Congrats..
inquirer22 said:
Actually that isn't the case. I called back to the store where I bought the toilet and talked to the sales lady. She doesn't just work there, she is the niece of the owner. (She remembered me because I was the second person to ever buy an Aquia in her store. I may very well be the second person in the Kansas City area to have bought one given that the other Toto stores didn't carry them yet.) Anyway, she has sold many of the Aquia since I purchased mine, and she said there are plenty of people who have installed the Aquia without the Toto seats. Several like myself didn't like the plastic seats. Likewise though the hardwood Toto seats are very beautiful, many found them too expensive. She herself didn't like the seats so she got herself a different seat. She told me not to worry about it...
The toilet was finally installed last night. I am now a Toto CONVERT!...
The Home Depot seat works just fine. We have had 4 people in the house use it, and I haven't seen any smearing. We did have to use the bolts that came with the HD seat instead of the nice black plastic rubber divices that came with the toilet because the hinges with the HD seat required that we do so. The light bulb isn't out. Nevertheless, I tried standing on the toilet; I could stand on it without any problem what so ever.
It is also great that the Aquia is a bit taller than the standard height 14.5". Some others didn't want an ADA toilet height 16.5", so the Aquia 15.25" is a perfect compromise between the tall and short people who will use it.
The toilet works great so far! The water line may be small, but it comes up enough during the flush for #1 and even higher for #2. I still want to do some better TP tests, bit haven't needed to do so yet. I would say that I wished they had done a bit more if a "lip" on the tank. When you set the lid, you get the feeling that it could easily fall off. Maybe it is our imagination, but it feels that way.
PROS:
1) Dual flush is great. In fact the 0.9 gallon can be used for small soilds too.
2) The toilet is pretty quiet.
3) It is faster than the old toilet at clearing out and filling up the tank.
4) The streamline shape of the bowel will make it hard to be unaware if/when the outside of the bowel needs cleaning. The old toilet curved and made it hard to see and clean.
5) The toilet is BEAUTIFUL. I never thought I could look at a toilet with admiration, but I can with this one. Its shape kind of reminds me of a beautiful new boat that could easily race through water with its streamline shape.
CONS:
1) It would be nicer to have a lip on the tank or the lid so that you don't have the sense that you could bump the toilet and cause the lid to fall off and break.
2) It isn't easy to install. The old toilet had two bolts to install. The Aquia has those two bolts plus two bolts in the back all for the grey plastic drain portion of the toilet. Then you have four more so that you can seat the toilet in place.
3) Limited selection of toilet seats IF you wish to buy a Toto seat. It would have been nice to have something between the plastic seats and the eligant (but expensive) hardwood seats.
4) I suppose it could be improved by having an ADA version for those that must have it. I'm fine without it.
5) Perhaps it would have been a bit more stylish if it were a one piece. I'm fine without it, but I wanted to balance the pros and cons and I was desperate to find another CON for the Aquia! Really only the first two are important CON's for our usage...[...].
Hey...good for you,
I am very happy it all worked out inquirer-and thanks for posting about the no smearing problems with your (non-TOTO) seat. People need to know this and that dispells some mystery and concerns surrounding this toilet.
People are crazy about the style after they have installed it. I show off this thing to everyone who comes over to visit. People think you're nuts--raving about a toilet--but it's the nicest appliance in the home.
Yea. It can be a bitch to install. But after that:
Consider, Style,Innovation,Function,efficiency & skirt is easier to clean, there is nothing like it on the market today.
No more cleaning those nooks and cranys of bolts/covers.
Additionally, I'm estimating my water savings at around 25-30%.
My annualized water savings will be about $150.00. (conservative)
I am actually redesigning my bathroom style to compliment the Aquia.
It's that cool as you know.
The majority of American Aquia owners have had the unit less than 6 months, and consequently our collective experience level is very limited. All we really know is it was successful in Thailand for 6 years.
For me...the only other TOTO feature I wish it had is the Sanigloss finish.
You are a much more capable DIY than myself and Terry is the expert here on Aquia and no doubt will answer the technical things you wondering about. I
will however pass on this tip because you are installing it multiple times.
Lubricate the "O" Ring on gray thang with a little liquid soap so it slips on with ease.
IMO the only reason this toilet isn't a huge best seller for TOTO
yet AFAIK is simple. I believe that some plumbers and showroom sales are not promoting it. Obviously they would rather not promote something that
they think will bite them in the ass after the sale.
Expensive/unusual install and
unfounded fear of smearing.
...and you are right on the money about the .9 flush option--it works just fine
for "small loads" too