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Ajax Plumbing Company Ajax PlumbingCompany · Durham Region
Bathroom with toilet and sink
Bathroom with toilet and sink

Measure, then shop

Choosing a New Toilet: Flush, Height, Fit

Showroom toilets look alike. The differences that matter are the rough-in, the bowl shape, the height, and how reliably it clears in a single flush.

  • Measure the space to the vanity and the door swing. An elongated bowl adds several centimetres.
  • Look up the MaP score. Maximum Performance testing rates how much waste a model clears in one flush. Higher is better.
  • Decide one-piece or two-piece. One-piece is easier to clean; two-piece is easier to carry upstairs and usually cheaper.
  • Buying before measuring.
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  • Ajax · Pickering · WhitbyDurham Region

At a glance

Topic
Measure, then shop
Reading time
About 2 min
Matching repair
Toilet Repair in Ajax

Why it matters

A toilet is used several times a day for decades. A poor flush means plunging; the wrong rough-in means a gap at the wall or a return trip to the store.

The routine, in order

  1. Measure the rough-in off the drywall to the bolt caps on the floor. Twelve inches covers most Ajax bathrooms; check for 10 or 14.
  2. Measure the space to the vanity and the door swing. An elongated bowl adds several centimetres.
  3. Pick a height. Comfort or chair height suits most adults and anyone with sore knees; a standard height suits small children.
  4. Look up the MaP score. Maximum Performance testing rates how much waste a model clears in one flush. Higher is better.
  5. Check the water use. High-efficiency bowls sip roughly a third of what a 1980s tank did, and dual-flush models go lower on the short button.
  6. Decide one-piece or two-piece. One-piece is easier to clean; two-piece is easier to carry upstairs and usually cheaper.
FeatureGood for
Round bowlSmall powder rooms
Elongated bowlComfort, main baths
Skirted trapwayEasy cleaning
Dual flushLower water bills

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying before measuring.
  • Choosing on looks alone and ignoring the flush rating.
  • Forgetting the seat; some models ship without one.

Local tip Basement toilets below the sewer line may need an upflush system. That is a different purchase altogether.

Where a plumber takes over

Removing the old one, repairing the flange and setting the new one. See toilet installation.

Questions we hear on the phone

Will you install a toilet I bought?

Yes. Read us the box's model code first, and the rough-in gets double-checked before the visit.

Call now(365) 363-2754