Upgrading your toilet is one of the best investments you can make when remodeling your bathroom for maximum home value. With innovative new designs and water-efficient technology, today’s toilets offer features that can dramatically improve both the form and function of your bathroom. In this article, we’ll explore some of the top toilet upgrades to consider for boosting your home’s value.
Why Upgrade Your Toilet?
There are several reasons why replacing your existing toilet with a new, high-efficiency model is worth considering:
- Save water: New toilets use as little as 1.28 gallons per flush, saving thousands of gallons per year compared to older 3.5 gallon models. This saves on water costs and is better for the environment.
- Increase comfort: Low-profile elongated bowl designs provide more comfortable seating. Bidet seats offer personal cleansing for improved hygiene.
- Enhance accessibility: Comfort height models and ADA compliant designs improve accessibility.
- Improve aesthetics: Attractive, streamlined designs ranging from traditional to modern update the look of your bathroom.
- Reduce maintenance: Innovations like one-piece toilets have fewer crevices where grime and germs can hide. Stainless steel is rust-resistant.
- Boost home value: Bathroom remodels offer some of the highest ROI of any home improvement. Updating the toilet is a smart investment.
Types of Toilet Upgrades
When shopping for a new toilet, there are a few key considerations to get the most value and comfort from your investment:
Efficient Flushing Technology
- Gravity-feed toilets: These operate with a flush valve and use the natural downward pull of gravity to clear the bowl effectively with a lower water volume.
- Pressure-assisted toilets: An enclosed vessel creates pressure to force water into the bowl with more power for a maximum flushing capability.
- Dual flush toilets: Offering both a full and partial flush option conserves more water. The full flush clears solids and the partial clears liquids.
Toilet Styles
- One-piece toilets: With the tank and bowl fused together, these have a sleek, contemporary look and are easier to clean.
- Two-piece toilets: The separate tank allows easier access to inner workings for repairs. Often a more affordable option.
- Wall-mounted toilets: Installed up on the wall with an integral tank or concealed carrier, these have a minimalist, floating look.
Bowl Shape and Height
- Elongated bowl: The oval shape offers more comfortable seating and is ideal for most homes.
- Round front bowl: A compact circular shape that can fit in small spaces but seating comfort is reduced.
- Comfort height: ADA compliant and easier to use, comfort height bowls are 17-19 inches versus standard 15 inch height.
Top Toilet Features for Value
Look for these convenient innovations when comparing toilet models:
- Quiet-close seat: Uses a hinge system to prevent loud slamming and has bumpers for a soft close.
- Quick-release seat: Simplifies removal for easy cleaning with no fumbling with hardware.
- Antimicrobial surface: Towel bars, flush buttons, and lids with this treatment inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
- Touchless flush: An infrared sensor or minimal contact paddle lever allows hands-free flushing for improved sanitation.
- Night light: An LED night light integrated into the bowl illuminates the bathroom at night without having to turn on overhead lighting.
- Bidet seat: These seats add a cleansing stream of water for improved hygiene. Some feature blow dry, heated seats, and massage spray modes.
- Self-cleaning capabilities: Specialized bowl coatings like CeFiONTect coupled with a powerful flush prevent waste from sticking.
FAQs About Toilet Upgrades
How much does it cost to upgrade a toilet?
Expect to pay $100-750+ for the toilet alone depending on features. Install averages $150-250. High-end models with integrated bidets, luxury designs, and smart features can cost $1,000-5,000.
Is it worth replacing a 5 year old toilet?
If it’s still functioning well, a toilet lasts about 20 years. But modern water-efficient 1.28 gpf toilets can save 11,000+ gallons per year over older 1.6 gpf models so an upgrade can pay for itself within 5 years.
What’s the easiest toilet to clean?
One-piece toilets without hard-to-reach crevices are easiest to wipe down. Smooth, skirted traps make cleaning simple. Antimicrobial surfaces inhibit germ growth. Self-cleaning toilets resist staining.
How do I choose the right toilet height?
Standard height is 15 inches. ADA compliant comfort height is 17-19 inches, ideal for anyone who struggles getting on and off a low toilet. Measure from floor to seat on your existing toilet to find the right height.
Should I get a round or elongated toilet?
Elongated bowls are more comfortable but use more space. Round bowls fit in small bathrooms of around 5 feet wide but sacrifice comfort. Measure to see if an elongated bowl allows enough clearance from walls, doors, and cabinets before deciding.
What’s the quietest toilet flush?
Gravity-flush toilets are quieter than pressure-assisted. Also look for: insulated tanks, wax ring seals between tank and bowl, soft-close lids, QuietMark certification, low-flow water pressure, and anti-slam seats.
Conclusion
Upgrading your toilet is an easy way to improve your bathroom’s functionality, comfort, and aesthetics while adding value to your home. Focus on water-efficient gravity-flush or dual flush models in an elongated bowl for maximum comfort. Look for conveniences like a slow-close seat, antimicrobial finishes, and touchless flushing for a modernized bathroom homeowners will appreciate. Investing in the right toilet technology yields savings on your water bill for years to come.
