How to choose a toilet

The toilet in the modern world refers to the traditional devices, taken for granted. About its functionality, principle of operation, as well as alternatives that can be purchased at the current moment in time, hardly anyone thinks exactly until the moment when the device installed in the dwelling fails. And here the most difficult thing begins - wandering between dozens of different devices scattered around the shopping center, you need to choose the most suitable device - both in appearance and in functionality. Meanwhile, there are a number of key points that you need to pay attention to when choosing such a device. It is about them and talk.

Types of toilet bowls

Types of toilet bowls

More recently, no one thought about such a question as the types of toilet bowls. The range of stores was quite scarce, and therefore had to buy what was commonplace in stock. However, over time, modern European plumbing equipment began to appear on our market, differing not only functionally, but also in its appearance. All these features must be considered when choosing a specific device.

Installation method

Currently, you can find on sale both classic models of toilet bowls intended for floor installation, and their suspension counterparts. The latter are widely used in small lavatories, the installation of a conventional toilet bowl in which is physically impossible. The design of such devices involves a separate installation - there is only a sink outside, the drain tank with the main mechanism is mounted in the wall.

Speaking about the need to save space, it is impossible not to note, and toilets, designed for corner installation. These devices can be mounted as hidden, like hanging ones, and openly, with an external cistern. Such devices also allow you to save space and are an excellent solution even for small restrooms.

The matter is not limited to traditional toilet bowls alone. On sale you can find many fundamentally different devices:

Urinals;
Bidet;
Bowls of Genoa;
Devices designed for people with disabilities;
Children's toilets;

Tank type

This feature directly affects not only the ease of use of a particular device, but also the comfort when transporting and moving the device. Depending on the specific type of tank, there are the following types of toilets:

The tank acting as the hinged equipment, separate from the toilet bowl;
Tank as one with the toilet;

The first devices are collapsible, and therefore provide additional convenience during transportation. The latter, on the contrary, are more overall and bulky, but the probability of leakage or improper installation is excluded;

Choosing a drain system

Depending on the drain system used, all devices currently on sale can be divided into two conventional types:

Toilets with a traditional lever drain system, the main elements of which is a lever mechanism and a volume float blocking the water when the tank is filled. The only advantage of such systems is low cost, but there are a lot of minuses. They are bulky, often fail and begin to flow, and in order to get to the mechanism, it is necessary to dismantle the lid of the cistern;
All these shortcomings lack modern button models. Such devices are easy to use, they are easy to maintain, and they also allow for half the discharge of water. For this purpose, the button is either divided into two parts, or implement a double-click mechanism.

Tank filling method

toilet bowl filling

Currently, two main algorithms of operation are popular:

Filling the tank using the hole located at the top of the device. As the tank is filled, a pop-up float is fixed by a special valve that closes the water-filled channel;
Filling tank bottom. It is found in the most modern devices, its main advantage is absolutely silent filling;

Flushing system

All commercially available devices can be equipped with one of the following flush systems:

Vertical drain. It assumes a vertical installation of a sewer pipe, and therefore is most often used in private homes;
Horizontal drain. A system that has proven itself in multi-family residential buildings. The set of horizontal drain pipes here is connected to one common pipeline;
Oblique drain. Outdated system, which can only be found in old apartment buildings. By design it is similar to the horizontal, only the location of the pipes differs;

Toilet bowl material

For a long time, toilet bowls were made of cast iron. Despite the high strength, this material did not withstand any criticism, and therefore, as the production process improved, he was quickly found a replacement. In its role were porcelain, which has several key advantages:

High strength;
Resistance to mechanical stress;
Aesthetic appearance and variety of colors and shades;
Do not absorb odors;
Long service life;

Currently, a kind of analogue made faience. Despite the worst performance, high porosity and low strength to mechanical stress, this material is in high demand due to its low cost. In addition, covered with several layers of glaze, faience becomes much more functional and almost as good as porcelain.

The above materials are the most popular, but the experiments do not stop for a minute. In the catalogs of a number of manufacturers, you can find toilets made of steel, chrome, copper and brass, as well as gold-plated and silver-plated models. Such toilets are very niche devices, and their purchase is justified solely by the status and appearance of such a device.

Toilet bowl material

High strength;
Resistance to mechanical stress;
Aesthetic appearance and variety of colors and shades;
Do not absorb odors;
Long service life;

Currently, a kind of analogue made faience. Despite the worst performance, high porosity and low strength to mechanical stress, this material is in high demand due to its low cost.In addition, covered with several layers of glaze, faience becomes much more functional and almost as good as porcelain.

Additional functions

Here we should highlight a number of functions that are far from being present in all devices, but they have the most direct impact on the functionality:

Microlift;
anti-splash function;
Hygienic anti-mud coating;
Dual mode flush;

These and many other functions have the most direct impact not only on the functionality, but also on the final price of the device.

The best manufacturers of plumbing

As with the choice of other devices, the purchase of plumbing - is, first of all, the choice of products of well-known brands that have been well-established over the years:

Jika (Czech Republic);
Svedbergs (Sweden)
Ido (Finland);

Before giving preference to a particular model of a manufacturer, it is necessary to study the technical characteristics of a particular model, as well as to get acquainted with the reviews of real buyers using the toilet for some time and highlighting both the advantages and disadvantages of a particular model.