****! Recommend toilet tank

[joseywales]

Our bathroom needs a major overhaul, but now isn't the time. I just want to replace the tank. I'm not sure whether to replace it with another power assist tank, or just go with a standard tank and see what happens. I don't know why the original owner bought the power assist in 1994, but suspect there could be an issue with gravity and the system, but not sure. Those units were recalled and it's a long story.

Now the one tank has a hairline (leaking) crack, from the tank bolt up the side of the unit. These 1994 Flushmate toilets were recalled, due to the bladders, then the tanks, exploding - it's getting so you can't even **** in peace anymore. My guess is that the Flushmate vibration has taken its toll over the years on these tanks. I never thought these toilets were right, from the day I moved in 15 years ago.

Anyway, the toilet is a Gerber and this specific model has been discontinued. I took some pictures, but any tricks to matching up a replacement tank?

 

[BuffettFan]

Have you tried their website? Or a local professional plumbing supply company?
Doubt that any of the big box stores will be any help.
Easiest solution is obvious, new toilet time. Not the best way to spend a couple hours on a Sunday.
Good Luck.

 

[pattenp]

I would go ahead and buy a new toilet. I can't see spending money on a tank if you plan on replacing the current toilet in the future during a remodel. Just don't buy some trendy color that will be out of date in a few years.

 

[PCustoms]

$100 gets you a new toilet, $200-$300 gets you a new toilet that you can use after the remeodel.

Why mess around?

 

[6768rogues]

I agree with PCustoms. Buy a new one and don't put money into an old clunker. The big blue or orange box has them for not much money with bolts, wax ring and seat in the box. I like handicap height with elongated bowl.

 

[joseywales]

I hear you all. Ugh, I guess I was looking for a lazy way out. In other projects, I still have 3 TVs to hang, 2 railings, and various cleanup. I didn’t need this right now.

 

[PCustoms]

Shoukd take an hour or less to install a new toilet.

That doesn't include finding the shutoff is seized, subfloor is spongy etc.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I replace that brand and eco flush almost regularly with complete new toilet set ups. Every time has been during the conveyance of a home. New owners just didn’t want to fix or just didn’t want it. Put the normal ******* in so you can grab parts easy if something breaks.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Shoukd take an hour or less to install a new toilet.

That doesn't include finding the shutoff is seized, subfloor is spongy etc.

This is very true.

 

[Kevin54]

Get a Kohler. We used to have American Standard and it seemed like they would clog on a fart. I put a Kohler in two years ago, and it has never plugged or even acted like it was going to. And don't put a stupid little round ******* in just to save $2. get an elongated commode.

 

[joseywales]

I've replaced a few toilets. One was a real PITA. That freakin bolt just wouldn't line up. this one really should be fairly straightforward. Of course, I'm living in a house where Oliver Plumbing and Heating came to give me an estimate on my HVAC. Turns out, the guy was on site 25 years ago when the house was built. He said our development had the weirdest duct runs he's ever seen, but they did what they were told. my guess is our plumbing is similar. We've yet to find how/where the downstairs bathroom or laundry room are properly vented. It amuses me when township inspectors have so much to say when a house is sold. Where are they when it's being built! Power companies want to come in an evaluate for energy efficiency. Uh...that horse left the barn. My house is made of cardboard and insulated with Styrofoam.
Rant over...

Kevin54, I had no idea there was a difference between round and elongated, with regard to performance. I'm with you. Not looking to save money. Just want to make sure everything goes down...and stays down.

 

[kbs2244]

Just an FYI.
Toilet tanks and bottoms are sold separately.
If you want a quick fix, you can buy just a tank at your supply house.

 

[PCustoms]

Just an FYI.
Toilet tanks and bottoms are sold separately.
If you want a quick fix, you can buy just a tank at your supply house.

Hmm, maybe he shoukd start a thread asking about recommended toilet tanks...

 

[Norcal]

Just an FYI.
Toilet tanks and bottoms are sold separately.
If you want a quick fix, you can buy just a tank at your supply house.

But your not going to get good results trying to patch the OP's POS, buy a new toilet & give consideration to Toto, they are Flushmore **** Masters.

 

[finn]

Just an FYI.
Toilet tanks and bottoms are sold separately.
If you want a quick fix, you can buy just a tank at your supply house.

Last time I looked into just replacing a tank, it was cheaper to buy the whole toilet, on sale, and scrap the new bowl.

 

[GMCGarage]

I hear you all. Ugh, I guess I was looking for a lazy way out. In other projects, I still have 3 TVs to hang, 2 railings, and various cleanup. I didn’t need this right now.

Call a plumber. Done.

 

[NUTTSGT]

My thoughts, do it once and do it right. Buy a new toilet and be done.


Yeah, I get it.

Right now, I'm in the process of remodeling the utility room, which started after I simply wanted to drywall the stairway going into the basement. The weather has turned to **** after several fairly nice weeks. My W/D I-Drive garage door opener has now died probably with stripped gears and they don't make them anymore. Did I mention that I took my stitches out yesterday after cutting my forearm on some expanded metal in the plaster ?


When it rains, it gets cold and turns to snow.


On the bright side, the toilet in our utility room is a old school toilet that will literally flush anything. . . . even the wife agreed, that toilet is staying.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Get a Kohler. We used to have American Standard and it seemed like they would clog on a fart. I put a Kohler in two years ago, and it has never plugged or even acted like it was going to. And don't put a stupid little round ******* in just to save $2. get an elongated commode.

Also, besides the bowl shape, there are also toilets that have the bowl higher up than standard heights. I think they are called comfort height or something like that.

When I remodeled our downstairs bathroom to update it from the wood look stuff from the 1970's, we bought a Kohler toilet that has the higher than standard bowl height. I wanted that because I am tall and I hate sitting on short toilets.

Also, we had to go with the round toilet bowl shape because this bathroom is very small, and there is barely any room between the side of the shower tub and the toilet. If we went with the elongated toilet bowl shape, there would have been only about a foot between the toilet seat and the tub. That is just a bit too tight for my knees to fit. The round bowl actually gives about 3 more inches, which does not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference when you sit on the toilet and your knees don't touch the tub.

There are also different round toilet seat styles that do have a bit more of an elongated shape to them. I replaced the seat that came with our new round toilet with this better shape. It makes a pretty big difference versus the really round shaped seat.

Oh, that and some toilet companies make non-slam, slow closing seats and lids. These were a must for us because we have a 7 year old niece who loves to slam the seats and lids down on toilets. She has broken every seat and lid in her families bathrooms. It's actually funny to watch her, when she does not know your looking, as she tries to force the slow close no-slam seat and lid down. She gets so frustrated that her new thing is to now slam the lid and seat OPEN!

Jim

 

[csp]

We used to have American Standard and it seemed like they would clog on a fart.

And on the other side of the coin I swapped out five Kohler's with American Standards for a customer that had at least one clog a month with the Kohlers (I don't recall which model they selected, but it wasn't the vormax). Saw them the other day and in two years since then they haven't had a single clog.

I won't install a Kohler. They all fail eventually and finding parts for some Kohler models is an exercise akin to banging one's head against a wall if you need it fast.

 

[Hollywood D]

Swapping a toilet is an hour and a half job if you’ve never done it before. It’s pretty simple.

 

[ddawg16]

Toto Drake II....uses less water, flushes everything.....real easy to clean

I have 2 of them. Thinking of replacing our Kohler in the original bathroom with one.

 

[engineer2]

Call a plumber. Done.

In the City of Chicago that would be $1000.

I like the American Standard Champion 4 models. The kids rarely clog them. Very reliable; 10 years and haven't had to fix one yet.

We have a Toto on the master bath and it has a 3" dia trap. It's OK but it's noisier and seems to get dirty faster than the Champions. 4 years and no repairs.

I don't like the power-flush toilets. Very noisy and long refill times are a deal killer. Tried one and it went into the trash a year later. Even talked to the engineer who designed it, and he denied it was noisy.

 

[Dave Nelson]

As some others have said, buy a Toto, last toilet you'll buy.

 

[johnnyradiant]

Changing just the tank on a "specialty" toilet that is discontinued due to design issues doesn't add up. Even on current models I've had tank changes take almost as long as a whole toilet change - if the bolts give you any sort of grief your time ends up being almost the same. If the bolts do give you grief breaking the tank walls out of the way may be a last resort so you can get a bite on the heads and have some working room down close to the head as opposed to almost too far away.

This discounts spongy floors. It doesn't discount the buggered shut-off as you still have to deal with it and if the bowl is still in place it can make some poorly placed shutoffs multiply your change over time even more.

 

[Dave in Mass]

You know what's not "crappy" about this thread?

Seeing input from Hpozzuili and Kevin54.

Two guys who, it seemed, used to show up every day but haven't been seeing so much lately.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought a 1960s American Standard toilet at a local used building materials store, it was for the shop. I paid about $50. This model is the old style that used about 5 gallons of water on every flush. It was a perfect toilet, when we had dogs. My son would collect half of a 5 gallon bucket of dog poop and after flushing the Old American Standard then pouring the doggy dew in, the toilet would swallow the lot. A second flush would clear the bowl.
There was a toilet manufacturer in this area. They went out of business because of their screw-up. The toilet and more often the tank material would absorb water. Somehow the internal pressure would build up in the porcelain material and very suddenly and without warning, the tank or toilet would blast apart. I suppose, if a person were on the "throne" when the blasé went off, the blast might hasten the "event" The liabilities for water damage to structures killed the company.

 

[rburke65]

2 American Standards here and a never clogged. Have a Kohler also but it did not flush worth a damn .....then it started to leak and that's when I discovered that the wax ring was obstructing half of the drain. Replaced and not a problem since. I think you should just buy an entire new one. Less money.

 

[kngelv]

Toto Drake II....uses less water, flushes everything.....real easy to clean

I have 2 of them. Thinking of replacing our Kohler in the original bathroom with one.

This!! Toto all the way.

James

 

[gregcr]

The TOTO Drake II is a great toilet.
I just replaced two and they are worth the cost.

Get the matching slow close lid for a most enjoyable experience.

TORNADO FLUSH!!!!

 

[Burl]

Whatever you buy, make it a chair height toilet, your knees will thank you.

 

[Norcal]

Found a Toto at the local ReStore this weekend it has been great, just trying to get used to the 18" high bowl. Wish they had more to replace other WC's.

Paid $25 plus 7.25% tax.

https://www.totousa.com/drake-ii-connect-s350e-two-piece-toilet-128-gpf

 

[joes99]

I'm with others on Toto! They have improved on the finish since I installed mine to supposedly stay cleaner longer. I recommend them to my clients.
American Standard has issues with the flush valve seal blistering.

I imagine there is an epoxy repair that would buy some time until you are ready for the remodel.

 

[driftpin]

We finished a whole-home remodel in prep for retirement, four new bathrooms. My wife wanted a specific look in each, different one from another. So, we ended up with four different toilets. American Standard, Koehler, Mirabelle (Ferguson Plumbing Supply house brand) and a TOTO.

My favorite of the four is the TOTO. It is a Neorest model and is without a doubt, the finest commode my rosy ****-cheeks have kissed. https://www.totousa.com/neorest-750h-dual-flush-toilet-10-and-08-gpf-with-actilight
You don't need all these features, but they're good to have, they have less-expensive toilets in the same vein which may be more in-budget. The great thing about the TOTO Neorest is that it makes cleaning an elderly person's body much easier. We just got done caring for two parents in their late 90's, and this toilet helped in that.

If you choose to replace your toilet, be sure to use the hard-finish grout to seal the base of the toilet. This will take care of any floor irregularities. Nothing is as annoying as a rocking toilet, except perhaps an overflowing one, or a leaking one.

The only toilet of the four to present an issue is the Kohler, which has plugged twice. None of the others have had an issue. That's the one closest to the garage, and the septic tank, so I use it frequently. One of those rubber bladders you hook to a garden hose can help clear the line if a plunger won't clear the bowl passage obstruction. That's a good purchase from Harbor Freight, they have two sizes, one for sink drains, and another that is useful for toilets and the sewage branch or main line. Or you can always snake it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/medium-drain-cleaning-bladder-99942.html $8
https://www.harborfreight.com/large-drain-cleaning-bladder-99941.html $9

 

[Orangestang]

Replace the whole toilet, it may be difficult to find a tank that the bolt holes line up with the old toilet. Some tanks use 3 bolts to mount to the toilet versus 2.

 

[nes999]

My father is sold on the 64/80 dollar toliets. If anything is wrong he will just replace them. I cant uae the restroom when I visit. The "boys" over hang the front of the toilet when trying to ****. Worst yet is I swear the things clog when taking a leak.

I was very hesitant to spent the money on a Toto. After all the steller reviews I broke down and bought one. Worth every penny.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[SlappyWhite]

I would just buy a new toilet. In the end I do not think there will be much difference in cost or time vs just replacing the tank.

If you do, make sure the glazing goes right through trap and it is smooth and well done. Many times plugging problems are because the glazing is non-existent or rough in the trap--stuff gets stuck.

 

[fourjeepin]

In the City of Chicago that would be $1000.

I like the American Standard Champion 4 models. The kids rarely clog them. Very reliable; 10 years and haven't had to fix one yet.

We have a Toto on the master bath and it has a 3" dia trap. It's OK but it's noisier and seems to get dirty faster than the Champions. 4 years and no repairs.

I don't like the power-flush toilets. Very noisy and long refill times are a deal killer. Tried one and it went into the trash a year later. Even talked to the engineer who designed it, and he denied it was noisy.

I have one of the Champion 4s. It has given me more trouble than the 4 Cadet 3s I have. And parts are not easy to find. Even just the seal when the wife puts in the chlorine tablets and they start to leak 6 months later.

 

[cmandp]

I have one of the Champion 4s. It has given me more trouble than the 4 Cadet 3s I have. And parts are not easy to find. Even just the seal when the wife puts in the chlorine tablets and they start to leak 6 months later.

The flapper seal or any tank trim parts for that matter are not designed to handle concentrated chlorine like that. Chlorine levels from treated water, yes.

Most toilet warranties specifically state using in tank cleaners voids the warranty.

 

[madmla21]

The OP is complaining about replacing the toilet and you recommend at $10,200 toilet! I would be afraid to sit on the thing in fear of breaking it.

We finished a whole-home remodel in prep for retirement, four new bathrooms. My wife wanted a specific look in each, different one from another. So, we ended up with four different toilets. American Standard, Koehler, Mirabelle (Ferguson Plumbing Supply house brand) and a TOTO.

My favorite of the four is the TOTO. It is a Neorest model and is without a doubt, the finest commode my rosy ****-cheeks have kissed. https://www.totousa.com/neorest-750h-dual-flush-toilet-10-and-08-gpf-with-actilight
You don't need all these features, but they're good to have, they have less-expensive toilets in the same vein which may be more in-budget. The great thing about the TOTO Neorest is that it makes cleaning an elderly person's body much easier. We just got done caring for two parents in their late 90's, and this toilet helped in that.

 

[atthebeach]

I have gotten to the point where I only install 1 piece toilets. A little more money up front, but a 1 piece seems to last forever. The tanks on the two piece eventually crack and need to be replaced.