Had to laugh at the “tanks in every sense of the word”—that’s spot on. I’ve swapped out more toilets than I care to admit (perks of managing rentals, right?), and you’re dead right: not all low-flows are created equal.
Here’s my quick-and-dirty take after dealing with tenants who think the toilet’s a garbage disposal:
- MaP rating matters, but don’t ignore bowl shape. Elongated bowls seem to handle “business” better—less splash, less drama.
- Pressure-assist is a love/hate thing. They work, but every time one flushes it sounds like an airplane taking off. Great for clearing, less great if you’ve got light sleepers.
- Install is everything. Had one where the wax ring was off just a bit...let’s just say it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
- Hard water? Don’t get me started. I swear it turns pipes into concrete over time. Descaler tablets help, but nothing beats a good snake every year or two.
Honestly, I’d never go back to the old 5-gallon monsters—my water bills have thanked me. Just takes a bit of trial and error (and maybe a sense of humor) to find one that doesn’t make you regret going green.
Pressure-assist toilets are a bit of a sticking point for me. I get what you mean about them being effective, but I’ve actually avoided them after staying at a friend’s place where the flush sounded like a jet engine—made me jump every time. For anyone with kids or light sleepers, that noise factor isn’t just annoying, it can be a real disruption.
Also, on the install side, you mentioned:
Install is everything. Had one where the wax ring was off just a bit...let’s just say it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
That’s exactly what worries me as someone who’s not super handy. One small mistake and you’re dealing with leaks or worse. I actually paid a plumber to double-check my install, just for peace of mind (and to avoid water damage). Maybe overkill, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I do agree about the water bill savings, but I’m still not convinced every low-flow model is worth the hassle. Some of the cheaper ones I looked at seemed flimsy and honestly, didn’t feel like they’d last. Maybe it’s just a matter of paying more upfront for quality, but I’m still cautious about making the switch everywhere in the house.
I actually paid a plumber to double-check my install, just for peace of mind (and to avoid water damage).
I hear you on the pressure-assist noise. I stayed in a hotel once where the flush was so loud, it actually woke me up a couple times during the night. Not ideal if you’ve got little kids or anyone who’s a light sleeper. That alone was enough to steer me toward gravity-fed low-flow models for my own place.
On install, I totally get the anxiety. That wax ring issue you mentioned—been there, done that, and had the water stains on the ceiling below to prove it. These days, I go step-by-step: dry-fit everything first, double-check the flange height, and then commit to setting the toilet. Even then, I still check for leaks every day for a week. Maybe overkill, but I’d rather catch it early than deal with repairs.
As for quality, I agree not all low-flow toilets are created equal. The cheap ones feel flimsy and don’t always clear the bowl in one go. I bit the bullet and spent more on a Toto Drake for my main bath, and honestly, it’s been just as reliable as the old 3.5-gallon beast it replaced. Sometimes it really is “buy once, cry once.”
Man, that wax ring paranoia is real. I swear, every time I install a toilet, I half expect to find a puddle the next morning. The “buy once, cry once” thing definitely rings true for toilets—my last cheap one needed a plunger on standby like, 24/7. Have you noticed any difference in cleaning with the Toto? Some of these low-flows seem to leave more behind... if you know what I mean.
That wax ring anxiety is too real... I’ve had a couple installs where I just kept checking the floor for days, convinced I’d missed something. As for the Toto, I’ve noticed it’s way better than the builder-grade stuff, but yeah, some low-flows just don’t have the “oomph” for a clean bowl every time. Had one at my old place that needed a scrub brush on standby—kind of defeats the purpose if you’re always cleaning up after it. The Toto’s been decent though, especially compared to the budget models. Still, nothing beats a good old-fashioned flush sometimes.
