Buying Toilets In Portland For A Bathroom Remodel

(ARA) - Toilets may be the bathroom fixture homeowners use the most, but think about the least. With Oregonians spending more time and money remodeling their bathrooms, it's time to take a moment and think about how much you know about the features and functions of the hardest-working fixture in your bathroom.

The following will help you separate fact from fiction -- when buying toilets in Portland for your home.

Fact or Fiction: The most popular toilet color is white.

Fact. White is far and away the color choice of toilets today and has been throughout most of the flush toilet's existence since 1500 B.C. The color of your toilet is an important consideration if you decide to remodel your bathroom or sell your home. White is neutral, goes with most decors and appeals to most homeowners.

Fact or Fiction: All toilets flush alike.

Fiction. Many people believe that as long as a toilet flushes, it's doing its job. But homeowners have many choices when it comes to their toilet's flushing power, performance, pressure, and water use. Low-consumption toilets are important to conserve water- so much so that the U.S. Energy Policy Act restricted household toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush starting in 1994. All toilets produced after this time are required to meet this minimum.

However, the average toilets didn't work very well under the new water restrictions because they weren't properly engineered for this lower water consumption. To avoid this problem, look for toilets with large trapways and large flush valves. American Standard's Champion 4 toilet has a 2 and 3/8 inch trapway -- the industry's largest. Larger trapways allow for more powerful flushing performance, helping avoid the headaches of clogging and plunging.

For a 'green' toilet option, consider toilets like the FloWise, which is rated as a high efficiency toilet (HET) because it flushes with 20 percent less water than the standard 1.6 gallon toilets. Look for the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense label on the packaging of toilets that meet high-efficiency standards and you'll be assured of conserving water with every flush.

Fact or Fiction: Most toilets come with a long warranty.

Fiction. Most toilets only come with a warranty that lasts a year. When comparing toilets, ask about the length of the warranty and what's covered. Look for a toilet with a warranty -- some toilets carry up to 10-year warranties, like the Champion 4 toilet from American Standard, which covers the entire toilet inside and out. With a longer warranty, you'll receive greater peace of mind and guaranteed reliability.

Fact or Fiction: Toilets come in different shapes.

Fact. Toilets come in three general shapes: round-front, elongated and compact. Up until 1970, the round-front toilet was popular with its shorter and smaller bowl. At the time, the general population was shorter and rounded toilets were hidden in smaller bathrooms. You can still find the round-front toilet today, partially because of replacement needs. However, the elongated toilet has gained popularity because of its slightly longer styles that fits in newer construction. Also, research indicates that men tend to prefer elongated toilets over round-front toilets.

Some new toilets offer an elongated bowl that fits into a smaller space. This means homeowners remodeling older and smaller bathrooms can have the comfort of the elongated style without moving walls to accommodate the fixture. A toilet similar to American Standard's new elongated toilet, the Compact Cadet 3 One-Piece, fits into smaller spaces while maintaining style. Smaller spaces can also mean less ventilation, especially in older bathrooms, so look out for added features like the Cadet 3's EverClean surface. It inhibits growth of stain and odor causing bacteria, mold and mildew, helping the toilet stay cleaner longer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent