Consumer Homes.

Question:

> I know talk about 1.6 gallon toilets has been bandied about  before on > this list, but i didn’t really pay all that much attention. It does > appear that many people have had problems. > All I want to hear from are those who have had NO PROBLEMS and WHICH > TYPE do they have. > Thanks > AV

I recently installed a Toto — it is outstanding.  Clears everytime and is very quiet — no modifications required.  Even tested it with a heavy load of dog sh… — no problem.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I know talk about 1.6 gallon toilets has been bandied about  before on > this list, but i didn’t really pay all that much attention. It does > appear that many people have had problems. > All I want to hear from are those who have had NO PROBLEMS and WHICH > TYPE do they have. >Last year, we bought the Gerber Ultra Flush (based on it’s high rating >in Consumer Reports a few years ago). It is the pressure-assisted type, >which means it is rather noisy. We knew that before buying, so we >weren’t surprised. >It is very effective and we have no complaints with performance or >reliability. Double flushing is never required (as far as _I_ know). >Some other models apparently suffer from a shallow water depth that can >create an odor problem. We have not experienced that with the Gerber. >If the noise wouldn’t bother you, it’s a good one. >P.S. The latest CU issue rates toilets. The Gerber is still up there. >There was one gravity type that was highly rated, but it was pretty >expensive. >P.P.S. I still have some general concerns about reliability of the >pressure type. I tried to find out how durable they are but couldn’t >find out anything. The old-fashioned gravity toilet is so simple it >lasts a long time, and is pretty cheap to repair. You can replace the >entire guts for a few dollars. >I don’t know what it would cost to repair the pressure-type. The parts >don’t seem to be available at the local hardware. If anyone has any >information on that, please post.

I have a commercial Kohler toilet with a Sloan Valve.  It uses 1.6 gallons.  I use my own well (submerged pump) with a 65 gallon pressure tank.    When I had a water treatment (water softner, pH adjuster, iron removal) system installed The toilet stopped working satisfactorily.  The toilet requires the 1.6 gallons within a few seconds, but the water treatment can not give that much that fast. Responses on solutions are divided as to whether or not adding an additional small pressure tank on the delivery side of the water treatment will work.   Opinions appreciated.

Response:

>We’re in the market for a new toilet as well, since we’re about to >remodel our bathroom.  The salesperson at the plumbing showroom we >visited recommended a toilet made by Toto, a firm unknown to me.  I >don’t have a model number, but it’s a $400 unit (gravity-flow, not one >of the "powered" kind).  He claims it flushes properly over 90% of the >time, and says it’s the best 1.6 he’s seen…[snip]

Our contractor and his wholesale plumbing supplier both swear by (not at) Toto toilets.  When we asked each of them what type of toilet they usually supplied or preferred, they said Toto.  Each told us stories about call-backs with other brands, and no call-backs with Toto.  The supplier said the problems with others were so bad that, in one new subdivision, the contractor went back after a year and tore out ALL the toilets and replaced them with Toto.  Result?  No more callbacks.  I also asked a different builder about "flushing efficiency" when I was touring a newly constructed home during an open house.  He said he liked either Toto or Kohler Wellworth, whichever he could get in the area he was building.  He said the majority of others caused way more problems. C. Brunner

Response:

I have to say that Dave Barry’s article annoyed me the way he says he can’t advertise, so he won’t tell us what the brand name is on that toilet he wrote about.  I then tried going to contractors2000.com , and it doesn’t tell either.  Apparently these people want you to call a local contracter and have THEM install this mystery toilet.   Does anyone know what the brand actually is, and where to buy it for a self-install? Thanks, Carol – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Please see a column by Dave Barry on the subject. > http://www.herald.com/archive/barry/archive/98apr12.htm > For further  information please contact: > Contractors 2000 > 2179 Fourth St. > St. Paul, Minn., 55110 > Steve

–    "We are Microsoft.  Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."     Nah… http://home.netscape.com/download/netscape_now.html x-no-archive: yes

Response:

That’s it! I have an Eljer Savoy and did what Robert suggested! Works great!

Response:

+

+> +> > It’s a crappy situation,  but Canadian or "previously owned" toilets +> > may flush your problems away!!! +> +> I’m in Vermont. How do you smuggle a toilet over the border though??? +> +> AV + +I am not a U.S. customs official, but it is totally legal to buy them in +Canada and I think it is totally legal to buy or import them into U.S. +What’s illegal is to install one. So, legally, you could even buy one in +U.S. if you want to frame it! This is not totally correct…I’m not sure if it’s legal to *buy* one here or not, but it’s definitely illegal to *sell* one. The law mandating the low-flush (or no-flush) toilet prohibits manufacture, sale, & installation. As far as "smuggling" toilets is concerned, I suspect you would be turned back or have the toilet confiscated if you declared specifically that you were importing a 3.5-gallon toilet. On the other hand, when the Customs officer asks if you have anything to declare, you can truthfully declare "$200 worth of plumbing supplies" or "building materials" or some similar generic phrase. If he doesn’t ask for details, don’t volunteer any.

Response:

> I know talk about 1.6 gallon toilets has been bandied about  before on > this list, but i didn’t really pay all that much attention. It does > appear that many people have had problems. > All I want to hear from are those who have had NO PROBLEMS and WHICH > TYPE do they have.

Last year, we bought the Gerber Ultra Flush (based on it’s high rating in Consumer Reports a few years ago). It is the pressure-assisted type, which means it is rather noisy. We knew that before buying, so we weren’t surprised. It is very effective and we have no complaints with performance or reliability. Double flushing is never required (as far as _I_ know). Some other models apparently suffer from a shallow water depth that can create an odor problem. We have not experienced that with the Gerber. If the noise wouldn’t bother you, it’s a good one. P.S. The latest CU issue rates toilets. The Gerber is still up there. There was one gravity type that was highly rated, but it was pretty expensive. P.P.S. I still have some general concerns about reliability of the pressure type. I tried to find out how durable they are but couldn’t find out anything. The old-fashioned gravity toilet is so simple it lasts a long time, and is pretty cheap to repair. You can replace the entire guts for a few dollars. I don’t know what it would cost to repair the pressure-type. The parts don’t seem to be available at the local hardware. If anyone has any information on that, please post.

Response:

> > It’s a crappy situation,  but Canadian or "previously owned" toilets > may flush your problems away!!! > I’m in Vermont. How do you smuggle a toilet over the border though??? > AV

I am not a U.S. customs official, but it is totally legal to buy them in Canada and I think it is totally legal to buy or import them into U.S. What’s illegal is to install one. So, legally, you could even buy one in U.S. if you want to frame it! — Michel Gagnon  –  Montr