There are different types of toilets that are available in the market today. Therefore, it is best if you familiarize yourself with these variations, especially if you are renovating or in the process of building your home. Besides the different brands and designs of toilets, some commodes incorporate other flushing technology. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these toilet types will help you decide which variation is best suited for your home.
Below is a detailed discussion of the two most common and popular types of toilets – the gravity-assisted and the pressure-assisted commode. Which one should you choose? Read on to learn everything you need about these two types of toilets.
Gravity-Assisted Toilet Advantages and Disadvantages
Gravity-assisted toilets are the most common types used in the industry. It is pretty much your standard everyday toilet which uses gravity when flushing.
This toilet features your primary flush button, which lifts the flush valve within the toilet tank, allowing water to flow and flush out the bowl. In addition, the flush valve will slowly drop down and seal the tank’s water flow system.
The toilet tank is connected to the bowl and uses rim-shaped howls to release the water when pulling or pushing the flush button. The toilet tank is elevated from the bowl, creating gravity and moving the water in the drainage pipe and into the septic tank.
The toilet tank gets refilled by water up until the built-in float valve rises enough and closes the water pipe, ready for use once again.
The gravity-assisted toilet also uses two types of flushing systems:
- Double Cyclone Flushing
Toilets that feature this flushing system have a sleek rimless design rather than the typical rim holes in standard gravity-assisted toilets. The main advantage of the rimless design featured in the double cyclone flushing system is distributing water evenly around the bowl.
The even water flow is attributed to the two nozzles on both sides of the toilet bowl. When you hit the flush button, the two nozzles release water, creating a spiral flow that has increased centrifugal force. This type of flushing system manages to clean the toilet bowl better with minimal water use.
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Dual Flushing
The second flushing system found in some gravity-assisted toilets is the dual flush. Dual flushing is designed chiefly for conserving water as it will incorporate two flush buttons. One button activates the full flush for getting rid of solid waste, and the other triggers the partial flush, which is used for liquid waste.
Cost of Gravity-Assisted Toilets
The gravity-assisted toilets are the most common versions you will encounter at your local hardware stores. It is the most widely used; it is also the most affordable toilet type. The lower price tag and excellent reliability make gravity-assisted toilets the preferred option for most.
The Pros of Gravity-Assisted Toilet:
- This type of toilet flushes quietly.
- Gravity-assisted toilets are more affordable.
- It is easy to find parts for and easy to repair.
- Ideal for home use.
- The rudimentary flushing system also makes it easy to clean.
The Cons of Gravity-Assisted Toilet:
- Gravity-assisted toilets tend to be less water volume efficient.
- It is not ideal with large-scale plumbing requirements, such as in commercial establishments.
Pressure-Assisted Toilet Advantage and Disadvantages
The pressure-assisted toilet version is still a relatively new entry into the market. As such, this type of toilet is still not that common. As the name implies, the flushing system utilized in this type of toilet takes advantage of pressurized air and water. To achieve its pressurized air and water feature, the pressure-assisted toilet also comes with a compression tank installed within the toilet’s cistern.
While the system might sound complex, it is still pretty straightforward. Both the water tank and compression tank are integral to its functionality. The central cistern gets filled with water while the compression tank is filled with air. When you press the flush button, the water tank will distribute the water into the bowl while the pressurized air sucks it in. This creates a considerably stronger flush that can eliminate waste in one go.
Because of their enhanced flushing capability, pressure-assisted toilets are more proficient in using water and can save you gallons in the long run.
Cost of Pressure-assisted Toilets
Since this type of toilet is relatively new in the industry, you can expect it to be more expensive than gravity-assisted toilets. Although some models are only slightly more costly, it all depends on the brand that you will get. Additionally, the most expensive pressure-assisted toilet has extra nifty features such as an automatic flushing system and remote control functionality.
The Pros of Pressure-Assisted Toilets:
- Excellent flushing capability improves waste removal using less water.
- Easier to maintain since most of the water remains inside the bowl.
- It is eco-friendly as the design limits the amount of cleaning solution that enters the environment.
- Thanks to its powerful flushing system, clogging is less of a problem than the gravity-assisted toilet.
The Cons of Pressure-Assisted Toilets:
- Pressure-assisted toilet is not standard in most hardware stores, making them hard to find.
- Due to being uncommon in most hardware store inventories, parts for repairs tend to be equally challenging to find.
- This type of toilet tends to make too much noise when flushing due to pressurized air.
- Pressure-assisted toilets are more expensive than the standard gravity-assisted models.
Which Should You Choose?
Gravity-assisted toilets remain the top choice as it is reliable, affordable, and easy to maintain. The gravity-assisted toilet will more than suffice for your everyday needs for most households. Additionally, the gravity-assisted toilet is relatively easy to repair and can be done on your own, depending on the severity of the damage.
As for the pressure-assisted toilet, it is best suited in locations where the toilet will be under heavy use – such as in commercial establishments. Pressure-assisted toilets may be a lot noisier, but it balances this drawback with their efficiency and cleaner flushing.
That is pretty much the line that divides whether you should pick a gravity-assisted or pressure-assisted commode. For commercial establishments, it is a wise investment to install the pressure-assisted toilet, thanks to its heavy-duty quality. However, for homes, a gravity-assisted toilet will be more than enough.
Final Thoughts
The gravity-assisted toilet has been around for decades, and it is still the industry standard today. While the newer pressure-assisted toilet provides higher flushing proficiency, the overall price might give most a slight pause. That said, pressure-assisted toilets provide better cost-saving capability concerning water usage. Whether you choose the traditional gravity-assisted or the modern pressure-assisted commode, it all depends on how often the toilet will be used.