Pros and Cons of 4 Types of Toilets

While you may have grown up with a standard gravity-flush toilet, more specialized toilets may be necessary in various different situations. The type of flush, the size of the toilet itself, and other considerations can all have pros and cons. Discover some pros and cons of four different types of toilets.

1. Bidet Toilets

As the name suggests, a bidet toilet combines both toilet functions and bidet functions. You can buy a toilet designed with both functions, or you can convert your existing toilet by adding a bidet toilet seat to it.

Bidet Toilet Pros

A bidet toilet can help improve sanitation and reduce toilet paper use. They're easy and comfortable to use and can benefit people with limited mobility as well. In addition, choosing this all-in-one rather than installing a standalone bidet can save space in the bathroom.

Bidet Toilet Cons

A downside of bidet toilets is that they can be expensive. And they're not very popular in America yet, meaning that available models may be limited.

2. Pressure-Assisted Toilets

Unlike the old standard gravity flush toilets, a pressure-assisted toilet can flush the bowl thoroughly with a smaller amount of water. In fact, pressure-assisted flushing was designed to allow more efficient toilet models.

Pressure-Assisted Toilet Pros

Many pressure-assisted toilets can flush with barely over a gallon of water per flush. Since toilets flush so often, all these water savings can add up to really improve your water bills (and your green living success). The forceful flush can also help keep your drainpipes cleaner, potentially making them less likely to clog up.

Pressure-Assisted Toilet Cons

A pressure-assisted flush tends to be louder, which could make nighttime bathroom breaks more disruptive. And this type of toilet doesn't have quite the beautiful simplicity of the basic gravity-flush toilet, so it could have more potential malfunctions.

3. Dual Flush Toilets

Dual flush toilets flush the bowl with less water for a smaller flush or with more water for a more serious flushing situation. You can buy either a new dual flush toilet or a conversion kit for an existing toilet.

Dual Flush Toilet Pros

A dual flush toilet can help you save even more water on some flushes. Your dual flush toilet may use a gallon or less per small flush (for liquid waste) and around a gallon and a half for the larger waste setting. Since you'll likely use the liquid waste setting more often, this can average out to an extremely low overall water use.

Dual Flush Toilet Cons

Like a pressure-assisted toilet, dual flush toilets have an increased number of internal mechanisms, meaning a higher possible number of failure points. And unlike pressure-assisted toilets, dual flush toilets may have a weaker flush that's less able to keep your drains clear of clogs.

4. Accessible Toilets

Some toilets are designed to be more accessible for those who are elderly or who otherwise have physical limitations. These toilets are typically designed with a taller seat height: 17-19 inches versus the typical 14-15.

Accessible Toilet Pros

The increased height can make an accessible toilet both easier and more comfortable to sit on for an elderly person or someone with physical limitations. The higher seat means less distance to travel when sitting down, for instance, which could translate to less joint pain for someone with advanced arthritis.

Accessible Toilet Cons

Because of the extra height, these toilets aren't suitable for a household with young children. While easier for an adult to sit down on, the increased height makes them more difficult for a little kid to reach in time. They can also be uncomfortable for very short adults.

Each type of toilet can bring both upsides and downsides, depending on what application you use it for. Choosing the right toilet for the right situation can help you make the most of the pros while avoiding or minimizing the cons. Get in touch with a local plumbertoday to learn more about replacing or converting your toilet.