Purchasing a Toilet
Consider the following when shopping for toilets:
- It is essential to measure the available space in your bathroom carefully before making a purchase. Remember to leave enough space for opening drawers and cabinet doors.
- Consider WELS ratings when making a purchase. New homes require at least a 4-star rating, while for renovations on existing homes a 3-star rating will suffice.
- It is advisable to choose a toilet that matches the existing plumbing in your bathroom. All toilets should be fitted by a professional plumber.
- Consider comfort and toilet height when making a purchase. Taller users, for example, are likely to find a taller toilet easier to use.
Close Coupled
Close coupled toilets tend to be the most common, the most affordable and the least complicated type of toilet to install. They are available in a range of styles to suit any home.
- Perhaps the main appeal of close coupled toilets is that the pan and the cistern are sold together as one unit. This makes these toilets extremely easy to shop for and, invariably, easy to install.
- While they are available in a range of shapes and styles, close coupled toilets are almost always sleek and streamlined because all pipes are concealed within the unit itself.
Back-to-Wall
Back-to-wall toilets are similar to close coupled toilets insofar as they too are sold as pan and cistern pairs. However, the big difference here is that both elements sit flush against the wall.
- Back-to-wall toilet suites look sophisticated and feature a relatively compact footprint. Additionally, because these units sit flush against the wall, you don’t ever have to clean down the back of the toilet.
- As with close coupled toilets, back-to-wall toilets have an exposed cistern. This means you will be able to access it with ease if you ever need to perform any minor repairs
Wall Faced Pan
Wall faced pans are similar to back-to-wall toilets except for the fact that they feature a concealed cistern. Cisterns are either installed within the wall or within a cabinet. Either way, the result is a striking toilet.
- Wall faced pans are a great way to create a sense of space in your bathroom. Note, however, that they are not always sold with a cistern so you may have to purchase one separately.
- Wall concealed cisterns create a modern feel within your bathroom and are perfect for homes with contemporary features and designs.
- Wall faced pans that can pair with a cistern that is built into a cabinet offer a great way to create clean lines throughout your bathroom and make use of all available space without having to open up any walls.
Wall Hung Pan
Wall hung or floating toilets are similar to wall faced pans except for the fact that they are raised from the floor. This works to create a truly modern feel and a greater sense of space in your bathroom.
- Wall hung toilets make it extremely easy to clean down the sides and underneath your toilet so you can achieve a deeper level of home cleaning.
- Wall hung toilets are ideal for anyone who is renovating their bathroom in line with a more modern aesthetic.
- One of the main advantages of the mount, however, is that you can adjust the height of the toilet to suit your needs. This will be of particular interest to taller users and those with limited mobility.