Wall facing

Close coupled & link

Choosing the toilet to suit...

Toilet styles have evolved over the years with manufacturers forever innovating to meet the needs of the contemporary house owner. We are now far removed from the backyard outhouse and as suburbia became sewered most toilets were fitted with a water flushing system called a cistern. To release the water, the cistern once had a long chain which was pulled to allow the lever to activate the water flow. The move then was to the popular link suite with a ceramic pan and a plastic cistern and a single nine litre flushing mechanism. A lot of water wastage! The main advantage of a link suite for an S trap toilet, is the center of the plumbing drainage can be as far out as 290mm from the wall. To explain further, an S trap toilet's waste pipe goes downwards through the floor where a P trap exit pipe goes through the wall to link up with an external pipe.

Style changes

As bathrooms became just as fashionable as kitchen in households, the demand for more stylish toilets became the challenge for our Aussie and overseas manufacturers. First up, the all vitreous china suite was created, with the close coupled and the wall facing variety in hot pursuit. Following was the 6 /3 litre flushing toilet which was invented using a new style of internal cistern mechanics. A close-coupled suite is one where the ceramic cistern is integrated with the pan while a wall facing toilet's rear goes all the way to the wall. A recent invention has been the concealed in-wall cistern where the only exposed part is the toilet pan and the flushing buttons. The cistern is fixed in the wall cavity which can be a stud or masonry structure and the dual flushing button plate acts as a cistern access for servicing . The heritage or colonial styles fill a need when the decor calls for a traditional theme. These styles may have the option of chrome, brass or gold buttons and fittings coupled with a timber seat making a complimentary setting.

Spare parts and warranties

This polite warning can not be emphasized enough! When purchasing a toilet, make a point of asking what warranty exists on the toilet and if spare parts are readily available. Of course price is a major consideration but if the toilet seems very cheap, it could signal a warning "let the buyer beware". Most toilets will work well for a few years but with constant use, the diaphragms and washers will wear out and have to be replaced. It can be very frustrating in this instance when parts are not readily available at a plumbing goods supplier.

The vitreous china ceramics are durable enough for a lot of manufacturers to give a 10 year warranty on this section of the toilet. However, the internal cistern parts which constitute the flushing mechanism usually have a 12 months warranty.

Water saving

The need for national water saving has had been on the agenda for a number of years. The federal government took the imitative a few year ago and introduced the W.E.L.S program. This ensures that retailers only sell W.E.L.S. approved water saving products. The penalty for selling non-approved products is a hefty fine. Trades people likewise, are only able to install W.E.L.S. approved toilets, taps etc. Products displayed by retailers, must have a W.E.L.S sticker declaring the rating of the appliance. In respect to toilets, there are a variety of individual compliances depending on the local government's regulations. When selecting a toilet, it is advisable to check with your local authority to ensure that the water rating is compliant otherwise it will not pass the respective inspection.

Seeking advice

The purchase of a toilet needs to be given a lot of consideration so the household ends up with a toilet that is not only functional but also has the required aesthetics to blend in with the bathroom's design. A plumber can also be an ideal person for initial discussion and further additional informative advice can be gained from a free phone call to Bathroom Depot on 1300 701 499.

Renovation | Toilet | Kitchen Sink | Shower | Bathroom Taps | Vanity Cabinets | Bathroom Accessories | Hand Basins | Bathroom Tubs | Storage | Bathroom Tip