Repair, as you know, is troublesome and quite expensive. But the choice of tiles for the bathroom and the search for the master do not take as much time and nerves as the choice of high-quality plumbing. Coming to the store, it seems that the toilets in the row are exactly the same. But this is only at first glance. In fact, modern toilets differ not only in color and in the manufacturer, but also in the configuration, method of installation and fastening of the tank, etc. Let's try to understand the variety of models and choose a high-quality toilet for the home.
Hanging and floor
To date, the most popular toilet models are compacts. The compact toilet is a plumbing fixture, the cistern of which is mounted on the rear platform. The tank is connected in different ways: using bolts, pipe or special hoses. Specialists say that a compact toilet for a small toilet is just a find: it will save space and add beauty to the interior.
As you know, all toilets are divided into two main categories: floor and wall. In wide sale you will find only floor-mounted compact toilets with a tank. This model is more convenient to install and cheaper. And the choice is wide, which will please any buyer.
A compact wall-hung toilet is produced in small quantities, more often by prior special order. There is no widespread production of suspended compact toilets.
If we compare the hanging and floor toilets, then each type has its pros and cons. Floor-mounted toilets complicate the cleaning process, which cannot be said about toilets whose design does not touch the floor. But on the other hand, buying a good quality hanging toilet is more difficult than a floor-standing version. Yes, and the installation of the latter requires additional space, because the tank is hidden in a special niche. And a place for her in a small toilet should still be found.
Wall and corner
Not every bathroom can boast of its large size. In most cases, the toilet and bathroom are separate. The toilet space is minimal, if not unbearably small. In some apartments, of course, the bathrooms are combined, but this is not enough to accommodate a maximum of household and sanitary equipment.
Choose a toilet should be based on the territorial capabilities of the premises. For toilets and small bathrooms, the corner compact toilet is perfect. By installing a toilet of such a model, you can save maximum space in the room, which is a big plus.
Toilet bowl dimensions
It seems to many that the dimensions of the compact toilet will differ from the dimensions of the old plumbing facility, which was "evicted" from the bathroom after repair. This is not true. The dimensions of the toilet bowl - compact are the same as those of ordinary ones: 33-38 cm wide, 60-75 cm long, up to 80 cm high.
These parameters are not due to designer fiction or the designers' own wishes at the factory. The size of the toilet depends directly on the physiological characteristics of the person. Height is the main indicator of convenience. Your legs should not dangle in the air and your knees should not bend much when sitting. The best height is 80 cm. When buying, experts advise you to focus on the highest member of the family.
If the family has small children, then you can choose a special children's toilet. The most compact toilet will be 28-33cm wide, 65-70cm high, 50-55cm long.
Remember that when choosing a model and its size, consider the features of the room. It is important that there is free 50-60cm (for legs) in front of the toilet, and 20-25cm on the sides.
Water discharge system
The choice of toilet will also depend on the type of sewage system in your home. Wrong choice of outlet can lead to the inability to install the toilet. If you live in a Stalinist high-rise building (an old building) or a private house, then choose structures with only a lower (vertical) outlet. A compact toilet with an oblique outlet is considered universal. It is suitable for modern, old or autonomous sewage, which is installed in private households.
Materials
The two main materials that make up a modern compact toilet are faience and porcelain. There are models made from more exotic, unusual materials, but they cannot be found in ordinary plumbing stores.
Choosing between faience and porcelain, you should decide what exactly you want: a cheaper option or a more practical model. Earthenware is much cheaper than porcelain, but it does not last so long. Porcelain is more expensive, but remains snow-white for a long time, it is perfectly washed with chemicals. As for the duration of operation, it is the same. A compact porcelain toilet will last several decades, as well as a faience.
Toilet seat
As a rule, when buying a compact toilet, the lid comes complete with the basic design. The lid may be wooden, plastic, made of tremodure or duroplast. If you see that the cover is flimsy and unreliable, then it is better to bypass this model immediately.
In more expensive and newer models, the covers are mounted according to the “microlift” system. That is, the lid drops smoothly, does not "plow" on the toilet. Such a novelty appealed to customers, because it eliminates the noise when slamming the lid of the toilet and allows you to extend the life of the structure.
Button or pen
Water is drained from the tank using a button or a special handle. Designs with a button are considered more reliable and durable. If water meters are installed in your house, then the button will also save water, because with it you can drain half of the water from the tank. Accordingly, the tank will be filled less frequently, and the savings in the family budget will be greater.
As for the speed of filling the tank with water and the noise level from work, these parameters are usually indicated in the technical instructions for the toilet.
Anti-splash system
On the toilet market, the design of the tank has long been established, inside which there is a shelf. It is a small horizontal platform that accumulates on itself everything that will need to be washed off later. This was an option for all Soviet toilets.
Modern compact toilets have no shelves. There are many significant advantages. Firstly, the absence of such a platform has significantly reduced the dimensions of plumbing structures. Secondly, the level of “fragrance” from the toilet decreased. The only minus - in such designs the anti-splash system must be. This system is an increase in the distance from the seat to the deepest place on the bottom of the toilet. Thus, there is no strong spraying of liquid from the bottom of the toilet.
Manufacturers and prices
In the modern plumbing market, a huge variety of toilet models, differing both in price and in the country of manufacture. The cheapest compact toilet with a tank will cost from one and a half thousand rubles. The price of the most expensive models ranges from 15,000 to 80,000 rubles. Expensive models of toilets can be made of unconventional materials and have an unusual shape (wooden screen, ball, and others). The cost, as a rule, consists of several indicators: material, toilet model, additional characteristics and capabilities, popularity of the manufacturer.
If we talk about the grid of popularity of manufacturers, then Russian companies, unfortunately, are slightly behind other world brands in the manufacture of sanitary ware. Our models are, of course, cheaper, but sometimes the quality is “lame”. The most popular of the expensive segment of the market are Italian, Swiss and German toilets.
- Italy: Flaminia, Azzura, Jacuzzi, Simas, Ceramica Dolomite, Lineatre.
- Switzerland, Sweden: Laufen, Gustavsberg, Svedbergs.
- Germany: Keramag, Duravit, Villeroy & Boch, Jorger.
Also popular are Polish (Cersanit and Kolo), French (Laufen and Jacob Delafon) and Spanish (Roca, IDO) toilets.
Currently, European manufacturers even offer toilet bowls, the design of which allows not only to save water, but also to reuse it. Technological development is a combination of a toilet bowl and a sink. Economical and quite convenient. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get such constructions in our market, and they are quite expensive.
Summing up, I want to note that buying a toilet is not an easy, troublesome, but exciting business. A variety of models and designs will allow you to choose exactly the option that follows your bathroom stylish, save space and family budget. Remember that among the variety it is better to give preference to compact toilets. According to experts, today a compact toilet is the choice of ¾ buyers of plumbing. And that says a lot.