Surprisingly there is a good variety of toilet types available in the industry. They come in several different sizes, shapes, and colours, and also greatly differ in structure, functionality, sanitation standards, and costs. When choosing the ideal toilet for you, it is essential to have comprehensive knowledge about all the available variants in your country or locality—in this case, Australia as a whole.

A toilet is one of the most used appliances in a home. Getting the right toilet type is crucial. It is a long-term investment that you need to get right, or else you would be looking into, potentially, years of bathroom discomfort.

Australians, in general, are quite concerned about such matters. These days, choosing a toilet with the right design can be way more confusing than was the case even a few years ago. Hence, this article focuses on the various types of toilets that you can get in Australia.

What is the best toilet to buy?

As mentioned previously, the options are extensive. Some people might prefer a large set-out distance, while others may only care about water efficiency. It depends on the user’s requirements, as well as the budget. Toilet classifications are also subjective to the demand of the user.

For instance, the people concerned with flushing efficiency will tend to go for a variant that comes with a high-end flushing mechanism. Gravity flushes and pressure-assisted flushes are the most widely used. Dual flushes are also rising in prominence in the toilet industry. In case you are looking for a unique technology, try the newly introduced tornado flush systems that use a couple of nozzles to eject water into the bowl. These variants create high water pressure within the bowl, which makes the system highly efficient.

Furthermore, features like the height of the seat or the colour combination of the system also heavily affect the choices of potential buyers. People concerned with how classy their bathrooms should look may base their decisions solely on the colour of the cistern, for instance. They might be on the lookout for a specific shape of flushing nob. Some people may simply want a properly adjusted toilet seat for maximum comfort.

Hence, there are no hard and fast rules that define one brand of a toilet as better than the other, as there is always a group of consumers that can benefit from the “lesser” variant. Make sure you set your priorities straight. Do not purchase a toilet just for the sake of it; obtain it to solve a problem. Only then can you get the best value.

Toilet types

Australia is a technologically advanced, forward-thinking country. Thus, it is quite normal to find some of the most sophisticated bathroom mechanisms available in Australian markets. If you are a resident, it is all good news for you. Let us take a detailed look into the best types of toilets that you can acquire and start using right away.

Toilet type #1: Close-coupled toilets

Close-coupled toilet systems are, arguably, the most common of the lot. The cistern is positioned right behind the toilet bowl and is connected to the pan. The flush pipe is kept hidden. Close-coupled toilets were a welcome change to the traditional designs where the cisterns were placed high above, exposing the flush pipe because of this. The fact that close-coupled variants come as a single unit makes it more appealing for potential customers. Installation complexity is reduced, making it quite cheap to have them integrated into the plumbing system of your house.

Close-coupled toilets come in a variety of shapes and sizes. As all the pipes are kept concealed, the overall structure looks and feels classy. It is also easier to manufacture them in customized forms due to their one-piece structures. If you are looking for a fancy bathroom renovation, there are not many better options than installing a close-coupled toilet. This way, there simply is no need to make any changes in the plumbing lines, or even the bathroom tiles. All you need to do is find a location and place the toilet accordingly.

The biggest problem associated with the close coupled toilet is the unused space behind its base. This area is quite difficult to clean and is usually soiled fast. Most people do not like this aspect of close-coupled toilets and tend to avoid them. Australian laws recommend the use of licensed plumbers to perform any form of plumbing work in the country. Make sure you take the help of a professional in case you do go for the close-coupled toilet for your bathroom.

Toilet type #2: Back-to-wall toilets

When it comes to placement efficiency, back-to-wall toilets go one step further, compared to the close-coupled variants. Their costs are slightly higher due to this reason. The main advantage of using a back-to-wall toilet, as the name suggests, is the absence of any annoying gaps behind the cistern. The whole system can perfectly be placed adjacent to a wall, giving the bathroom a simplistic look. Minimalists love the idea of back-to-wall toilets because of this very reason.

The overall shape of these toilet types is generally compact. This is even more visible due to the lack of unused space behind. Users no longer need to worry about keeping that area clean, saving time and effort. Even in the case of minor repairs, dismantling the setup is relatively easy due to the nature of its manufacture.

The most troubling setbacks faced by back-to-wall toilet users are usually associated with the installation procedure. Sure, it is quite easy to install them, but at times, it is quite challenging to find the right water inlet options to connect the toilet pipes into. Taking the help of experts can ease the situation and get the job done right.

Toilet type #3: Wall-hung toilets (in-wall cistern)

Wall-hung toilets that come with in-wall cistern setups are rapidly being accepted by the public—and for good reason. The fact that the entire cistern remains invisible behind the wall was absolutely unimaginable in the past. Modern wall-hung toilets, on top of all the utility, introduce a sense of aristocracy to the bathroom.

The basic setup is simple. You will only be seeing the pan and the seat. The rest of the body is kept hidden behind the wall. This allows more space for the users to utilize. A common misconception among speculators is that the height of these seats cannot be adjusted. This is certainly not the case. Existing users usually claim that the transitioning of the seat’s height is a fairly comfortable and easy process.

Furthermore, due to the bottom being hollow, users can clean the region. Smaller bathrooms heavily benefit from wall-hung toilets. The fact that their shapes are compact means only a little space is all that is required to install them. The absence of a visible cistern, as well as a toilet base, clearly does make a difference. So does the lack of flushing noise that a lot of people find annoying.

Toilet type #4: Wall faced toilets (in-wall cistern)

To understand wall-faced toilets, you would need to have an idea about the back-to-wall and wall-hung toilet variants first. Wall-faced toilets are similar to the other two in terms of functionality. They are similar to wall-hung toilets except for the fact that they are not mounted onto the wall, but are placed on the ground like back-to-wall toilets. No gap is present underneath the toilet bowl, as well as the back. The cistern is installed within the rear wall or inside a nearby cabinet.

All the plumbing lines originating from the toilet are directly connected to the main water supply, which is generally concealed behind the wall. The floor-mounted design allows an S-trap to be installed within. This ensures all the water and waste are carried directly into the floor instead of the rear wall. Most bathrooms already have an opening in the floor for such matters. Thus, installing an S-trap will not require additional drilling, saving expenses in the process.

Probably the biggest drawback of wall-faced toilets is their steep cost. People on a budget are usually unable to purchase these variants, despite the numerous benefits they bring. Even the repairs tend to be costly due to the way they are manufactured and the cistern being placed out of sight. Professional plumbers can deal with these issues with ease.

Toilet type #5: Smart toilets

In simple terms, smart toilets are the best of the lot. Think of any toilet feature that you would like to have; chances are, a smart toilet will be able to carry it out. These are specialized toilet systems that are completely automated. They boast an array of functionalities that make your bathroom experience significantly better.

A smart toilet suite with a built-in bidet comes with features like automatic flushing, automatic lid opening, front and rear wash, dedicated warm water, oscillating or massage wash, aerobic bubble cleaning, auto-deodorisation, adjustable water pressure and temperature, adjustable nozzle positioning, air dryer, heated seat, night light, power saving, remote maintenance, and a lot more! The features speak for themselves. Most toilets, no matter how tech-infused they are, cannot perform all these functions as a single unit. Thus, smart toilets are different from the rest and are the ideal choice for people preferring experience over budget.

Toilet type #6: Portable toilets

Portable toilets are increasingly gaining in popularity due to the extent of their utility. A piston pump is used for flushing. The waste is collected into a detachable container which can easily be emptied after removing it from the toilet body. These toilets are great to carry around on a lengthy trip—especially in regions where sanitation standards are poor.

Take Thetford Porta Potti 365 as an example. This device can perform 57 flushes before the tank needs emptying. This is a significant number as it ensures tension-free traveling for days on end. Some of their most popular features include improved valve handling, integrated emptying spout, handy vent button, waste level indicator, improved seating comfort, integrated cover-lock, improved carry handle, high-quality plastic build, and many more. They can also be fixed into a particular spot using a hold-down kit, which can come in handy for people traveling on, say, a boat.

Most popular toilet feature for 2021: Tankless toilet

Tankless toilets are the most popular toilet feature in 2021. They do not come associated with tanks, making them truly remarkable appliances indeed! When was the last time you came across a tankless toilet?

The mechanism involved is quite straightforward: instead of storing water to flush, the toilet uses water directly from the main supply. A built-in pump forces the water flow with high pressure, resulting in a powerful flush. To allow this to happen, tankless toilets come with ultra-wide pipes. A large volume of water can thus be transferred.

The only setback of using a tankless toilet is that it is battery-operated. You will not be able to flush if the battery is dead; something which can be extremely problematic during a bad time. Make sure you know all the ins and outs of a tankless toilet before opting to get one.

Top trending toilet feature for 2021: Rimless toilet

As the name suggests, rimless toilets do not have a rim. This means the water does not flow downwards but is rather shot upwards from below to cover the most ground within the bowl. The water is rotated within the bowl, ensuring the constant water resistance leaves no waste unattended.

Cleaning a rimless system is very easy. Due to the absence of the rim, the regions under the non-existent rim can be kept clean at all times. Rimmed structures need a lot of toilet cleaner to keep them unsoiled, raising expenses down the line. A rimless architecture avoids that completely. These appliances are still quite new to Australians. However, recent trends have shown an increase in their popularity, and quite rightly so.

Picking the right toilet for your needs

As different toilet variants have their features and uses, understanding them is essential when it comes to choosing the right toilet for your personal use. Certain users may prefer a round or elongated toilet shape, while others might just want to go for a square one. Children and the elderly have their own set of preferences based on their desires and physical conditions respectively.

Some users only care about the functionalities rather than the outlook. Examples include the toilet’s water efficiency, integrated bidet features, automation in the seat cover, and so on. The safest bet is to go for the smart toilet suite with a built-in bidet. With this variant, you can be assured of all the advanced properties most modern toilets boast. At the end of the day, it is down to the user’s criteria.