In Europe, wall hung toilets are the norm, but in America, wall hung toilets are generally only seen in public bathrooms. However, that might be about to change. Taking up less room, and with the bowl seemingly hovering above the bathroom floor, they might just be the newest fad in bathroom remodeling and new home construction.
Are these European-style toilets the right choice for American consumers? Take a look below at some of the pros and cons and decide for yourself.
Pros: A Wall Hung Toilet Provides Aesthetic and Sanitary Benefits
The standard American toilet is a floor-mounted toilet with the water tank plopped on top of it. In Europe, however, 70% of residential toilets are of the wall-mounted variety, with a concealed water tank. In the United States, the most likely place to find a wall hung toilet is in the public restrooms of airports, malls, and sports arenas. These commercial versions vary in several ways from their residential cousins, which are gradually starting to catch on in North America.
The first difference between commercial wall mount toilets and their residential wall hung cousins is the manner in which the bowl is flushed. In a residential-style wall mount toilet, the water tank is generally concealed. By contrast, public restrooms usually use flushometer valves with large supply pipes. In a residential wall hung model, there are no ugly metal pipes protruding from the wall into the toilet, and often no water tank is visible at all. Furthermore, in the commercial variety of wall hung commodes, an inordinate amount of water must be used to flush the bowl. Residential models utilize considerably less water.
Wall mounted toilets are not only more aesthetically attractive, they are also more sanitary. Consider the grime and dust that accumulates around the base of a floor-mounted toilet. With a wall mounted toilet, cleaning underneath the toilet bowl is simple.
Cons: A Wall Hung Toilet Can Cost More and Damage Easily
The major drawbacks to wall hung toilets include their costs relative to floor-mounted toilets, the difficulty in repairing them, and the challenges associated with mounting a toilet to the wall.
When it comes to costs, consumers should expect to pay anywhere from $100 – $500 more for a wall hung toilet than for a floor-mounted toilet. Prices vary greatly depending upon the manufacturer and the design of the toilet; in general, the “trendier” the look of the wall hung toilet, the more expensive it will be.
Not only is the initial cost more expensive, the repairs are also more expensive. Most wall hung toilets use a specialized seal ring gasket, whereas standard floor-mounted toilets use wax ring gasket. If a gasket on a standard toilet is broken, it can be replaced for about $3. The wall mounted toilets’ gasket kit costs closer to $20. Replacing the gasket can be more challenging for the plumber, leading to more frequent mistakes.
If you have kids, you might also consider the consequences of a toilet that is mounted on the wall. Jumping on the toilet or other types of horseplay on or around the toilet can pull the toilet away from its wall. This could cracki the porcelain and damage the bolts that mount the toilet to the wall; you may end up having to purchase a brand new toilet.
Finally, consider that most bathroom walls constructed in the United States are not designed to support the weight of a toilet mounted to the wall. If the wall is in anyway weak or substandard, the wall hung toilet can pull away from the wall when the larger of members of your family use it.
In summary, most American plumbers feel that the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to wall hung toilets. Nevertheless, the forces of style might override practicality. It might very well be that these toilets become the new norm in American households in the near future.
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