Toilets....
 

Ok, I have had it with toilets. We have three one-piece toilets about 15 years old in the house by American Standard. Look nice, but flush lousy. Sometimes the flush works with either solids or liquid, other times not so much. Wife complains that they only seem to wash toilet paper....I suggested that they were environmentally sensitive and that once washed, the paper can be dried and reused. Almost cost me a marriage ! Ha !!!!

However, I am going to buy 3 new ones. Have tried all the suggestions on line...cleaned out all the holes under rims, make sure no blockages in the sewage lines, etc. etc. So the next step is to buy a new one and see if it works. After all, 15 years forward and surely the technology has improved???

Question....what brands and models seem to work for people around here. I read Toto's may be a problem with plungers due to design of bowl, but maybe that is false data. And we sure need plunger capability. 6 grandkids can do their share of havoc !! Was looking at American Standard Champion 4...anyone have experience with them? And surely there are plumbers or builders on the forum that have some experience. HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Champion 4 White Elongated Chair Height 2-Piece Toilet 12-in Rough-In Size (ADA Compliant) https://www.lowes.com/pd/American-St...ize/1000247221
Have installed 3 of these in my home the last four years. Trouble free


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I like Toto!
I've had the one piece toilets and would never buy them again.

Do the problems only occur when the grandchildren are thee? Not that it's them specifically, but simply a larger number of people. Grandchildren usually come with parents, etc. We had the original 1960 style at camp. Brand unknown, and they always worked fine. We replaced them (2) with low water users, brand unknown, no problems. Just saving water. At home, we're still on the originals from 1977. Kohler(?).
I don't think the toilets themselves are the problem. Maybe the use is too intense at specific times of day for the size of your tank? This all assumes septic, not sewer. How big is the tank, how old, how often pumped? If you do a lot of water flow all at once (toilets, showers, washing machine, dishwasher, all in the morning, that may just be too much for the system. Please note, those disinfectant wipes that say "flushable" ARE NOT. Whether septic or sewer, they're just clogging the system, maybe at home or at the wastewater treatment facility.

Not related to grandchildren. Flows to septic tank have ben checked and are fine. Tank is relatively new....2000 settlement chamber and 500 pump chamber with new leach field at the time. Sized for 5 bedrooms. Tank pumped usually around every 5 years per septic folks recommendations. Toilet issues even occur when just wife and me are present. So culprit is the toilets in my opinion. Even vents working as designed. Tested when we had a liquid malfunction by pouring about 4 gallons of water into bowl immediately after and there was a complete flush and no problem digesting the added water. So no clog. UGH........

TOTO by far is the best toilet you can buy, and works like a charm. Been there, done that.

Not cheap.

Suggest you buy and install just one and take it for a test drive (sit drive) before replacing the other two.

And whatever brand you do buy? Get the comfort height. Makes a huge difference as those knees age.

We have an American Standard comfort height one piece elongated which works just fine. Also have 2 rather new Kohler elongated comfort height which work just fine and 3 (1993 vintage) old time Kohler regular toilets which work fine. Those 3 may use a little more H2O though but not much by looking where the water level is in the tank.
Does anyone hav a recommendation for a plumber as I need one.

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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

Toilets made in 1992 and newer have to conserve water and can use only 1.6-gal/flush.

For a better flush you can get the pre-1992, ye olde 3.2-gal/flush toilet, down at www.spearsbrothers.com/contact-us-1/ in Belmont, on RT 106 just south of the Laconia line ..... for about $25.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGChTEfeeC4 ...... President Trump opinion on low flow toilets ..... December 7, 2019 .... wanted to return to the 3.2 gal, pre-1992 toilets ..... back when toilets gave a good strong flush .... needing to flush ten to fifteen times never used to happen.

I don't have a brand preference, but I agree with Time Traveler: Replace one at a time and test.

The Champion is a champion! We replaced 5 failing toilets in Mass with Champions, and none failed to flush fully even once in the 13 years we were in the house

American Standard Champion
 

I also support this choice. I have 4 of them now. Easy to install. They even supply the tools to install. If you don't currently have comfort height, you'll need new supply lines as the old ones will be too short. But then, you should always put in new lines with a new toilet.

Have you check the septic tank filter?
 

Had the same problem, but it wasn't the toilet. There is a filter between the holding tank and the leach field that can clog and slow drainage. I had no idea. There was a second access cover buried in the flower beds that I didn't know was there and the filter was under there. Pull it out slowly until the water level falls below the exit and then wash it off with a hose and reinstall.

My system has no such filter. I have a 2000 gal holding tank and then a 500 gallon pump chamber before th pump-out to the d-box. Have a clean-out on the main line just before it enters the septic holding tank and absolutely no backup. All is flowing as designed. And no filter anywhere. My system was installed in 2005 and met all state regulations/inspections. No issues ever.

Just to close out this thread.....after lots of research and help from forum members, we bit the bullet and ordered two Amer. Standard Champion 4 One Piece Right Height toilets. Ordered on line from Build.com as no local stores had them. They arrived in short order and we have installed two as a test. So far, they are fabulous. We love them. Very efficient and thorough flush...a big improvement over our prior equipment. As a result, have now ordered two more.....one to complete our NH bathrooms and one for our home in MA. Fairly easy to install despite being a tad heavy at 115 lbs each.

Great to hear


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Never seen somebody get so emotional about a toilet. Thanks for the feedback.

He's just flush with emotion. :D

Well, this has been a crappy topic.

I hope the webmaster is making sure this thread doesn't go down the drain.

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American Standard with the Vormax flushing system is the way to go! That thing will swallow you whole if not careful :D

Must also add I am a fan of build.com. Have purchased lighting and bath cabinets from them.


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