Toilet Preferances....

[UA22PLumberdude]

Just curious as to what you guys prefer...say in your house.Its weird,I need a toilet,and suddenly I realise I have no idea what is even decent...all I ever put in,is the crap thats spec'ed out for the jobs (p.o.s. gerbers or flush valves)...and since I don't do service,thats all I ever see..

So whats a decent 1 or 2 piece toilet less then $400?...I'm not looking for a kohler fountainhead...A/S Cadet?..kohler Cimarron? Recomendations please.

[BAPlumber]

I like the Toto Drake, and the Kohler Cimarron. Although I don't like the tank to bowl connection on the Cimarron.

[glkearns]

I had 3 track house specials, was plunging at least 4 times a week, got 1 cimmaron, and now the plunge factor is down to 1 a month or so. Can't go wrong with the cimmeron

Greg

[Devine Plumbing]

Alright, two options if you want a good toilet that will not be a pain in the @$$ to service and will not have problems flushing. I would only use the Kohler Cimmaron, or the Mansfield Alto. The Kohler with the decorative bowl and tank that I have is always getting stopped up. The Kohler has a better fill valve than the Mansfield but the ring on the flush valve is not going to be as readily available, as is likely to be a lot more costly. Just stay away from the toilet-in-a-box deals and you will be OK. No Crane, American Standard, Universal Rundle, they all are crappity, crap, crap, crap. No one piece toilets either as they are also a nightmare.

[JCsPlumbing]

Plumbers really like the Class 5 models. (Cimmaron etc.) But I prefer the regular type as they keep the water in the bowl longer allowing some cleaning of the bowl.

Some don't like them, but I've had no complaints or callbacks with a simple Kohler Wellworth.

But if you can take the noise, I like any model with the Sloan Flushmate in the back for power.

J.C.

[Service Guy]

Anything Kohler. (thats a memoirs™ model in my avatar)

[MrsSeatDown]

I think you should install a TOTO. A perfect accompaniment would then be a TOTO bidet washlet. I have one to sell you: brand new-still in box-gift wrapped!

I will sell it at cost:D

[Devine Plumbing]

Plumbers really like the Class 5 models. (Cimmaron etc.) But I prefer the regular type as they keep the water in the bowl longer allowing some cleaning of the bowl.

Some don't like them, but I've had no complaints or callbacks with a simple Kohler Wellworth.

But if you can take the noise, I like any model with the Sloan Flushmate in the back for power.

J.C.

I will have to agree, the Cimmaron has a very low water level and you will end up keeping a cleaning brush sitting beside it. Wellworth is nice as well. Flushmates are too noisy as it will certainly wake your wife out of bed in the middle of the night.

[Service Guy]

Totos are awesome too. (The japanese have the most advanced toilets in the world.)

[MrsSeatDown]

Totos are awesome too. (The japanese have the most advanced toilets in the world.)

We had miniature ones as centerpieces at our wedding:D

[PLUMBER RICK]

lets not forget about our australian friends either.

look at the caroma's.

if you ever need to flush a potato, this is the one:D

rick.

[Devine Plumbing]

Yes, if you have $400 to spend on a toilet I would probably go with the Caroma Caravelle. Gotta love their mounting system. The enclosed trapway, and snap-on seat are big selling features. I don't think it will be too many years into the future where toilets will be reduced to .8 GPF. Soon we will just all be back to going in an outhouse. They were true water conservatives

[drtyhands]

I like the Toto Drake, and the Kohler Cimarron. Although I don't like the tank to bowl connection on the Cimarron.
I don't know what's going on with the cimarron but managers at two different supply houses who are better friends than salesman told me they are seeing more than necessary numbers coming back."Even though the bowl porceline looks uniform it's not holding a seal".Both state they think it has to do with the washer being too thin to deal with slight bowl imperfections.

[glkearns]

Yes, if you have $400 to spend on a toilet I would probably go with the Caroma Caravelle. Gotta love their mounting system. The enclosed trapway, and snap-on seat are big selling features. I don't think it will be too many years into the future where toilets will be reduced to .8 GPF. Soon we will just all be back to going in an outhouse. They were true water conservatives

I have 3 caravelle's round front in my garage, I wasn't at all impressed with the 3 I installed for a client so havn't bothered to install them at my house. They(caroma caravelle 305) left yellow tinge in the bowl on the .8gpf, and was not very complete with the bulk removal on the 1.6gpf full flush. The owner of the project where they are installed gave them a good report as far as the plunger goes though.

Greg

[Devine Plumbing]

I have 3 caravelle's round front in my garage, I wasn't at all impressed with the 3 I installed for a client so havn't bothered to install them at my house. They(caroma caravelle 305) left yellow tinge in the bowl on the .8gpf, and was not very complete with the bulk removal on the 1.6gpf full flush. The owner of the project where they are installed gave them a good report as far as the plunger goes though.

Greg

Kind of preferential to the 270 but are you interested in selling?

[bigPipe09]

I install Toto drake elongated when customers ask for a recommendation. I get seat tank and bowl for 270, so its always an easy sell

[SlimTim]

Cimarron 1-pc has been my installation choice lately.
And it will fit an 11-1/4 r.i. if necessary.
Water seal is adequate.
It's under $400

[NorthernIllinoisPlumber]

I like the Kohler Cinnamon, or Wellworth. I have them in my house...in case a customer asks!

[myakka]

I have two Kohler Wellworths in one house and two Toto Drakes in the other, both sets have been trouble free. I've put a few Kohler Cimarron's in, Im just not sold yet on them.
Mike

[NHMaster3015]

I like the Kohler Cinnamon, Wellworth and Toto. Stay the F away from almost anything made by American Std. I have not found one in the last 20 years that will flush worth a damn.

[JCsPlumbing]

I prefer the Kohler Vanilla & Nutmeg.

Ditto NH of Am. Standard. Their new class 5 is OK.

J.C.

[UA22PLumberdude]

We install a ton of A/S crap...China is usually so deformed it's impossible to tell when its square to the wall.My last job,40ish appartments,3 bowls had to be sent back...holes were too far apart to mount tanks...

I ended up buying a wellworth,$100.(I don't plan on being in this house long..)As this was my first kohler w/c install,I have to say,I kinda like the 3 bolt tank mounting.Unlike that A/S crap...which you damn near have crank the tank bolts with a 2 ft pipe wrench to keep the tank from wiggleing.

I think the quality is pretty decent for their bottom of the barrel model.....maybe totos for the next house.

[Service Guy]

I like the Kohler Cinnamon, Wellworth and Toto. Stay the F away from almost anything made by American Std. I have not found one in the last 20 years that will flush worth a damn.

I have THE EXACT same opinion on toilets.:thumbup2:

[JCsPlumbing]

We install a ton of A/S crap...China is usually so deformed it's impossible to tell when its square to the wall.My last job,40ish appartments,3 bowls had to be sent back...holes were too far apart to mount tanks...

I ended up buying a wellworth,$100.(I don't plan on being in this house long..)As this was my first kohler w/c install,I have to say,I kinda like the 3 bolt tank mounting.Unlike that A/S crap...which you damn near have crank the tank bolts with a 2 ft pipe wrench to keep the tank from wiggleing.

I think the quality is pretty decent for their bottom of the barrel model.....maybe totos for the next house.

I'm glad you mentioned this about the A/S two bolt tanks. I almost forgot it's been so long since I put one in. You have to crank them 'til they bottom out and it is enough pressure that you've got to be on the edge of cracking the tank. :mad: A/S sucks.

J.C.

J.C.

[Tyman]

I'm glad you mentioned this about the A/S two bolt tanks. I almost forgot it's been so long since I put one in. You have to crank them 'til they bottom out and it is enough pressure that you've got to be on the edge of cracking the tank. :mad: A/S sucks.

J.C.

J.C.

We install many American Standard Cadet 3, and I have to agree with you JC, I feel like that tank is going to snap at any time. The porcelain is terrible.

In my house, my moms house and my grandmas house I installed Toto Drake elongated ADA toilets.

I am still on a "I hate Kohler" binge.

If you want a more accurate way of telling who has a better flush, check this out.

http://www.cuwcc.org/uploads/product/MaP-6th-Edition-2-10-06.pdf

[wrench spinner]

We install many American Standard Cadet 3, and I have to agree with you JC, I feel like that tank is going to snap at any time. The porcelain is terrible.

In my house, my moms house and my grandmas house I installed Toto Drake elongated ADA toilets.

I am still on a "I hate Kohler" binge.

If you want a more accurate way of telling who has a better flush, check this out.

http://www.cuwcc.org/uploads/product/MaP-6th-Edition-2-10-06.pdf

Thanks! That is a great link. So what i get out of it is Am Std. engineering is there but they really have to work on their quality control... I was suprised that the TOTO's didnt have a better rating and I was really suprised at how well the gerbers did!

[JCsPlumbing]

For anyones interest. American Standard, Crane, & Eljer have merged.

J.C.

[Tyman]

Keep in mind, those Gerbers were pressure assisted, not gravity. Toto Drake was number 2 :D only beat by American Standard in a gravity flush.

[Service Guy]

I've put in a few Gerbers in my day. They flush really great, my only problem with them is style. They are usually darn ugly compared to Kohler or TOTO toilets, which I prefer.

[Devine Plumbing]

For anyones interest. American Standard, Crane, & Eljer have merged.

J.C.

Crapity, crap, crap, crap

[wrench spinner]

Hey Devine how did you make out at the hospital!?

[NHMaster3015]

My favorite inexpensive toilet has to be Mansfield 130's A bit dated style wise, but they flush pretty well and I don't have a lot of problems with them. We use pallet loads of them in condo's where price is an issue.

[Devine Plumbing]

Hey Devine how did you make out at the hospital!?

Going this coming Wednesday (6/25) if not sooner.

[wrench spinner]

Going this coming Wednesday (6/25) if not sooner.

Well Good luck and let us all know!

[Ace Sewer]

Wellworth... cheap, not ugly, works, haven't had a bad one out the box yet, I've put these in restaraunts with no complaints, comes in a 10" rough if you need it, comes round or elongated, what more could you want?

[Nevada plumber]

I don't know what's going on with the cimarron but managers at two different supply houses who are better friends than salesman told me they are seeing more than necessary numbers coming back."Even though the bowl porceline looks uniform it's not holding a seal".Both state they think it has to do with the washer being too thin to deal with slight bowl imperfections.

I'm glad to hear I am not the only one having problems with these new Cimarron toilets. I've installed four of the new style so far, and all four leaked from that same spot. I made Kohler send me parts to fix all the ones I installed, plus the ones sitting in the shop waiting to be installed. If I could find someone willing to sell me Toto Drakes for a reasonable price, I'd stop installing the Kohler Cimarron.

[JCsPlumbing]

Wellworth. Does what it's supposed too. Get'em everywhere.;)

J.C.

[bigPipe09]

I'm glad to hear I am not the only one having problems with these new Cimarron toilets. I've installed four of the new style so far, and all four leaked from that same spot. I made Kohler send me parts to fix all the ones I installed, plus the ones sitting in the shop waiting to be installed. If I could find someone willing to sell me Toto Drakes for a reasonable price, I'd stop installing the Kohler Cimarron.

What are you paying for cimarron if you dont mind?

[Killertoiletspider]

I put one of these in my master bath last year, I like it a lot.


http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z150/Killertoiletspider/Duravittoilet.jpg

[JCsPlumbing]

Sweet er..... RIDE! Nothing to sweep around.:grin:

J.C.

[Nevada plumber]

bigPipe09, I think I'm paying $195 for a two piece, elongated, comfort height Cimarron. I also get those fancy Cachet quiet close toilet seats for $35. My customers seem to love those seats. I haven't had to buy toilets for a while, so I might be a little off on my price.

[saysflushable]

We put in a lot of cheap gerbers in rentals with out trouble... I like the Toto the best it looks and flush's better. I also like the way the tank bolts are double nutted on both. Nut's to seal the washer then a seperate set to hold it to the bowel. That's the way it should be:). I agree with Mrs.seatdown No toilet is complete without a seat mount bidet. Isn't that what she said?

[MrsSeatDown]

I agree with Mrs.seatdown No toilet is complete without a seat mount bidet. Isn't that what she said?

Yep! About anyone else's potty but mine:p

Rick installed 2 TOTO toilets for a customer yesterday. One of the lids had a sticker with a big:) that said upgrade to a washlet. Rick got a piece of wax paper from the customer to save the sticker. (I didn't know any of this had occurred) When I got up this morning it was on the inside of our lid:D

[NHMaster3015]

You have go to research toilets in Japan. These people are fanatical about poo.

[ramplum]

Toto invented Gmax , that is what Kohler copied ! when they made cimmeron. Toto rake is available for 180 to 200. Kohler has always had poor glazing, Look at the MAP test results! drake is the 900 gr. waste remover, and its the cheapest toto sold. Kohler has been spending theyre $ telling people about the bold look. Toto has been removing up to twice as much waste as kohler for decades! unless you count the sloan 101 tanks that got recalled and are noisy! and expensive to repair!. Gerber is a top preformer too!. and the Caroma does 750 gr. on ,8 gpf. ! yes I'm informed, so can you be too! see 3rd. party test results. over the past years.

[NHMaster3015]

Toto invented Gmax , that is what Kohler copied ! when they made cimmeron. Toto rake is available for 180 to 200. Kohler has always had poor glazing, Look at the MAP test results! drake is the 900 gr. waste remover, and its the cheapest toto sold. Kohler has been spending theyre $ telling people about the bold look. Toto has been removing up to twice as much waste as kohler for decades! unless you count the sloan 101 tanks that got recalled and are noisy! and expensive to repair!. Gerber is a top preformer too!. and the Caroma does 750 gr. on ,8 gpf. ! yes I'm informed, so can you be too! see 3rd. party test results. over the past years.

Where'd ya get them facts from?

[MrsSeatDown]

Saysflushable, this should be your avatar:D

[saysflushable]

Yep! About anyone else's potty but mine:p

Rick installed 2 TOTO toilets for a customer yesterday. One of the lids had a sticker with a big:) that said upgrade to a washlet. Rick got a piece of wax paper from the customer to save the sticker. (I didn't know any of this had occurred) When I got up this morning it was on the inside of our lid:D

That is funny!!!!! Yes that should be my avatar

[Plumbus]

Took the GreenPlumbers "Caring for Our Water" workshop in January. John Koeller really knows his way around a wc. He's been involved with the CUWCC testing from the get go. Watching the miso, I mean soy paste, travel down the line was a "treat". I'd recommend his course to any and all. As for my preference in potties, it's Toto hands down. I put in a couple of hundred a year and rarely get a call back. And when I do, it's usually about line carry and not toilet function.
Scott

[wrongler]

I have put in a few TOTOs and have been impressed as well. I hate Eljers. I am also a fan of the Kohler three bolt tank to bowl connection for stability but lots of manufacturers are sending those little rubbery blocks to put between the tank and bowls so it is usually not an issue. I haven't put a Kohler in for awhile so I can't comment on them, again, I just like the three bolt design.

[Herk]

I recommend Totos. I'm no big fan of Kohler/Sterling. The three-bolt system is more difficult to install, though I have a special wrench to get that back bolt. I set the bowl first, then attach the tank.

One of the things I like about Toto is that the parts are relatively standard. Even though the flapper and fill valve are special, they greatly resemble earlier standard toilet parts. No weird O-rings to fail or difficult-to-find parts, which is certainly common with Kohler. And what's less standardized than American Standard?

It would be nice if American Standard would increase the size of their tank-to-bowl bolts. Those flimsy bolts are an insult.

Because of Kohler's thin tank-to-bowl washer, I've had some that were too deformed to seal.

I use the American Standard toilet-in-a-box for my "budget" toilet.

[glkearns]

I have 3 caravelle's round front in my garage, I wasn't at all impressed with the 3 I installed for a client so havn't bothered to install them at my house. They(caroma caravelle 305) left yellow tinge in the bowl on the .8gpf, and was not very complete with the bulk removal on the 1.6gpf full flush. The owner of the project where they are installed gave them a good report as far as the plunger goes though.

Greg

So I broke down and installed 2 of the 3 caroma's, and I must say, the bulk removal is good, however, the .8 gpf does leave some yellow, and my wife hates the way they look, she'll get over it, or maybe i can dress it up with a novelty toilet seat or something...

Greg

[MrsSeatDown]

So I broke down and installed 2 of the 3 caroma's, and I must say, the bulk removal is good, however, the .8 gpf does leave some yellow, and my wife hates the way they look, she'll get over it, or maybe i can dress it up with a novelty toilet seat or something...

Greg

I've got just the one!:rolleyes:

[glkearns]

Those freak her out too.
Greg

[MrsSeatDown]

Those freak her out too.
Greg

Alright, but you can't blame a girl for tryin':D

[glkearns]

Pic of one of the caroma's installed in the kids bath

[ridgidpipe]

I prefer the Kohler cimmerons the best as far as flushing goes. The Totos are great toilets also but it took me a month just to get a Toto flapper for a customer lately so Its hard for me to reccomend a product that in my area is to difficult to get parts to sevice. If its for a customer that doesnt want to spend a lot of money though I would go with the mansfield 160 / 130 as the the parts are readily available at any suppl house or even Home Depot has the flush vale gaskets

[Obama the Plumber]

I think I prefer something like the Toto Soiree.
Good flush and Lowes has the flappers and the fill valve parts.

Good flush, good rinse, and easy to clean.
I also like the seat. Slow close you know, I wonder how many bathrooms I will be doing?

[harrysplumbing]

I like Kohler. EXCEPT the Class 5 Cimaron. I put one (class 5) in my house and hated it. It did not flush good. Took it back. Installed Kohler Portriat and it works good. Wellworths flush good. Now, ifn all you want to flush is golf balls , then by all means get you a class 5.

Have had good results with the Mansfield also.

[faucetman886]

In my mind and my personal preference from experience the TOTO Drake is the one of choice. I read on another post today also that it is not so much the solid waste but the type of paper used that can cause the major clogs. I have seen paper that begins to dissolve the moment it hits the water and other that might sit there all afternoon and not dissolve...thus the clog.

[smorris]

Argg! A couple of weeks ago, I asked about a replacement toilet, and was told the American Standard Champion 4 is a good one to get. Now I find that y'all hate the American Standard toilets, and my special order just came in. Why didn't someone tell me?

As Bill noted above, TOTO are not available around here. When he was here at the house, he said he had trouble getting parts for them. Bill and Mike are going to put a new tub/shower in for me, and do the install on the new toilet and sink.

[plumberscrack]

Argg! A couple of weeks ago, I asked about a replacement toilet, and was told the American Standard Champion 4 is a good one to get. Now I find that y'all hate the American Standard toilets, and my special order just came in. Why didn't someone tell me?


Sorry Steve, it's always been a plumbers prerogative to change his mind :p

You'll be very happy with the AS Champion.......til it wakes you up in the middle of the night :eek:

[Jay Mpls]

What does everyone think of the Gerber Viper?We get them for $80 reg and $120 ADA.

[Birddoggiest]

I Installed my first Champion 4 in my house to give it a try. I agree with the tank bolt issues but that aside it works great. I think it is more self cleaning than the Cimmeron. I also like the Proflo (Briggs) for a jippo $50 toilet, flushes 600 grams. I am probably alone on these two though. I am anti Kohler right now because of the awefull new stuff they are comming out with. You can not estimate the install time correct.

[phyllisj8819]

If my hustband gives up i at least know where to ask for help ;)

[toolaholic]

TOTO , Are there any other ? Have Two in our home,never a problem ?