If only one toilet out of three in the house clogs constantly, and always has been the "problem child" for the 20 years we have lived here, should I assume it has a poorly designed drain and or vent system? Would a newer toilet with a powerful flushing system help overcome bad plumbing design? If so, what would you recommend for someone on a budget? I much prefer standard height (I am short and kids will be using it), but could go chair height if necessary to be clog-free. We are on a very tight budget, and are going to be selling the home this spring. I wasn't even going to replace this toilet, as I thought it looked fine, and had taken it for granted that this toilet clogged, but after researching toilets to replace an upstairs toilet, I started thinking, "Heh, maybe a better toilet is the answer!" I am so ready to get rid of the plunger as bathroom décor!
This problem toilet is in the frequently used first floor powder room. Here is a description of the plumbing situation, as seen in the basement below (the house was built in 1987, by the way) :
The PVC drain pipe (appears to be 3 1/2" O.D.--best I can measure a round object with a straight tape measure!-) comes down vertically, turns into a 90 degree elbow, runs horizontally, with a very slight slope, about 36", then turns horizontally with a 90 degree elbow, runs about 20"and then goes into the 4 1/2" O.D. drain stack. The drain pipe from the upstairs toilets comes down about 5' away from the powder room toilet's , turns with a 90 degree elbow and runs about 24" before turning into the opposite side of same drain stack. I did not see what looked like any kind of separate plumbing vent for the powder room. In fact there is only one plumbing vent for the bathrooms on our roof. Is this a bad plumbing design? Is the clogging likely caused because of the distance between the powder room toilet and the vent?
We even had problems with the original, non-low flo 1987 American Standard toilet. That is why we replaced it in 2000 (I think) with a Kohler Wellworth 1.6 gpf and it did seem to help a bit, especially at first. (We didn't even think to research toilets--we just got what ever was in stock, and cheap, in the almond color we needed to match the sink at the time, LOL! From reading these forums I now realize that those older 1.6 gpf Kohler toilets were not designed very well for the lower water usage. ) One of the upstairs toilets is also a 2000 Kohler Wentworth, but it doesn't clog much (maybe once or twice a year.)
I like the price of the Cadet 3' 1.6 gpf , and I can get it in regular height (on sale right now fpr $132), but wondering if I need something with more "power" and/or larger trap size?
Thanks in advance for any insight.
This problem toilet is in the frequently used first floor powder room. Here is a description of the plumbing situation, as seen in the basement below (the house was built in 1987, by the way) :
The PVC drain pipe (appears to be 3 1/2" O.D.--best I can measure a round object with a straight tape measure!-) comes down vertically, turns into a 90 degree elbow, runs horizontally, with a very slight slope, about 36", then turns horizontally with a 90 degree elbow, runs about 20"and then goes into the 4 1/2" O.D. drain stack. The drain pipe from the upstairs toilets comes down about 5' away from the powder room toilet's , turns with a 90 degree elbow and runs about 24" before turning into the opposite side of same drain stack. I did not see what looked like any kind of separate plumbing vent for the powder room. In fact there is only one plumbing vent for the bathrooms on our roof. Is this a bad plumbing design? Is the clogging likely caused because of the distance between the powder room toilet and the vent?
We even had problems with the original, non-low flo 1987 American Standard toilet. That is why we replaced it in 2000 (I think) with a Kohler Wellworth 1.6 gpf and it did seem to help a bit, especially at first. (We didn't even think to research toilets--we just got what ever was in stock, and cheap, in the almond color we needed to match the sink at the time, LOL! From reading these forums I now realize that those older 1.6 gpf Kohler toilets were not designed very well for the lower water usage. ) One of the upstairs toilets is also a 2000 Kohler Wentworth, but it doesn't clog much (maybe once or twice a year.)
I like the price of the Cadet 3' 1.6 gpf , and I can get it in regular height (on sale right now fpr $132), but wondering if I need something with more "power" and/or larger trap size?
Thanks in advance for any insight.
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