Niagara Stealth 0.8 GPF Two-Piece Round-Front Vacuum-Assist Toilet
Niagara Stealth 0.8 GPF Two-Piece Round-Front Vacuum-Assist Toilet Review
Niagara Stealth Original 0.8 GPF Two-Piece Round-Front: The Most Aggressive Water Conservation Toilet
The Niagara Stealth Original 0.8 GPF Two-Piece Round-Front Toilet is the original single-flush 0.8 GPF Stealth model — featuring Niagara's patented vacuum-assist flush technology at the most aggressive water conservation specification in the US residential market. At $249-$329 retail, the Stealth Original delivers 38% less water per flush than WaterSense 1.28 GPF standards while maintaining MaP 800g+ flush performance through Niagara's vacuum-assist engineering. For households prioritizing maximum water conservation in a single-flush (vs. dual-flush) configuration, the Stealth Original is the appropriate specification.
Stealth Family Positioning
- Stealth Original (this model): $249-$329 — single-flush 0.8 GPF
- Stealth Dual-Flush: $279-$369 — dual-flush 0.8/1.28 GPF (averaging ~0.95 GPF)
- Stealth Conserver: $299-$389 — dual-flush with conservation enhancement
The Stealth Original is the entry-tier Stealth specification — single-flush 0.8 GPF for maximum simplicity and lowest cost in the Stealth family.
How Vacuum-Assist Flushing Delivers 0.8 GPF Performance
Standard gravity-flow toilets cannot reliably clear bowls at 0.8 GPF — the water volume is too low to generate sufficient flush energy. Niagara's vacuum-assist flush solves this by creating negative pressure in the tank during refill. When the user activates the flush, the vacuum is released along with the water flow, creating high-velocity siphonic action that clears the bowl efficiently even at ultra-low water volume. The vacuum-assist technology has been refined over 15+ years of Niagara engineering and delivers documented MaP 800g+ performance over 10+ years of installation use.
Quiet Operation Compared to Pressure-Assist
Unlike pressure-assist toilets (Sloan Flushmate, Glacier Bay Pressure-Assist), which are notoriously loud due to compressed air discharge, Niagara's vacuum-assist operates at noise levels comparable to standard gravity-flow toilets — approximately 55-60 dB during flush. This is the Stealth's key advantage over pressure-assist alternatives that also deliver low-flow high-performance flushing: comparable engineering effectiveness at significantly lower noise.
Round-Front Bowl Configuration
The Stealth Original uses round-front bowl shape (~16.5" length) — fits compact bathroom configurations. Stealth Dual-Flush and Stealth Conserver are available in elongated bowl variants for buyers preferring elongated comfort with adequate bathroom floor depth.
1.6 GPF MaP Rating Equivalent Performance at 0.8 GPF
The Stealth Original's MaP 800g+ rating equals or exceeds many 1.28 GPF and 1.6 GPF competing toilets — the vacuum-assist mechanism delivers more flush energy per gallon than gravity-only flushing. This is the engineering achievement that justifies Niagara's price premium over standard 1.28 GPF alternatives: more performance at less water.
10-Year Vitreous China Warranty
Niagara's stronger china warranty (10 years vs. 5-year industry standard for value-tier brands) reflects the brand's confidence in long-term durability. For long-term ownership scenarios, this warranty advantage is meaningful — among value-tier brands, only Delta (lifetime china) and American Standard (10-year china) match or exceed Niagara's coverage.
Specifications
- Form factor: Two-piece floor-mount
- Bowl shape: Round-front (compact)
- Material: Vitreous china
- Flush volume: 0.8 GPF single-flush (ultra-low-flow)
- Flush technology: Vacuum-assist siphonic
- Rough-in: 12 inches
- Seat height: ~17 inches (ADA comfort height)
- Seat: Sold separately ($20-$45)
- Color: Glossy White (standard), Bone (limited)
- Warranty: 10 years vitreous china, 1 year mechanical
- MaP rating: 800g+ at 0.8 GPF
- Certifications: WaterSense PLUS (exceeds standard), CalGreen Premium, ENERGY STAR
Installation
- Standard 12-inch rough-in
- Cold water supply
- Wax ring + flange bolts ($15-$25 separate)
- Seat purchased separately
- Two-piece installation: 1.5-2 hours, $150-$350
Care
- Standard porcelain cleaners safe
- Avoid pouring cleaning chemicals directly into the vacuum chamber
- Pumice stones safe on bowl interior
- Periodic inspection of vacuum mechanism every 5-7 years for seal integrity
- Avoid steel wool
Pros
- Industry-leading water conservation — 38% less than WaterSense 1.28 GPF
- Vacuum-assist delivers MaP 800g+ at 0.8 GPF — exceptional performance per gallon
- Quieter than pressure-assist alternatives (Sloan, Flushmate, Glacier Bay)
- 10-year vitreous china warranty
- CalGreen Premium and ENERGY STAR certifications enable utility rebates
- Long-term water cost savings recoup price premium in 3-5 years
- Two-piece form factor for easier installation
- Round-front bowl fits compact bathrooms
Cons
- Vacuum-assist mechanism is specialty technology — fewer plumbers familiar with service
- 1-year mechanical warranty short relative to china warranty
- Seat sold separately
- Round-front bowl less comfortable than elongated for extended seating
- Niagara brand recognition lower than mainstream alternatives
- Specialty parts for repairs (not generic Fluidmaster)
- Traditional aesthetic — not designed for modern design renovations
- 0.8 GPF may not meet specific local codes requiring 1.28 GPF or higher
Who Should Buy
- Households prioritizing maximum water conservation as primary buying factor
- Properties in drought-affected regions or with high water costs
- Buyers eligible for CalGreen Premium, ENERGY STAR, or utility water-saving rebates
- Eco-conscious renovations where flush technology is part of sustainability story
- Long-term ownership where 10-year water cost savings compound meaningfully
- Properties on private septic systems where reduced water input extends septic life
- Commercial installations subject to strict water conservation regulations
Comparison Decisions
- Stealth Original vs. Stealth Dual-Flush ($279-$369): Dual-flush adds flexibility (lighter flush for liquid waste, full flush for solid). Original is simpler single-flush at slight cost savings. Dual-flush is the better choice for most installations.
- Stealth Original vs. Niagara One ($329-$429): Niagara One is 1.0 GPF gravity flow (modern one-piece). Stealth Original is 0.8 GPF vacuum-assist (two-piece). Pick on water conservation aggressiveness and form factor.
- Stealth Original vs. standard 1.28 GPF toilet: Stealth saves 38% on water but trades aesthetic for engineering. Worth it for water-priority renovations; not worth it for design-priority renovations.
- Original Niagara 0.8 GPF vacuum-assist design (since 2007)
- Lower price than Stealth Sabre
- Round-front bowl saves 2" of bathroom depth
- EPA WaterSense Most Efficient
- Same rebate eligibility as Stealth Sabre
- Universal Height (17.25") + comfort height available
- MaP 700g — adequate for normal household use
- Round-front less comfortable than elongated Stealth Sabre
- Standard 14.625" height on base SKU (Comfort Height variant available)
- Older design — Niagara has shifted marketing focus to the Sabre
- Same Niagara-proprietary parts as Sabre
- Limited retail availability
- No designer styling