Wall mount toilet reviews

[ktm-don]

We're seriously overdue for reworking a small bathroom in our 60's built ranch. The toilet is an old Case model which is wall mounted. The length is about 27", which leaves a front clearance of about 17" to the tub, less than modern code requirements of 21", or ADA 30"

The old wall bracket is obsolete for any new toilet, so we will be re-working the plumbing. We're considering a wall-mount toilet with in-wall tank to minimize the footprint. Gerberit has a tank system that will mount in 2x4 walls, and accepts a variety of bowls.

There are very few reviews on-line, the bad reviews on-line for Kohler wall mounted toilets is scaring my wife away from the entire wall mount concept. The complaints center around low water level and immediate staining. I know that newer designs has improved 1.6 GPF performance over the years.

Does anyone have actual experience with wall mount units? I'd appreciate any recommendations.

 

[rlitman]

I have two generations of Toto tank-in-wall toilets.
The newer one is a WT172M wall carrier with a CT428 bowl (1.28GPF, EP, Dynamax Tornado flush).
The older one is a WT151M wall carrier with a CT418 bowl (1.6GPF, Aquia, Dualmax flush).

I picked Toto over the competition, partly based on previous good experiences, but also the Toto wall carriers and bowls are rated for more weight than the competition (Geberit and Swiss Madison), and that made me more comfortable. Pay attention to the wall framing instructions!

Both of mine have very low water levels, but so does everything with low flow now, and it's not the end of the world, and it does reduce splash-back and splash-out. Toto designs their toilets as a system, so while you can mix and match components to a degree, they're expecting you to match their washlets with their bowls for peak performance. The newer washlets will mist the bowl when you sit, to help (a LITTLE) with skid marks, and deodorize to help with floaters, so you may be particularly disappointed with these issues if you don't have the washlet to go with the bowl. Also, while low water levels mean you have a smaller landing zone, once you can get the feel of the aim, you should still be able to splash down every time (how much effort that takes is more a matter of diet...).

As for the bowls, the CT428 has a great flush with excellent cleaning action that does better at 1.28GPF than the older (and gladly discontinued) CT418 does at 1.6GPF. Even so, the in-wall tank holds a little over 2 gallons for both of my carriers (there are slight differences in parts, but the overall size is about the same), so you can easily hold the push-plate in until the tank empties to get maximum flushing action. The "Tornado" makes a big difference, where the older bowl had a vigorous flow that would clear the trap perfectly, but wasn't so good at cleaning the porcelain.

So, what questions do you have?

 

[ktm-don]

Well, thanks rlitman, that covered a lot of territory! I had assumed that a 1.6g flush would out-perform a 1.2g, but apparently not. And I did not realize that you can 'over flush' by holding the valve in on the Toto systems, good info.

I'll look more closely at the Toto line, and post back if I have more questions.

 

[rlitman]

Well, thanks rlitman, that covered a lot of territory! I had assumed that a 1.6g flush would out-perform a 1.2g, but apparently not. And I did not realize that you can 'over flush' by holding the valve in on the Toto systems, good info.

I'll look more closely at the Toto line, and post back if I have more questions.

Yeah, the difference between the 1.28 and 1.6 GPF mechanisms is just how quickly the flapper closes, with both being a dual flush based on the same tank dimensions. I think the smaller #1 flush is around 0.8 gallons. Shockingly, even that is often enough to empty the bowl of solids, though it will leave the remaining water less than clear. Looking now, it seems Toto is marketing a 1.0GPF model based on the Tornado flush. At least when it comes to trapway and gravity flush valve designs, Toto is way ahead of the competition.

My first tank-in-wall toilet (2017) was like you chosen for the floor clearances (to accommodate a shower door with a larger swing), plus I liked the idea of being able to clean under it. The second (2021) solved a floor space as well as a plumbing issue. These systems allow you to pivot the drain pipe as much as 45 degrees from vertical (staying within the plane of the wall), which let me place a horizontal run of 3" pipe above the floor of the closet behind my upstairs toilet, fixing a structural issue the previous toilet created by cutting through floor joists. I only mention this in case you need some drain offset, because the system is more flexible than it appears.

 

[ktm-don]

I downloaded the spec sheet for the WT172M. From the TOTO site, it looks like all of their tank systems are now 1.28 gpf. The spec sheet mentions three specific bowls, but I see others are compatible with the same wall carrier. Good to know regarding the flexibility on the drain. We have back to back bathrooms, so routing could be an issue.

Have you had any concerns regarding access to any parts inside the wall?

I did install a big-box purchased Kohler a few years back in a basement half-bath. It's a 1.6 gpf model using their 'aqua piston' cartridge. I'm using that as a "flush and clean" standard of comparisons, in years of use it's performed as well as any toilet I've used. If a new wall-mount works as well or better than that Kohler I think we will be fine.

 

[rlitman]

The WT172M has threaded holes for two possible bolt locations for maximum compatibility, but when shopping for a plain elongated bowl, Toto only had two models that fit at the time (I'm not a fan of most of the other shapes). The one I got, and a more spendy one with completely hidden bolts that tighten from underneath (and cable routing if you get the auto open/close seat). My understanding is that there is some compatibility between manufacturers, so a Geberit bowl may fit a Toto carrier, etc, but YMMV.

I had huge concerns about repair access. There's absolutely no way I'd install something that requires breaking tile or cutting the opposite wall to fix. The truth is it's all really simple. EVERYTHING gets access behind the push plate. There's a shutoff valve in there, and you can completely remove both the fill and flush valves from that small rectangular hole. Even my stumpy chubby fingers can get to everything (with some difficulty).

If you think you may want a washlet in the future, but aren't ready for it yet, here's a tip. The carrier install let's you wall over the washlet port, but then you can't get to it later on. What I did was I pulled the plug from the washlet supply hole, and threaded a stub of 1/2" PVC pipe in it's place, to leave something for the tile guys to work around, leaving a hole in the wall. When the tile was done, I removed the pipe, screwed the plug back in, bought a cheap sink drain stopper with a brushed nickel 1-1/4" cap, cut the stem off, and hot glued that cap over the hole in the wall. It looked perfect for 2 years until I eventually bought the washlet.

 

[ktm-don]

Thanks for the re-assurance regarding valve access. It's hard to judge those factors if you've never installed one. I appreciate the tip on the washlet plumbing, clever solution!

 

[Sturgeon]

Installed two Kohler's in previous house, 2020 pretty sure they were 3.5 gal tanks. They were eb's, easy installs, tall , narrow tanks causing a good, quick flush.

 

[Fav Onefour]

I have a new wall mount on an old set of brackets. I didn't have a whole lot of options with my brackets.

It's nice and simple and it works. I'm not sure how old the mount system is in that home. The home dates 1914 but I can't say for sure when the bath was last done.
I do agree that having proper room around the toilet and tub is a big deal.

I wanted to to an in wall tank setup with one of our bath remodels. It is a small floor plan. I also have a brother in law that does those things all day long in Austria. I looked into how they did in wall. It wasn't a simple process. I also checked with local contractors here just to see what they were doing. The tank and brackets are just one part of the process. In my case that would have been the easy part.

I'd check around to see if someone in your area is familiar with the needs. Then get out a big blank check.

 

[rglutz]

I have two generations of Toto tank-in-wall toilets.
The newer one is a WT172M wall carrier with a CT428 bowl (1.28GPF, EP, Dynamax Tornado flush).
The older one is a WT151M wall carrier with a CT418 bowl (1.6GPF, Aquia, Dualmax flush).

I picked Toto over the competition, partly based on previous good experiences, but also the Toto wall carriers and bowls are rated for more weight than the competition (Geberit and Swiss Madison), and that made me more comfortable. Pay attention to the wall framing instructions!

Both of mine have very low water levels, but so does everything with low flow now, and it's not the end of the world, and it does reduce splash-back and splash-out. Toto designs their toilets as a system, so while you can mix and match components to a degree, they're expecting you to match their washlets with their bowls for peak performance. The newer washlets will mist the bowl when you sit, to help (a LITTLE) with skid marks, and deodorize to help with floaters, so you may be particularly disappointed with these issues if you don't have the washlet to go with the bowl. Also, while low water levels mean you have a smaller landing zone, once you can get the feel of the aim, you should still be able to splash down every time (how much effort that takes is more a matter of diet...).

As for the bowls, the CT428 has a great flush with excellent cleaning action that does better at 1.28GPF than the older (and gladly discontinued) CT418 does at 1.6GPF. Even so, the in-wall tank holds a little over 2 gallons for both of my carriers (there are slight differences in parts, but the overall size is about the same), so you can easily hold the push-plate in until the tank empties to get maximum flushing action. The "Tornado" makes a big difference, where the older bowl had a vigorous flow that would clear the trap perfectly, but wasn't so good at cleaning the porcelain.

So, what questions do you have?

This is spot on. I have the same old Totos and I'm upgrading to basically the same one. Mine will be the CT426 bowl paired with the WT173MA, but it's basically the same. My issue was the same with the old Toto418 bowls that always had skid marks!! Pissed me off all the time. Glad to hear the Dynamax Tornado flush is effective. I'm getting the Toto S7 Bidet for both of my new toilets specifically for the premist and compatibility. Was not sure of my choices until i read your review! Thanks!

 

[sizem]

I have had two of the Toto units (WT172M wall carrier w/ CT447 bowl)...performance and cleanliness has been outstanding. Setting a custom height was also a plus. I created a complete wall cover box for the in wall section so that removal of the bowl would create total access to the in-wall system. Definitely would recommend the two.

 

[Beauregard]

What are the max weight ratings on these properly installed wall-hung toilets?
Asking for a friend.

 

[rlitman]

What are the max weight ratings on these properly installed wall-hung toilets?
Asking for a friend.

Industry standard minimum is 500 lbs static load. The Toto models I mentioned above are rated for 880 lbs (400 kg) when the framing instructions are followed. Keep in mind that is a static load (with some decent safety margin I'm sure).

 

[Bevie]

I have two generations of Toto tank-in-wall toilets.
The newer one is a WT172M wall carrier with a CT428 bowl (1.28GPF, EP, Dynamax Tornado flush).
The older one is a WT151M wall carrier with a CT418 bowl (1.6GPF, Aquia, Dualmax flush).

I picked Toto over the competition, partly based on previous good experiences, but also the Toto wall carriers and bowls are rated for more weight than the competition (Geberit and Swiss Madison), and that made me more comfortable. Pay attention to the wall framing instructions!

Both of mine have very low water levels, but so does everything with low flow now, and it's not the end of the world, and it does reduce splash-back and splash-out. Toto designs their toilets as a system, so while you can mix and match components to a degree, they're expecting you to match their washlets with their bowls for peak performance. The newer washlets will mist the bowl when you sit, to help (a LITTLE) with skid marks, and deodorize to help with floaters, so you may be particularly disappointed with these issues if you don't have the washlet to go with the bowl. Also, while low water levels mean you have a smaller landing zone, once you can get the feel of the aim, you should still be able to splash down every time (how much effort that takes is more a matter of diet...).

As for the bowls, the CT428 has a great flush with excellent cleaning action that does better at 1.28GPF than the older (and gladly discontinued) CT418 does at 1.6GPF. Even so, the in-wall tank holds a little over 2 gallons for both of my carriers (there are slight differences in parts, but the overall size is about the same), so you can easily hold the push-plate in until the tank empties to get maximum flushing action. The "Tornado" makes a big difference, where the older bowl had a vigorous flow that would clear the trap perfectly, but wasn't so good at cleaning the porcelain.

So, what questions do you have?

I like the Geberit 111.335.005 1.6/.08 GPF because Geberit has been around for a long time and
has reliability. The problem I am finding is finding a toilet bowl with good reviews that are
compatible with this carrier. Duravit bowls don't have good reviews for clearing the bowls of
debris. Any suggestions or experience with a bowl that works well with the Geberit 1.6/.08
system?

 

[socalgal]

I like the Geberit 111.335.005 1.6/.08 GPF because Geberit has been around for a long time and
has reliability. The problem I am finding is finding a toilet bowl with good reviews that are
compatible with this carrier. Duravit bowls don't have good reviews for clearing the bowls of
debris. Any suggestions or experience with a bowl that works well with the Geberit 1.6/.08
system?

Hi there!
I have the same question...I am a novice and added two new in-wall Geberit tanks in my home, but realize they are not compatible with the Toto426 model toilet bowl I was going to purchase. I don' think I can use that Toto toilet with the Geberit 111.335.005 tank system or the 111.798 tank. Ideas?

 

[rlitman]

Hi there!
I have the same question...I am a novice and added two new in-wall Geberit tanks in my home, but realize they are not compatible with the Toto426 model toilet bowl I was going to purchase. I don' think I can use that Toto toilet with the Geberit 111.335.005 tank system or the 111.798 tank. Ideas?

Welcome to the forum. The two Geberit wall carriers you mentioned have different uses. One is designed for 2x6 walls (generally more commercial), while the other is made for 2x4 walls. Both appear to be compatible with the Toto AP wall hung bowl. However, it is not all that simple.

If you look at the pictures of the 2x6 style 111.335.00.5, it has a metal bar extending from side to side across where the bottom of the toilet sits, to support the wall. The 2x4 style 111.798.00.1 does not have room for anything in front of the waste pipe, so it relies on a pair of steel ears that I don't like the look of (too much room for flex in the steel, where everything else relies on the wall framing). Yes, it has more steel behind the wall surface, but I don't think it's nearly as strong.

2x6 vs 2x4

Toto's 2x4 system shifts those two adjustment legs inwards to abut both sides of the waste pipe, allowing the sill plate to carry some of that toilet load, and overall, it offers the most support for the wall behind the bowl:

I have one of these, plus one of an older model.
Also, if you plan on installing a washlet, the Toto carrier has a built-in fitting for the water connection.

 

[socalgal]

Thanks for your reply!
Okay, so I am in deep already...we have the walls tiled over the Geberit tanks already. One bathroom had a thicker wall, so we did the 2x6 tank (111.335.00.5), and the other we did the 2x4 tank (111.798.00.1).

Here's the 2x4 one before tile.
and the 2x6 tank (can't locate a better pic)


In any case, I would like to understand which Toto model(s) will definitely work with these carriers because the documentation from Geberit only shows Toto in the list for different carriers, not these ones.

These carriers are stated to be 1.6/0.8 GPF, but the Toto AP is a 1.28 GPF toilet bowl. These are not compatible, correct?? If they are, how are they? Can the tank be adjusted to be 1.28GPF?

I see your comment about the concern on the construction of the 2x4 carrier, but was is the concern? That the toilet might become loose or come off the wall with enough weight on it?
Thanks for your input and assistance!

 

[rlitman]

Thanks for your reply!
Okay, so I am in deep already...we have the walls tiled over the Geberit tanks already. One bathroom had a thicker wall, so we did the 2x6 tank (111.335.00.5), and the other we did the 2x4 tank (111.798.00.1).
...
In any case, I would like to understand which Toto model(s) will definitely work with these carriers because the documentation from Geberit only shows Toto in the list for different carriers, not these ones.

These carriers are stated to be 1.6/0.8 GPF, but the Toto AP is a 1.28 GPF toilet bowl. These are not compatible, correct?? If they are, how are they? Can the tank be adjusted to be 1.28GPF?

I see your comment about the concern on the construction of the 2x4 carrier, but was is the concern? That the toilet might become loose or come off the wall with enough weight on it?
Thanks for your input and assistance!

The only downside to using two different carriers, is they probably have different replacement parts, but I totally get why you would want to take advantage of the thicker wall with the 2x6 carrier. You're all good. Both Geberit carriers have the same 400kg rating as the Toto carriers, so even though I like the looks of the Toto better, there's nothing wrong with your choices. There are other systems with significantly lower weight ratings that I have little faith in.

My only concern is with having solid support behind the wall surface, against the pressure the bottom of the toilet will exert when the bolts are in tension.

Adjustments: Well, I know the Toto system better, having been inside and out of the last two generations. On mine, it is easy to adjust the 1.6GPF down to 1.28 GPF by moving a tab on the flush valve. The 1.28GPF carriers don't have the slot for the 1.6GPF adjustment, though you could probably adjust it up that way too.

GPF compatibility: I have a Toto CT418 (1.6GPF) on the older carrier (WT152M), and a CT428 EP (1.28GPF) on the newer carrier (WT172M). The carrier tanks are roughly the same size, and if I had to guess (I haven't measured) they're around 2.5 gallons in capacity. On both carriers, you can hold the push plate in and flush the entire tank, so there's no reason you cannot flush 2.5 gallons through either bowl. The biggest difference between the two bowls, is that the 1.28 GPF has a lower water level to begin with, and needs less water to clear, so you can get away with a 1.28 gallon flush in it, while the smaller flush wouldn't clear the older 1.6GPF bowl. In reality, I've adjusted both of my carriers up to around 1.75GPF, and in many cases I end up holding the plate in anyway (not the bowl's fault, just um, well, yeah...)

So yes, you're totally safe in using a 1.6GPF carrier with a 1.28GPF rated bowl. It may waste a little water, but it's still a low flush unit.

Pay attention to the bolt hole spacing! The carriers have multiple threaded holes that work with many types of bowls, so you need to put the rods in the correct holes before tiling.