Design challenge: with better flushing capability and enhanced styling, new toilets are well-rounded

Building Products, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Linda C. Lentz

As bathroom fixtures go, the toilet has gotten a bad rap. This is due, in part, to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 that set a national manufacturing standard of 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf), the initial stage of which took effect in 1994.

And while the EPA estimates that the use of these low-flow toilets through new construction and normal replacements will save in excess of 7.6 billion gallons of water per day by 2020, hastily planned first-generation models undermined the confidence of many homeowners and building pros with higher frequencies of clogging and bowl clearance.

"Basically, what manufacturers did was put a smaller tank on the back of their 3.5-gallon toilets and hoped that they would flush as well" deems Shawn Martin, director of applied technology at the NAHB Research Center in Upper Marlboro, Md. "They did not tailor the flushing mechanism to the amount of water that was available."

This quick-fix is still a matter of concern for Baltimore plumbing contractor George Clark. "It's definitely an issue with my customers;' he says. "I still get calls to get those old 1.6-gallon toilets out. People don't request any one brand in particular; they just want a new toilet that will flush better."

The good news, according to Bob Hill, the NAHB Research Center's director of lab and certification services, is that for the past decade manufacturers have been diligent in their efforts to advance toilet technology. The result: ever-improving performance and water conservation.

Additionally, an increasing number of lifestyle amenities has upped the ante on comfort and desirability. Lori Klipstein, vice president of design services at the Rye Brook, N.Y.-based WCI Spectrum Communities, is impressed with the new customization options. "Seats can be heated, contoured, self-closing, and antibacterial, with decorative flush levers to complement the faucets and finish of the bathroom," she says.

In particular, Klipstein reports that home buyers are responding to the raised seat heights, known under several brand names such as Kohler's Comfort Height, American Standard's Right Height, and Briggs' ComfortFit. "Years ago if someone wanted to get a higher toilet we would need to sell them what they called a 'handicapped' toilet, which lacked design" she recalls. "Now, our customers can select a toilet that is at a much more comfortable height without compromising style."

Initially designed for aging baby boomers and seniors, this feature is attracting a younger audience. "Twenty-five percent of our customers upgrade to the comfort height and more than 60 percent of them are first-time home buyers" says Dan Gorski, vice president of estimating, purchasing, and design at the Madison, Wis.-based Veridian Homes.

NEW DIRECTIONS

At Kohler, these issues were addressed with several solutions beginning in 2001 with the launch of the Ingenium flushing system throughout much of its line. Each is tailored to meet specific needs and price points. The latest, and perhaps most clog-resistant, is the Class Five system, named for the surging Class 5 whitewater rapids.

"The Class Five is going to give you an unbelievably strong bulk flush" notes Ed Del Grande, an Esmond, R.I.-based master plumber and Kohler spokesperson. Available in the new Cimarron Comfort Height toilet, Class Five is gravity fed but with a 3 1/4-inch flush valve and direct-fed jet to optimize performance.

Furthermore, Del Grande explains that the 2 1/8-inch trap is glazed with porcelain. "It's slippery, and that helps flushing performance because when debris and toilet paper go down there's nothing coarse to cling on to. It's like a water slide."

Kohler's sibling brand, Sterling, meanwhile, has a hybrid called the Rockton that utilizes the flapper-free European wash-down system but reinforces it with the siphonic one more typical in U.S.-made toilets. This combination is said to maximize clog resistance, as well as provide a bowl-cleaning rim wash and water-wise 1.61.8-gpf dual flush.

"The advantage of washdown technology is that you have an unrestricted trap with a reduced water surface area, leaving more water in the tank for a more violent gravity flush," says the president of Duravit U.S.A., Tim Schroeder. "You can't clog it."

The other benefit is the aforementioned dual flush. "That's because it has a piston valve in it [just like a car] instead of a flapper," Schroeder says. "When you push one button, the mechanism lifts and allows a preset amount of water to go through the cycle. Then it closes on to the inlet of the toilet."

This system is especially effective in wall-hung toilets such as Duravit's Starck 3. "Because the tank is in the wall there is a significant increase in head pressure because the water line is higher, which adds plenty of volume in the flush cycle," says Schroeder. The only caveat: It can soil more because of the limited water surface area--a non-issue, Schroeder says, with the company's stain-resistant WonderGliss finish.

At Villeroy & Boch the wash-down method drives its two newest models, the Aveo and Subway. The premium toilets also have fully glazed 3 1/2-inch traps, dual flush, Preferred Height, and Pressalit soft-closing seats that have quick-release hinges for easy cleaning.