Whatever we call it; the washroom, powder room, throne, john, can, head, commode, crapper, or just plain toilet, we all know when we need one!

Buckle up for a joy ride through the realm of lavatories.

We’re going to potty like a rock star!

TYPES OF TOILETS

There are two main toilet shapes: regular and elongated. The regular one is kinda’ round and compact, good for small bathrooms. Elongated toilets are more oval-shaped and longer, giving more room while sitting. It's like comparing a small cozy chair to a bigger, more comfortable one. Both get the job done, but some people prefer that extra length of the elongated shape (and it makes guys able to “tuck” easier while sitting). Shape really is about what fits best in your bathroom and what feels right for your family. Read on for some fascinating (to us) shapes and types that we hadn’t considered before.

Composting Toilets: Nature Knows How to Recycle

There are places we want a toilet but have no water access, so the perfect toilet to use is a composting toilet. It harnesses the power of decomposition to turn human waste into nutrient-rich compost. Perfect for out buildings, off-grid living and eco-conscious households and garden sheds, composting toilets save water and also contribute to sustainable waste management practices when emptied sustainably. With the correct ratio, done properly, there is no additional odor associated with using a composting toilet versus a regular flush toilet. We know a CalTech professor that rigged one up in his home’s bathroom to save water during the Los Angeles mega-drought and his Thanksgiving guests even used it, instead of the regular flush toilet. Kudos for sustainability!

Chair/Comfort Height toilets

Taller than standard toilets, with a seat between 17 to 19 inches from the floor, chair height toilets make it easier for people to sit down and stand up from the toilet independently and reduces falls, increasing bathroom safety. This design offers significant advantages, especially for people with limited mobility, adults getting on in years, and those with bad knees. This toilet is easily retrofitted into existing bathrooms. Get your plumber in your Jack app to come put in a chair height toilet in replace of your old toilet that uses a lot of water. The water savings will pay off the cost in no time and sometimes your water authority will give a credit for installing low flush toilets, so check with them for which styles will qualify for the credit.

Dual Flush & Low Flow Toilets

Low-flow toilets, also known as low-flush and high-efficiency models, use less water than standard models to get everything down the drain. Low-flush toilets use a special design of the cistern and siphon in order to move everything with less water. The US federal standard for low-flow toilets has been 1.6 gallons per flush or less since 1994. The EPA estimates that replacing an old toilet with a more water efficient model can cut water usage by 20-60% and save the average homeowner around $140 yearly, paying for itself over time. Dual-flush toilets typically use 1.6 gallons per flush for a full flush and 1.28 gallons or less for a reduced flush. Dual-flush toilets can save about 25% more water than conventional low-flow toilets.

European Bidets: Separate from the Toilet

In 1750, France invented the bidet, during a time when bathing was done only once a week and now we conure Parisian holidays when talking about bidets: the separate porcelain contraption that Americans had no idea what to do with when first faced with that weird second lidless toilet in their schmancy hotel bathroom. Bidet is a french word for “pony”. The concept is that you straddle the bidet like a pony to use it. And it’s separate from a French toilet because a toilet is to flush away waste and the bidet is to clean up afterwards, a second step in a French toileting routine. Do you have the room for a bidet in your bathroom? Have you used one on holiday or in fancy hotels? Jack wants to know.

Foam Flush Toilets: Fun and Saves Oodles of Water!

Foam Flush toilets, most famously used in The Bronx Zoo Eco-Restroom to replace a failing sewage system, are a type of gravity fed toilet and they literally save tons of water! Foam Flush toilets use 6 ounces of water per flush compared to a typical low-flush water toilet that uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Remember to hit the foam flush button before sitting down for a “flushed away” immediately as you do your business. This type of gravity fed toilet cannot be retrofitted into existing “regular” sewer type installations so homes need to plan ahead with their architect to design the needed septic system if wanting to be super eco-friendly with this type of gravity fed toilet. If you want to get this interesting type of toilet, this is the company of foam flush toilets used at The Bronx Zoo: https://www.clivusmultrum.com/products-services.php.

Incinerating Toilets: Turns Waste into Ashes

Ever heard of a toilet that can incinerate waste? Incinerating toilets utilize intense heat to burn potty waste into ashes, eliminating the need for water and traditional sewage systems. Ideal for remote locations or spaces where plumbing isn't feasible, these toilets offer a sanitary and efficient solution to waste disposal.

Japanese Bidets/Washlets: Hygiene on Tap

Three-fourths of Japanese homes have Japanese Bidets, also called washlets, which are different than European Bidets. With Japan’s famous high standard of cleanliness, North Americans are catching on too. Japanese Bidets are a type of bidet seat, attachment, or toilet that uses a stream of water to clean after #2. It is hygienic and reduces the need for wasteful toilet paper. The difference with Japanese Washlets is that the bidet is incorporated into the standard western type flush toilet and not separated as a second station, as is done in Europe. The Japanese Bidet uses less square footage, a necessary space-saving feature in Japan. Anyone with a modern flush toilet and electricity nearby can retrofit a Japanese Bidet into their bathroom. With various features like adjustable water pressure, temperature control, lights, heated seats, Japanese Washlets offer a personalized, hygienic alternative becoming more and more popular.

Self Cleaning Toilets

This self-cleaning toilet literally cleans itself thanks to innovative systems that fight grime without harsh chemicals. The pictured Toto toilet seat warms up for ultimate comfort, it’s lid closes softly with a gentle touch, and has an automatic deodorizer to keep the room fresh.

Smart Toilets

Modern smart toilets have electric flushes, using much less water, some as low as .6 liter per flush. Hygienic hands-free seat opening and closing, built-in speakers system for bathroom tunes and podcasts, ambient colored lighting, heated seat, power-save mode, and emergency flush for power outages, all operated from a remote control. Smart toilets are being installed more frequently because of their excellent features for homes - and since everyone uses a toilet, the additional expense is not wasted.😋

Squat Toilets: Back to Basics

In parts of the world, squat toilets are still used. Unlike sitting toilets, squat toilets require users to, well, squat. Squat toilets do offer several health benefits, including improved bowel movements and reduced risk of hemorrhoids. Jack doesn’t recommend installing one in your North American home but next time you are on an overseas jaunt, give it a try. We saw Japanese temples with ancient squat toilets and were pretty fascinated they were still in use.

Wall Toilet

Wall-hung toilets are mounted directly onto the bathroom wall. The water tank and plumbing is concealed within the wall cavity. This design is minimalist and contemporary and convenient when space is tight. And it’s so easy to clean since the toilet bowl is suspended above the floor.

Waterless Urinals: Eco-conscious Gravity Fed Wee

Waterless urinals are similar to standard flushing urinals, but they don't use water to flush. They use a patented drain tap that doesn't use water or chemicals to replace the water used in normal urinals. Waterless urinals use gravity to carry urine from the basin through a seal in a cartridge and into the plumbing drain system. The seal prevents odors and sewer gasses from rising up the pipe and into the room.

The Great Toilet Paper Debate: Over or Under?

We discussed the heated debate raging about bathrooms around the world: does toilet paper get hung over or under the roll? This debate has incredibly sparked scientific studies. So, which side of the roll is Jack on? In 1891, the patent of the perforated toilet paper roll filed with the U.S. patent office shows the roll hanging like this. And, hopefully, that settles the debate.

The Call of Nature: Do Toilets Flush Counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere?

Jack talked to a few plumbers and, ah, the age-old mystery of toilet bowl swirl direction! Contrary to popular belief, our flush toilets in the Northern Hemisphere do not always flush water counterclockwise. The direction of the flush depends on factors including the design of the toilet’s angled water jets and the water flow, not about the hemisphere. Sorry, bathroom myth busters but you cannot tell which hemisphere you are in by flushing a toilet. What direction does your toilet flush in? We want to know.

Courtesy Flush: An Unwritten Toilet Etiquette Rule of a Public Loo Explained

There is an unwritten code of conduct when it comes to using public toilets, which can mean at a friend’s house, work, shopping or school, and we’re here for it.  It’s called the Courtesy Flush. Thus referring to “A flush in the middle of the toilet sitting process in order to prevent the stink from peeling the paint off the walls.” This means that when you need to drop a dookie, FLUSH right after the first little bit comes out, drop another little bit of dookie, FLUSH the toilet, and so on. Do not wait to flush only once at the end of the entire sitting process of pooping and wiping. FLUSH a few times in between and much before the ending of the toilet-sitting. Now you are informed about “Courtesy Flushing” the toilet and you can thank Jack for that.

When it’s time to change out your toilet, send a request for estimate over to your local plumber in the Jack of All Homes app! Where you can schedule and send pics in app and the plumber will see your service history and know what they need to bring. 

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