What Are the Different Types of Toilets?

Did you know that a wall-hung toilet can hold up between 880 to 1,000 lbs of weight? Thanks to the steel skeleton installed behind the drywall. Next time, if you ever feel scared of sitting on a wall-hung toilet, imagine that a small grizzly bear can sit on the toilet, and the steel frame will likely hold up fine. While wall-hung toilets are a popular type for a high-end or minimalist market segment, there are other types that deserve our attention.

Toilets are categorized by construction, mounting, and flushing system. Depending on your budget, construction expertise, and the specific layout of your bathroom, the choice of toilet can vary. This article will explore all these types, compare one-piece and two-piece construction, mention specialized types of toilets, and provide a selection methodology for their selection. Let's begin!

Parts of Toilets

To fully grasp the types of toilets, we need to start with the basics, which are the parts of toilets. It generally has two portions. One is the bowl, and the other is the tank. It is a broader division of the toilet, while each part description is:

• Bowl: The bowl is the business end of the toilet. It has a rim with a seat that provides support for the seated person.
• Trapway: If you take a look at it from the sideways you will see a snake-type curved pipe. It is called the trapway. The snake-like structure is filled with water, which forms a seal that prevents sewer gas from entering the bathroom environment.
• Wax Ring: It forms a critical seal at the base of the toilet.
• Flapper: A rubber seal that keeps the water inside the tank until the flush valve is operated.

Types of Toilets by Construction

◆ One-Piece Toilets: The Seamless Powerhouse

In a one-piece toilet, the bowl and tank are made as a single unit. It is a continuous piece of ceramic. Since there are no crevices or joints in the construction, it is more hygienic. The mold bacteria or grime do not have a place to grow or accumulate.

Owing to their one-piece design, they are heavy with 38 to 50kg of weight. They are challenging to carry and transport, but feel sturdy once installed. Moreover, they are often closed-rim designs that force water through specific pressurized holes around the rim, resulting in a powerful flush.

◆ Two-Piece Toilets: The Versatile Classic

These are standard toilet designs that connect the bowl and tank using bolts. These are easier to manufacture, which makes them more affordable. Their design is lightweight, around 25-45kg, and comes in two boxes. The installation process of these toilets is convenient, and a single person is enough for their installation.

The design allows accommodation of different types of traps, including an S trap that goes through the floor and a P-type that goes through the back wall.

Types of Toilets by Mounting

▪ Floor Mounted Toilet

The floor-mounted toilets are the most common in regular homes. It is convenient to install for plumbers and construction engineers. The whole assembly sits directly on the floor and is bolted into its place. Since the floor bears all the weight, there are robust by design and highly stable. For installation, they require a distance from the wall to the center of the drain, which can be 10, 12, or 14 inches, depending on the specifications.

Note: Modern skirted trapways are more convenient to clean.

▪ Wall-Hung Toilet

As discussed in the introduction, these are mounted onto a hidden steel frame concealed behind the wall. By lifting the unit up and removing the floor support, the wall-hung toilet allows 10 inches of floor space. The owners can conveniently clean under the toilet with ease.

▪ Back to Wall

These combine the best of both types. The bowl sits on the floor while the tank is concealed inside the wall. In this way, you can have the sleek and minimalist look of the hidden tank without the expensive structural work.

▪ Corner Mounted Toilet

In case you have a tiny bathroom where the toilet might get in the way of the door. Then consider corner-mounted toilets, which have a triangular-shaped tank. It sits firmly in a corner and saves several square feet of walking space.

Types of Toilets by Material

● Vitreous China & Porcelain Toilet

These two terms, vitreous chine and porcelain interchangeably. However, they are two separate types of material. Vitreous china is a gel-based enamel coating applied over porcelain. The material is then exposed to 1200 °C, which makes the material incredibly dense, technically becoming a glass.

The non-porous nature is ideal for the hygienic requirements of a toilet. Under a microscope, there are no holes, which means that the bacteria and odors cannot take hold of the surface. These toilets can last up to 100 years without losing their shine with proper care.

● Stainless Steel Toilet

You might have seen a stainless steel toilet in an airplane, train, or high-traffic public restrooms. These are highly durable and offer the most resilience against impact forces. Ceramic, on the other hand, is easily shattered using a heavy object. It is incredibly convenient to clean using industrial chemicals that can dull the other material's surface. The main factor not considered at home is discomfort. Due to high heat transfer capability, the seat might feel cold.

● Solid Surface & Composites Toilet

One of the man-made materials that is incredibly robust is the solid surface material. It is created by blending acrylic, resin, and crushed stone. Unlike ceramics that can warp in a kiln, these can be molded into the desired shape. Moreover, they are highly repairable. If you have a scratch on a ceramic toilet, then it's permanent. On a solid surface, you can perform surface operations like grinding, sanding, and polishing to achieve an as-new look.

Types of Toilets by Flushing System

★ Gravity-Flush Toilet

It is the most common type of toilet flushing system. When the user pushes the handle, the flapper valve that forms the seal lifts. It allows opening for the water in the tank to flow down to the bowl with gravity. The fresh water creates a vacuum in the S-trap, which causes the water to pull out of the bowl.

★ Dual-Flush Toilet

To save water and fight droughts, the dual-flush system gives the user control over the amount of water used. A typical family can save up to 15,000 gallons of water per year. Here are the details of dual flush:

• Liquid Flush: uses a smaller amount, 0.8 to 1.0 gallons of water.
• Solid Flush: Uses the full tank of 1.6 gallon capacity.

★ Pressure-Assisted Toilet

In case of airports and busy centers, pressure-assisted flushing mechanisms ensure that the toilet never clogs. There is a plastic tank inside the ceramic tank. When water enters the tank, it compresses the air inside the single-opening plastic tank, causing the water pressure to rise. The blast of flush is great for proper cleaning and ensuring zero clogs, but it can be startling in a household.

★ Advanced Scrubbing Systems Toilet

• Siphon-Jet: A dedicated hole at the bottom of the bowl shoots water directly into the trapway. The water level in the bowl is high, which prevents the release of odors during the flushing process.
• Double-Cyclone: Instead of straight down the rim. Water swirls around after exiting from two ports at an angle around the rim.
• Washdown Systems: Instead of a siphon, it uses a push-down method through a very wide trapway. They do not clog but require frequent brushing due to lower water in the bowl.

Specialized Types of Toilets

◀ The High-Tech & The Rimless

• Smart Toilet: These are the tech-loaded toilets of the modern era. They feature heated seats, motion-activated lids, and built-in bidets with adjustable water temperature. Some even have air-dryers and ionize air to kill smells.
• Rimless Design: Instead of a dark space under the rim, which can foster bacteria, these have no rims. Instead, they use a splash guard, which directs the water in a powerful horizontal circle that scrubs the entire bowl.

◀ Cultural & Health-Focused Designs

• Squat Toilet: These are common in Asia and the Middle East. These are set on the floor. They provide health benefits that arise from the squatting position essential for their use. The form aligns the column, which lowers the usage time and chances of hemorrhoids.
• Urinals: For excellent water efficiency, urinals utilize minimal water for flushing. Moreover, some use specialized oil that requires no use of water while preventing odor.
• The Anglo-Indian Hybrid: It is a standard toilet with a rim that has a textured pad-like structure for placement of feet for squatting. It gives users freedom to put the seat down and sit or squat on the rim.

How to Select the Suitable Type of Toilet?

To select the right type of toilet for your application, here is a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Audit Space

Measure from the wall to the drain bolts, which can be 10”, 12”, or 14”. Select wall-hung models to save space on the floor area in compact layouts.

Step 2: Choose Mounting

Select floor-mounted for a simple, stable, easy-to-install, and transport product. Choose wall-hung for a minimalist floating look. Ensure the wall can support the weight of the steel frame, wall-hung toilet, and additional weight of the user.

Step 3: Select Construction

Pick a two-piece as a budget-friendly option. Choose one-piece or skirted designs to eliminate crevices, reducing cleaning calories and leakage risks.

Step 4: Pick the Flush Engine

Use gravity-flush for quiet, reliable homes. Upgrade to pressure-assisted for high-traffic areas requiring industrial-strength, clog-proof power.

Step 5: Maximize Water Efficiency

Select WaterSense models that feature a max 1.28 GPF. Use dual-flush buttons to create a water surplus, saving up to 60% on utility intake.

Step 6: Set Ergonomics Choose

Standard height is 15" for kids, and a comfortable height for adults is between 17 and 19". Pick elongated bowls for superior seating support.

Step 7: Verify Material Coatings

Prioritize vitreous china with nano-coatings or antibacterial glazes. These use silver ions to kill germs and self-scrub the bowl.

Step 8: Future-Proof Setup

Install adjustable-height wall-mounts. This allows you to raise the toilet for aging-in-place needs without future plumbing renovations.

Conclusion

There are tons of different types of toilets to choose from. You can pick the budget-friendly classic floor-mounted design or go for the premium wall-hung toilet type. The choice depends on preference. Some offer better hygiene, while others may offer better health options. However, we would recommend going for the flush system that uses the least water. Moreover, prioritize material that is non-porous and easy to clean.

If you are still thinking over which to choose, perhaps go through the vast range and variety of toilets offered by Kingkonree (KKR). They offer everything from wall-hung, floor-mounted, and hybrid urinals, vitreous china, and porcelain toilets. Their extensive 23 years of experience make them experts in producing plumbing hardware. Visit their product gallery to learn more at https://www.kingkonree.com/toilets.html.