Kohler Highline Concealed Trapway Thoughts?

[Dauglos]

Hi. For a long time, I've planned on putting a Toto Vespin II (1G Connect+ S300e Two-Piece) in a house I hope to build in the next year or two . . . . I have no doubt it's an excellent toilet. I did some more looking around this week, however, and, well . . . the Kohler Highline with a concealed trapway (K-76301-RA-0) strikes me as prettier. Even if I slap on the same expensive Toto seat, it'll probably be a tad cheaper, too.

Anyone have any experience with this toilet? It's marked "new" on the Kohler website, and indeed, I can't find much regarding this exact model except for a MaP score of 800 (vs. the less thirsty Toto's 600 and MaP PREMIUM rating). It also seems to have a different tank (K-5311-RA) and bowl (K-80020) than the other Highline toilets it most closely resembles, so I don't want to assume its performance is the same.

Thanks!

TOTO SW3046#01 S500e WASHLET Electronic Bidet Toilet Seat with EWATER+ and Contemporary Lid, Elongated, Cotton White

 

[Reach4]

I don't know about the performance. It does look nice.

http://www.us.kohler.com/webassets/kpna/catalog/pdf/en/K-76301-RA_spec.pdf
It will extend into the room about 1.5 inches more than the Vespin II.

I like the Bemis Sta-tite seats with the lift-off feature.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Dauglos]

Thanks. Regarding seats: I'm 100 percent sold on having a bidet feature, although I'm flexible on brands/models.

Regarding the length: good catch. I'll make my bathroom a touch wider to accommodate that if I go with the Kohler. (Much easier to tweak things now when the house is still made of pixels!)

 

[Terry]

The performance should be fine, and Kohler also makes bidet seats.

 

[Dauglos]

Thanks!

 

[Jadnashua]

What does the Kohler use for interior plumbing guts? They tend to design their own and finding parts when they become necessary tend to be expensive and harder to find than most others. IMHO, Kohler is infected with NIH syndrome (not invented here)...they seem to think they are the only ones that can come up with a good idea, then change their mind on the next version, so finding parts can be really problematic.

 

[Dauglos]

Your guess is as good as (or probably much better than) mine. I'll try to factor that into consideration, thanks.

 

[WJcandee]

Well, for one thing, I don't understand why you're considering a 1.28gpf Kohler and only a 1.0gpf Toto. If you don't have a reason to use the 1.0, then don't. It's very good for what it is, but it's still not as good a flush, or bowl clean or water spot as a 1.28. The lack of water use has to come from somewhere, and Toto has done an amazing job, but if you can spare that quart of water per flush, then do it. Similarly, if you're set on 1.0gpf, then the Toto is the proven performer.

Actually, in both cases, the Toto is the proven performer. Me, if its general appearance works, then I go for the quality, the performance, and the ease of servicing, in all of which Toto is going to be at least a little better.

 

[Dauglos]

Good point(s). Thanks. I originally picked the 1.0gpf Toto because I'll be on a well and septic, and figured that'd translate to less wear and tear on the well pump, at least. I wound up looking at the 1.28gpf Kohler because they don't seem to offer that particular style (concealed trapway Highline) in 1.0gpf. But in any event, the house won't be in a drought-prone area, so efficiency isn't everything, and after listing all the other points in Toto's favor, you've now got me scouring the Toto website for other alternatives again.

 

[Jadnashua]

There are a few states that have 'approved fixture' databases. Is Kentucky one of those? If it is, verify whatever you're interested in is in their database, or you'll run into grief with the inspector or potential hassles to get it into their approved list. I seem to remember MA, KY, and MI have them, but it's been awhile since I last looked.

 

[Dauglos]

Huh, I'd never heard of such a thing. Thanks. I'll actually be building in Washington State about 100 miles southwest of Terry, but I'll do some Googling regarding it. I've already learned (since your post, I mean) that toilets using more than 1.6gpf became illegal to install as of 1993!