Toilet Types

Which toilet type is best for you?

Water Saver

Prior to the 1980s many toilets flushed with 5 gallons (19 litres) or more. In the 1980s many codes and standards set the maximum flush volume at 3.5 gallons (13.25 litres). These toilets were referred to as “water savers”.

Ultra-Low-Flow (ULF)

In some U.S. and Canadian locations, the maximum allowable toilet flush volume is 1.6 gallons – 6.0 litres. (In other locations, the maximum is lower.) These toilets are generally referred to as ULF models, standing for “ultra-low-flow” or “ultra-low-flush”. In the 1990s and early 2000s, ULF toilet models dominated the marketplace.

High-Efficiency (HET)

Beginning in the late 1990s, however, manufacturers began introducing what are known as “high-efficiency toilets”, or HETs. HETs are defined as having an effective flush volume (see Dual-Flush below) of 1.28 gallons/4.8 litres or less. The HET category includes both single-flush and dual-flush fixtures. The MaP database contains over 2,400 single-flush HET models and 1,300 dual-flush HET models certified to the U.S. EPA WaterSense specification. California, Georgia, Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington D.C., and New York currently prohibit installation of non-HET fixtures (with some exceptions).

Single-Flush

Single-flush toilets have just a single flush volume option. Some models flush with as little as 0.8 gallons (3.0 litres), and some flush with as much as 1.6 gallons (6.0 litres). Models certified to WaterSense flush with no more than 1.28 gallons (4.8 litres). Search single-flush here.

Dual-Flush

Dual-flush HETs let the user select a “full” flush to remove solids or a “reduced” flush to remove liquids only. In the U.S. and Canada, the “full” flush volume cannot exceed 1.6 gallons (6.0 litres) and the “reduced” flush volume cannot exceed 1.1 gallons (4.2 litres). The U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program calculates the “effective” flush volume of dual-flush toilet models as the average of one “full” and two “reduced” flushes, e.g., [1.6 + (2 x 1.1)] / 3 = 1.27 gallons. Some residential studies, however, have found the actual ratio of “reduced” to “full” flushes to be less than 2:1. To be conservative, the maximum “full” flush of dual-flush toilets qualifying for a MaP PREMIUM designation cannot exceed 1.28 gallon (4.8 litres).

Gravity-Fed

Gravity-fed toilets are the most common type found in homes. They depend upon the volume and weight of the water in the tank to create the flushing action. When the flush handle is depressed or a button is pushed, a flush valve (with a flapper or other type of seal) opens and water in the tank is discharged into the bowl, channeled either through rim openings in the bowl, through a jet near the bottom of the bowl, or through a combination of both.

Siphonic

In most toilets sold in North America, the force of the water discharging from the bowl creates a siphon in the bowl’s trapway. This siphonic action helps ‘pull’ waste from the bowl and into the building drain. The trapway diameter in most siphonic bowls is 2.25-inches (57mm) or less to enable an effective siphon to be created.

Wash-Down

Wash-down bowls are less common in North America but widely used in Europe and Australia. No siphon is created in wash-down bowls. Rather, the weight of water discharging from the bowl rim ‘pushes’ waste through the trapway. Since wash-down bowls do not rely on siphonic action, the diameter of their trapways can be up to 3-inches or larger. While a larger trapway may result in less clogging, washdown bowls typically have a much smaller surface water area (water spot) than siphonic bowls, which can result in a greater occurrence of bowl streaking (AKA, ‘skid marks’).

Pressure-Assist

Pressure-assist toilets store water used for flushing in a pressure vessel at the same pressure as the building’s water supply – typically between 40 to 80 psi. Water filling the pressure vessel – which is typically housed inside a traditional-looking vitreous china toilet tank – compresses air contained in the tank. It is the pressure of that compressed air that quickly forces water from the tank into the bowl when the flush lever is pushed. Because water is stored in a pressure tank rather than a vitreous china tank, pressure-assist toilets do not “sweat” even in humid climates. While pressure-assist toilets offer a robust flush action, compared to gravity models they can sometimes be more expensive to purchase, more difficult to repair, and louder.

Search pressure-assist here.

Round-Front vs. Elongated Bowl Design

Today’s toilets come with either a smaller, round-front bowl or a longer, elongated-front bowl. Round-front bowls were very popular in the 1900s and are still ideal for compact bathroom spaces today. Elongated bowls are commonly installed today because they are considered more comfortable for adult use and more hygienic. Plumbing codes require the use of elongated bowls in commercial applications. Search bowl choice here.

Conventional vs. Elevated-Height Bowls (ADA Height)

Consumers and designers can choose from two common toilet bowl heights: conventional height with the top of the bowl generally 14 to 15 inches from the floor (excluding the toilet seat) and chair-height with the top of the bowl generally 16.5 to 18 inches from the floor. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 sets the minimum bowl height at 17-inches (432mm). ADA height bowls are becoming increasingly popular. Many manufacturers use their own terminology to describe higher bowl heights, including “comfort height®”, “easy height”, “right height”, “smartheight”, or some similar term.

Children's and Juvenile Toilets

A few manufacturers also market smaller toilets for very young children and juvenile ages, suited to pre-school and day care installations. Go here for the latest list of 38 children’s and juvenile toilets and further information.