toilet back because otherwise we would need a snake to clear it next time. A PLUNGER WILL NOT WORK with this toilet because this toilet has a faulty design! We went back to Lowe's today and got an Eljer but I made sure to check out that it has a ROUND opening on the bottom so a ROUND plunger can be used!!!! I will never buy another Kohler toilet again! Wish me luck with the Eljer!!!

[Reader Review]

have lived with this toilet for two years, and would not recommend it. Problems include poor bowl cleanliness due to lack of swirl, loud flush (my 6 year old won’t flush it at night because it scares her), small and hard to press flush lever, and difficultly plunging because of the rectangular shape. Clogs are relatively rare, but still happen. If I could sell these, I’d switch.
D. Issac

[redforever]

We purchased 3 Cimarron toilets a year ago. They are the one piece models, elongated bowls.

We have not had one plug and we have no problem whatsoever with the bowl washing adequately. You can set the water level, at least our son in law did. The tank fills completely each time and we get one quick, efficient whoosh every time.

Best toilets we have ever owned.