Your Guide To Toilets

Everything you need to know to choose, buy, install, repair or rent a toilet

We’ve all heard how we spend one third of our lives in bed, but how many of us know how much time we spend on or around the toilet? It’s not something your average plumber or toilet salesperson is probably going to mention, but the truth is we spend a great deal of time interacting with that porcelain throne in the bathroom--more than 2,500 times a year on average. In fact, the toilet has been called the “great equalizer”: everyone from queens and presidents to paupers and thieves need to go to the john several times each day.

The best-working toilet is, of course, the one you don’t have to think about. You do your business, flush, and it does its business. The unpleasantness begins, however, when nature calls and your toilet can’t or won’t accept the charges. This site aims to be your number-one guide (no pun intended) to purchasing a reliable toilet, installing it properly and repairing it yourself (when you can, that is) and what to look for in a good plumber when you can’t.

There are numerous brands of toilets out there and the average consumer may be wondering if there is any real difference between one make and the next. Rest assured that not all commodes are created equally. Some things you need to think about include water efficiency and leakage, tank size, noise and cost, not to mention the color scheme and accessories needed to suit your bathroom.

An increasingly prevalent concern among the toilet-buying public is how environmentally friendly a particular type may be. This site examines some developments for the eco-conscious consumer, including the low-flow toilet and the composting toilet. These advancements have not been without controversy. The concern with some low flow toilets is that, even when working properly, they often require additional flushes to get the job done--thus defeating the purpose of conserving water. The concern with composting toilets involves odor. Thankfully, these products have evolved to deal with these issues.

This guide also offers unbiased advice on picking a brand of toilet, selecting the right accessories to go along with it, and renting a portable toilet for camping or large social events.