Whoosh!  Aren’t all toilets the same, capable of flushing down waste?  Walk inside your local home improvement store and you will discover there are more options in the toilet department than originally thought (a toilet is a toilet, right?).  Should you go with the cheapest one?  Maybe the middle of the road priced one?  Or should you upgrade to the king commode?

Your toilet will be used every day, several times a day.  There are some key features to look for when purchasing a toilet.  First, look for a larger trap way.  The trap way is the pathway your waste must follow to exit the toilet.  Cheaper toilets will have 1 7/8″ trap way, while better quality toilets will have 2 3/8″ or larger trap way.  The larger and smoother the trap way the easier it is for the waste to travel through the toilet.  Another feature to look for is a larger flush valve.  Standard size flush valves are 2″ in diameter.  Larger flush towers or flush valves are now 3″ or larger.  Toilets do not use as much water as they used to.  Toilets before 1994 use 3 1/2 gallons of water or more per flush.  They now use 1.6 gallons or less per flush.  A larger flush valve will allow more of this water to flush with your waste.  This in combination with a larger trap way will reduce clogging.  Finally, look for ADA, handicapped or chair height toilets, which is around three inches taller than your average toilet.  These toilets have become popular for the comfort and ease of accessibility.