I’ve swapped out a couple of old toilets for low-flow models over the years, and honestly, it’s been a mixed bag. The first one I installed (early 2000s) was a total letdown—needed two flushes half the time, which kind of defeats the purpose. But the newer ones seem to have figured things out. We put in a Toto Drake last year and it’s been solid—no clogs, uses way less water, and doesn’t sound like a jet engine.
As for gasket rings, I’m with you—tried both types and never noticed a huge difference. Wax is messy but reliable, rubber’s cleaner but doesn’t seem to seal any better in my experience.
Flush enhancers...yeah, I’m skeptical too. If you need those, there’s probably a bigger issue lurking. Sometimes it’s just old pipes or bad angles in the line—no bottle’s gonna fix that mess.
Overall, if you get a decent low-flow toilet (not the bargain bin stuff), it’s worth it for the water savings alone. Just don’t expect miracles from fancy add-ons or magic potions.
You nailed it with the early low-flow models—they were notorious for weak flushes and double-flushing, which kind of defeated the whole water-saving idea. The tech’s definitely come a long way since then. I’ve put in a bunch of Toto Drakes and American Standards lately, and they’re way more reliable now, even on older plumbing.
On gaskets, I see folks get nervous about wax, but unless you’re moving the toilet often, wax is still my go-to. Rubber rings are cleaner but can shift if the flange isn’t perfect. I’d only use them if the floor’s dead level.
As for those flush enhancer things...if you need ‘em, you’ve got a bigger issue—could be venting or a partial clog further down. No blue tablet’s gonna fix a bad slope or a belly in the line.
Main thing: spend a little extra on a quality toilet and you’ll rarely think about it again. Cheap ones just lead to headaches.
I was honestly pretty nervous about switching to low-flow, just from all the horror stories about the old models. But seeing you mention the newer Toto Drakes and American Standards being solid is reassuring. I ended up with a Drake, too, after way too much research... haven’t had any issues so far, even with my 70s-era plumbing.
“Main thing: spend a little extra on a quality toilet and you’ll rarely think about it again. Cheap ones just lead to headaches.”
Couldn’t agree more here. I tried to cut corners on a few things when we first moved in, and let’s just say, replacing a “budget” toilet after a year was not my idea of fun. Lesson learned.
On the wax vs. rubber gasket thing, I went back and forth forever. Ended up using wax since my floor isn’t exactly perfect, and it’s held up just fine. The idea of a rubber ring shifting kind of freaked me out, honestly.
I hear you on those flush enhancers, too. If you need one, something else is probably wrong. I’d rather fix the root problem than just keep dumping stuff in the tank and hoping for the best.
“Main thing: spend a little extra on a quality toilet and you’ll rarely think about it again. Cheap ones just lead to headaches.”
That’s the truth. I’ve been called out to swap out more “bargain” toilets than I care to remember, usually after a year or two of constant clogs or leaks. Folks think they’re saving money, but it always bites them later.
About the wax vs. rubber gasket—funny, I’ve seen both work and both fail, but on uneven floors like you mentioned, wax is usually more forgiving. Rubber rings are great if your flange is perfectly level, but that’s rare in older homes. I’ve had a couple rubber ones shift when someone cranked down too hard on the bolts, and then you’re back to square one.
Flush enhancers... yeah, I’m with you. If you need those blue tablets or whatever, something’s off. Either the toilet’s not up to snuff or there’s a partial clog somewhere. Better to get it right from the start than keep patching over problems.
Low-flow’s come a long way since the ‘90s, but it still pays to do your homework. Not all models are created equal, and plumbing quirks in older houses can make a big difference.
rubber gasket—funny, I’ve seen both work and both fail, but on uneven floors like you mentioned, wax is usually more forgiving.
I get what you’re saying about wax being more forgiving, but I’ve actually had better luck with the rubber gaskets in some of the older places I’ve worked on. Maybe I just got lucky with the floor being “close enough,” but I like that they’re less messy if you ever need to pull the toilet again.
On the low-flow thing, I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first. But I’ve seen some newer models handle old pipes just fine, even in houses with weird plumbing. Sometimes it’s more about the install than the toilet itself, at least in my experience.