If you’re looking to replace a toilet in your New Orleans home, look no further than Bienvenu Brothers. We have years of experience in the area, and we’re here to answer whatever questions you may have.
In this article, Bienvenu Brothers looks at the top 5 things you need to know about toilet replacement.
Get the Right Size
First check the “rough-in” distance from the wall to the center of the drain pipe in the floor under the base of the toilet (commonly 12 inches, but it can be 10 or 14 inches). In all other directions, more space is always better. When designing a bathroom, allow plenty of elbow room, ready access to the tissue holder, and about 30 inches of depth in front of the bowl.
Elongated bowls are popular today, but the shorter “round front” (actually oval) bowl may save you 3 or 4 inches in a tight spot. Toilet dimensions vary, though, so measure your space and check each toilet’s specs. Consider height too.
Two-Piece or One-Piece?
Most toilets come in two parts: a bowl piece that sits on the floor over the drain and a separate upright tank. One-piece toilets are generally lower and sleeker with easier-to-clean exteriors, but are more expensive and often have more complex mechanisms.
Low-Flow or Conventional?
By law, toilets sold in the U.S. use 1.6 gallons of water or less to flush. Switching to a low-flow toilet can save 14,000 gallons of water a year for a family of four, according to the EPA. Dual-flush toilets use less water for liquids and more for solid waste. Most toilets work by gravity, but “pressure-assisted” toilets use a pump to give the water more force.
The Truth About Clogs
This is a top issue for many New Orleans homeowners. Clogs are caused by large wads of tissue or foreign objects, rarely by waste. Bargain toilets found in home improvement stores for $100 or so are more likely to get plugged up. Major makers fight clogs by devising an optimal relationship between the position and number of water jets and the size and design of the trap-way. They test for clog potential by flushing sponges, ping-pong balls, and wads of tissue. Look for a glazed trap-way of 2 inches or more.
Style vs. Function
Most people pick a toilet by looks, but for many New Orleans homeowners, it’s all about function. For designer-name one-piece toilets in fixture collections, prices can easily reach a couple thousand dollars. Add-ons such as air dryers and gently closing lids increase the cost, but it’s most important to focus on the basic functions of the toilet, so give the experienced professionals at Bienvenu Brothers a call to learn more.
Call Bienvenu Brothers
To learn more about options for your New Orleans home, give us a call at (504) 835-7783.