1.6 Gallon Toilets

[Dick Seibert]

I finished a house a couple months ago, and was back with a roto-rooter guy today trying to clean the toilet paper out of the sewer. These things just don't work! I hear it's worse in remodeling than new construction because the new houses have all ABS pipe that the $hit runs through better, but when you add on to a house the stuff ends up in the old cast iron at some point. I hear the pressurized ones have a lot of problems, and when they go out a plumber can't fix them; a specialist has to be called in. Short of going to Canada and smuggling good toilets into the country, what are you guys doing? The toilets in question are Totos ($1,000), is anybody having any better luck with any other makes? What about the pressurized ones, is there a brand that is any better than any other? Why can't the engineers solve this problem, or is it unsolvable? Damn environmentalists, I hate them.

[Justin B. Jensen]

Dick -

We've been utilizing Toto's "Drake" G-Max toilet for over two years now and have not had a single complaint or call back, honest! Prior to finding the Toto Drake, we had poor to average success with other brands including Kohler, Gerber and American Standard, among others. We've installed these in systems with both new (ABS) and remodeled (ABS / Cast) piping.

A pressure-assist (PA) toilet from any of the manufacturers would most likely solve any problems you are having, but there are pitfalls to these toilets: They are noisy, parts are not common across lines of toilets and parts may not be readily available except from plumbing specialty suppliers. From my past experience with PA toilets, they are field repairable however the accumulator tank is typically replaced as a unit without user-serviceable parts.

Justin

[James Eggert]

I thought the pressure assist functionwas strickly to clean the bowl?? Perhaps they help the movement of solids in the pipe by having the water enter faster even though there is not more of it?

Keep in mind also, that the pitch on sewer and septic lines is minimal, 1/4"/ft. and that the line does not empty itself each flush but rather the solids move slow enough to clean the line. If there is never enough water then the line does not have a chance to actually clean itself so that every little snag, such as in the old CI lines, causes a build-up which can develop into a blockage. Although some people may think flushing out the line by running the sinks and flushing all the toilets for a 5-10 minute period maybe every week or two, it should help the line clean itself out.

Jim

[Peter]

We have this problem in new homes, in NYC. We install these low flow toilets and no hub waste pipe. ALmost every new homeowner winds up backing up the system and needing a drain clearing company. They are then told they need a scope for another $xxxx because the pipes might not be joined properly. I have yet to see a video prove their wild ass guess true. In my opinion just another scam by the drain guys. MIracously once the homeowners learn not to flush paper towel and tampons the problem is solved.
Thanx for letting me vent,
Pete

[SamT]

I installed a kohler 1.6 in our 25yr.old home with really lousy drain system. It is literaly amazing how well it works. After every signifigant rain, the septic fills up, (working on that now) and all drains back up. even so, when septic level lowers toilet flushes fine!

I am very pleaed with this toilet.
I don't remember the model, It was the cheapest that had been awarded some certificate or award. about $40-$60 for bowl and tank.

SamT

[barb]

for a dicussion of toilets...
check around in the remodeling and repairs forums too.

this is strictly a DIY message board, but youwill get
lots of opinions from people who are living with the toilets.


low flush thread

[Keith]

The NAHB folks did a study on low flow toilets recently. Notice that the fullreport isn't posted - but info on the study is - with summary list of best and worst. Bottom-line - There was NO correlation between price and performance - several of the less expensive units were the best performers - as in sub $180 toilets. Some of the worst performers were also the most expensive.

I do have a PDF of the entire study if anyone is interested.


Builder Mag - Low Flow Toilets

[P.C. Mortenson]

In the last 2 years I have installed 3 Toto brand, "Augusta" models" in remodel projects. They cost $160.ea. This is an excellent product with no problems. I did also take the precaution of educating the client about what not to put in this type of toilets. I think that is critical to sucess.

[James Eggert]

PC
Interesting how some people have good luck with Toto and others.... I wouldn't buy a mid-range priced Toto for an outhouse... Their quality control regarding bowls is so unqualified as to defy thinking. On two different projects trying to use the so-called better mid-priced model the bowl height dimensions were as much as 5/16" difference between sides. Try parking your butt on that and see what it is like. Clients were not impressed.
Because of the first project problems with 2 toilets, I allowed the client for another bath project to purchase all the fixtures. I specifically mentioned prior problems and stated I would only install once. This was a special order almond toilet that either Toto or the supplier changed out because the client had been warned.

I understand their entry level toilets are fine.

Jim