Best toilets

Best modern toilets are quiet, powerful

We found a lot of buzz in reviews for TOTO toilets, and the one-piece TOTO UltraMax in particular. The basic model is the TOTO UltraMax MS854114S (*Est. $405), with an elongated bowl. Variations include a model with an ADA-approved 17-inch seat height and elongated bowl the TOTO UltraMax MS854114SL (*Est. $475) and a version with a SaniGloss glaze in the bowl TOTO UltraMax MS854114SG (*Est. $400), which supposedly helps keep the bowl clean (we did not see this tested). Six colors are available. Reviews tout this gravity toilet as the panacea for problem toilets. Testing products used in the evaluation include miso paste, sponges, plastic balls, baby wipes, paper wads and human waste. The UltraMax consistently receives high ratings, with perfect and near-perfect scores given for performance, ease of installation and overall satisfaction.

TOTO has recently introduced a 1.28-gpf version of the UltraMax toilet that meets WaterSense certification. The TOTO Eco UltraMax MS853113E (*Est. $450) has a rounded front. In tests, it clears about 550 grams of solid waste in one flush, about half as much as top-rated toilets than can flush 1,000 grams at once. However, medical experts cited in the Maximum Performance (MaP) Testing of Popular Toilet Models study state that the average solid-waste weight of adults is between 250 and 300 grams -- well within the 550 grams achieved by the Eco UltraMax, and above the minimum of 350 grams established by the EPA's WaterSense program. Owner reviews for the Eco UltraMax posted to HomeClick.com are excellent.

With its three-second flush, the TOTO UltraMax toilet thoroughly cleans the bowl without leaving behind any remnants. Engineers, consumers and plumbers alike repeatedly give the TOTO UltraMax high marks for its "deceptively powerful flush" and "clog-free performance." The soft-close seat also receives kudos for eliminating the loud clanking associated with a dropped toilet seat.

If you like the idea of a one-piece toilet, but don't want to spend $400-plus on the TOTO UltraMax, the Kohler Santa Rosa K-3323 (*Est. $325) is certainly less expensive. The Santa Rosa removed about 500 grams per flush, while the TOTO Eco UltraMax eliminated 550 grams
per flush.

Another toilet, the two-piece TOTO Drake CST744S (*Est. $240) is less expensive than the one-piece TOTO UltraMax, but it also performs well. In MaP testing, the Drake features a high MaP score of 900 grams, removing almost the highest amount that they test. The TOTO Drake gets high scores for its low noise. Variations include the TOTO Drake CST743S (*Est. $225), which has a round bowl rather than the CST744's elongated bowl. An ADA-approved version, with a higher seat height and elongated bowl, is also available; the TOTO Drake CST744SL (*Est. $280). If you want to replace your toilet with a better performing gravity toilet, the one-piece TOTO UltraMax and two-piece TOTO Drake toilets get excellent reviews.

The Drake is also available in an eco-friendly, WaterSense-qualified 1.28-gpf version, the Eco Drake. We also found excellent user reviews for these models. The TOTO Eco Drake CST744EL (*Est. $340) is the elongated ADA-height version, which in testing performs just as well as the 1.6-gpf Drake toilet, flushing away 900 grams of simulated waste per flush.

The Eljer Titan 091-0777 (*Est. $325) is another two-piece gravity toilet that gets good reviews. Like the TOTO Drake, it also has an elongated bowl, but the two-piece Drake is quite a bit less expensive than the similar Titan toilet.

Most of the cheaper gravity toilets don't do nearly as well in reviews. Models like the two-piece Eljer Patriot 091-2120 (*Est. $165) with a round bowl and the Eljer Patriot 091-2175 (*Est. $175) with an elongated bowl just don't get the job done, failing to completely eliminate waste in one flush. The Kohler Wellworth K3422 (elongated) and round-bowl K3423 (*Est. $200) is a popular toilet with builders in new apartments and homes because it is inexpensive, but according to reviews, it's not the best toilet. The Wellworth has a tough time flushing solid waste, achieving some of the lowest grams-per-flush ratings we saw.

If you are interested in a very low-water-usage toilet, The American Standard FloWise 2073.014 (*Est. $290) is a two-piece toilet that uses only 1.28-gpf -- 20 percent less water than low-consumption 1.6-gpf toilets. The gravity FloWise toilet isn't as powerful as the TOTO and Eljer Titan toilets, but it's much better than the Eljer Patriot toilets, and would be a good choice if you are more concerned about getting the most efficient toilet as opposed to the most powerful toilet.

In general, reviews say pressure-assisted toilets offer the best bang for the buck, and they generally outperform gravity toilets. One toilet that receives very high marks in laboratory tests is the two-piece Gerber Ultra Flush. The base elongated model is the Gerber Ultra Flush 21-312 (*Est. $340). Similar versions include a model with an ADA-approved seat height, different sizes and 14 color choices, including powder blue and pink, which cost extra. The round-bowl version is theGerber Ultra Flush 21-302 (*Est. $310).

Equipped with the Sloan Flushmate Flushometer-Tank System, the Gerber Ultra Flush consumes less than 1.6 gallons per flush. The high performance of this pressure-assisted toilet is achieved by using compressed air inside the tank, which creates a turbo-charged flushing action for effective bowl cleaning. This toilet features one of the largest water surfaces of any
low-consumption toilet, which helps keep it clean and prevents stains. Reviews agree that with its quieter flush, this toilet is a great pick for master bathrooms and smaller living spaces. Pressure-assisted toilets are usually considered noisy, but the Gerber toilet is an exception. Pressure-assisted toilets require home water pressure of at least 25 pounds per square inch (psi). If your home has low water pressure, consider a gravity toilet instead.

We also saw good reviews for the American Standard Cadet EL 2333.100 (*Est. $370). This two-piece pressure-assisted toilet is a good performer. However, it is easily confused with some other American Standard Cadet toilets that are gravity fed -- not pressure assisted. The gravity Cadet toilets generally get lower marks from reviewers, so be sure you're looking at the pressure-assist Cadet.

No reviewers identify the Kohler Purist Hatbox (*Est. $2,800) as the best toilet, but this model is a good example of the kind of design craze that's invaded the bathroom. The Hatbox is an electronic tankless toilet -- it relies on electricity rather than gravity or pressure to facilitate the flush. This is simply the kind of toilet that people just want because of the way it looks; performance-wise, we couldn't find evidence that it works better than standard toilets costing far less -- in MaP testing, the Hatbox flushed 800 grams of solid waste, on par with other highly rated toilets. And we found at least a couple of user reviews reporting that the pump or electrics failed and had to be repaired. On the upside, owners love the way it looks and its compact size means that it can easily fit into small bathrooms. The Kohler Hatbox is listed as one of the best three toilets at 3Luxe.com, a site that recommends luxury goods. It's also featured in the six-page spread in Fine Homebuilding's Kitchen and Bath Planning Guide 2008.