Buying Guides for Every Water Product

In-depth, unbiased guides that walk you through sizing, technology choices, installation, and total cost of ownership for every water product category.

Toilets

How to Fix a Leaking Toilet Base: Diagnose and Repair

Water at the toilet base has four possible causes: wax ring, tank-bowl gasket, supply line, or condensation. Here is how to diagnose and fix each.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

How to Plunge a Toilet Properly (And When to Stop)

The right plunger and the right technique clear 90% of toilet clogs in under 60 seconds. Here is the correct procedure — most people do it wrong.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Wall-Hung vs Floor-Mounted Toilet: Which Is Right for Your Bathroom?

Wall-hung toilets save 9-12 inches of floor space and make floor cleaning trivial, but require an in-wall carrier system and finished framing. Here is when each makes sense.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Skirted vs Non-Skirted Trapway Toilet: Cleaning, Looks, and What You Lose

A skirted trapway hides the curved porcelain channel under a smooth panel. You save 20 minutes per deep-clean cycle but lose visible reference points during installation.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Pressure-Assist vs Gravity Flush: Which Toilet Mechanism Is Right for You?

Pressure-assist toilets push water harder, clear waste in one flush, and almost never clog. They are also noticeably louder and harder to repair. Here is the tradeoff.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Macerating Toilet Buyer's Guide: When You Need an Upflush System

A macerating toilet grinds waste with a built-in blade and pumps it uphill or sideways through a small-diameter line — letting you add a bathroom anywhere without breaking concrete.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

WaterSense Toilet Buyer's Guide: Rebates, Savings, and Models That Qualify

WaterSense-certified toilets use 1.28 GPF or less and meet EPA flush-performance standards. Many cities offer $50-$200 rebates per unit. Here is how to qualify.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Smart Toilet Buyer's Guide: What Each Feature Actually Does

Smart toilets have proliferated from one TOTO model in 2005 to 200+ today. Here is a feature-by-feature breakdown of what each capability actually adds.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Composting Toilet Buyer's Guide: Off-Grid, Tiny Home, and Cabin Use

Composting toilets need zero plumbing and zero water. They are the right answer for tiny homes, RVs, cabins, boats, and any building without a septic or sewer hookup.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Corner Toilet Buyer's Guide: Triangle-Tank Toilets for Tight Bathrooms

A corner toilet has a triangular tank that sits flush into a 90-degree corner, recovering 8-10 inches of wall space. Almost only available from Eljer in the US.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Self-Cleaning Toilet Buyer's Guide: How They Work and What's Worth Paying For

Self-cleaning toilets use electrolyzed water, UV, or special glazes to reduce manual cleaning by 60-80%. Here is what each technology actually does.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Tankless Toilet Buyer's Guide: Direct-Water-Line and Pumped Designs Explained

A tankless toilet flushes directly from the supply line — no porcelain tank. Sleeker silhouette, faster flush cycle, but only works with 25+ psi inlet pressure.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

How to Fix Weak Toilet Flush: 6 Common Causes

A weak flush is rarely the toilet itself — it is usually clogged rim jets, a misadjusted flapper, low water level, or partial drain blockage. Diagnose all six causes.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

How to Fix a Toilet That Won't Stop Flushing or Cycles Repeatedly

A toilet that flushes twice, cycles ghost-flushes, or never finishes filling has one of three problems. Identify which in 60 seconds.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

How to Stop a Toilet Tank From Sweating

A sweating toilet drips condensation off the porcelain tank, soaks the floor, and looks like a leak. Four fixes ranked by effectiveness and cost.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

How to Tighten a Loose Toilet Without Cracking the Porcelain

A wobbling toilet usually does NOT need re-tightening — it usually needs shimming or wax-ring replacement. Here is when to tighten and when to stop.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Kohler vs TOTO Toilets: Which Brand Is Better ?

Kohler and TOTO are the two dominant premium toilet brands in the US — they share little in design philosophy, flush technology, or pricing. Here is how to choose.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

TOTO Drake vs Drake II Toilet: Which Should You Buy?

The TOTO Drake and Drake II look nearly identical but differ in three meaningful ways: flush technology, bowl design, and price. Here is the breakdown.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Kohler Cimarron vs Highline Toilet: Detailed Comparison

The Cimarron and Highline are Kohler's two best-selling two-piece toilets. The Cimarron has AquaPiston canister flush; the Highline is the value pick.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Siphonic vs Washdown Flush Toilet: How Each Works

Siphonic toilets (US standard) use a siphon vacuum to pull waste; washdown toilets (European standard) push waste with water pressure. Different physics, different tradeoffs.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Tornado Flush vs Double Cyclone Flush Toilet: TOTO's Two Rim-Wash Designs

TOTO uses two rim-wash designs: Double Cyclone (older, 1.6 GPF) and Tornado Flush (newer, 1.28 GPF). Both create a swirl, but the physics and water use differ.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

VorMax Flush (American Standard) vs Tornado Flush (TOTO) Toilet

VorMax and Tornado Flush are the two best rimless flush designs from the two best mainstream toilet brands. Both eliminate rim-hole buildup; differences are subtle.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

Best Toilet Flush System Comparison: Gravity, Pressure-Assist, Vacuum-Assist, Tornado

There are four main toilet flush mechanisms — each engineered for a different priority. Here is how gravity, pressure-assist, vacuum-assist, and tornado compare.

5 min read · Updated May 2026
Toilets

TOTO Aimes vs Carlyle II vs UltraMax II Toilet: Which One-Piece TOTO?

TOTO's premium one-piece lineup has four similar models — Aimes, Carlyle II, UltraMax II, Soiree, Legato. Here is how to pick.

5 min read · Updated May 2026