My wife and just moved into a new condo in Michigan. The city has their new tiolets using just 1.(something gallons). There are several times when the toilet will not flush down your stool when it is large. Any ideas around the problem. Some people have suggested getting a new toilet in Canada. The city appearating wants to save on water and I would like to have a solution to this problem without breaking the bank!

Thanks J.B.

You are absolutely right, those 'water-saving' toilets are a complete hoax! I just started a thread about this in misc.consumers.frugal-living

Take a look at it.

To make a travel connection....I've noticed in foreign countries, their toilets are very different from the ones we "used" to be able to get here in the U.S. In fact, I was told, it was an environmentalist/conservationist who was traveling in Europe that came up with the idea of having 1.5 gallon flush tanks here. He succeeded it getting it done. It wasn't until after the "toilet makers" retooled and the consumer started using them that it was "discovered" our US plumbing can't handle it. Gee, what's a person to do when you have to replace the toilets?

However repugnant this may be, we've learned not to "mix" the toilet paper with the waste, but to flush twice.

When I travel, a clean functioning bathroom is required, so I definately want one at home as well.

I poopoo the idea of these ultra-low consumption toilets, too. Just keep flushing and flushing. Those conservationists will see the folly of their ways. America must be wiped clean... of these low-consumption thrones!

Look for a "Sterling" 1.6 gal toilet. They are made in Mexico, and work very well. We have two of these, and one of the old 3 plus gallon oldies. The new 1.6 gal toilets work much better than the old one. All other brands don't work well at all.

Have also heard about a brand called "Toto." Anyone know anything about them? Any other testimonials about the aforementioned "Sterling?" We thought we had talked to the experts and they could do nothing for us.*sigh* We spent over $700 replacing 2 toilets and want more information before we do it again.....

no offense, but......how is the original post related to travel???

I have a lot of experience in this area, being a landlord. Toto toilet 1.6 gallon flush work as well or better than 5 gallon flush toilets. They are also cheaper than most other brands (usually around $125) If you are somewhat handy toilets are very easy to install. So switch to Toto and you're life will be easier.

I have no connection with toto aside from being a VERY satisfied customer.

Check out the information at the Toiletarium:
http://www.kitchen-bath.com/hotstuff/tltarium.htm

I also live in Michigan (metro Detroit area) and recently purchased and installed a 3.5 toilet from Ontario. Toilets are duty free (NAFTA), so as long as you declare your purchase at the border, you won't have any problems. You have to install these yourself because it is illegal hire a plumber to do it. Also they won't pass inspection on newly-built homes.
The toilet I purchased (Kohler) was actually US made, and exported to Canada.
You can also stop at the duty free shop on the way home and get a refund on the GST taxes you paid.

Travel related is relative...the original post was from someone who had just traveled to a new area to live...that's travel related enough for me!

Besides, I want to thank JB for the post. I have gotten some valuable information. Also thanks Charles and Lori for your information. It is greatly appreciated.

Anyone else have experience with the Toto brand?

that was just a little bit too much information for me, J.B!
Good luck with your problem...uh, all of them...

What a post!! We had to replace a toilet after the first was broken by contractors doing a tile floor.

The first replacement they put in was worthless and we had them redo it. The second one is something called "Sloan Flushmate" and works as well as the original. It has a tank of compressed air (sits where the water tank does in any other toilet) that assists in the flush. It's a bit startling at first flush as you get a big WHOOOSH sound gt;, but it's really effective! There is some water involved of course, but the primary action comes from the compressed air.

EW! thank you for the visions! Why is this in a travel forum?!??! EW!EW!EW!

I don't know if this belongs in a travel forum, but it is interesting information. I wish I'd seen it before I learned about toilets the hard way.

The pressure assisted toilets described above do work well. THey are, however, loud, noisy expensive, and expensive to repair. THis compares to a regular toilet which I can easily repair myself. FOr someone who doesn't do there own plumbing repairs, this mught be a moot point.

I strongly support the 1.5 gallon toilet standard - it's a fairly easy thing for most people to do to help the environment. Admittedly , the toilet companies could do a better job of design.

As for Toto toilets, ask most plumbers, architects, etc. about them. It's interesting that their reputation hasn't got out to the general public, because within the industry they are very well known. Home Depot doesn't sell them - often its an otherwise very high end plumbing store that will carry them. THey are even used as a bit of a metaphor in my experience - i.e. ____ is the toto toilet in its field. Meaning that not only is it the best, its the cheapest. Not a frequent combination in this life!

Not to beat this topic to death, but the Sterling brand low volume toilets I mentioned above cost about $120, and don't need compressed air. They are available in the midwest at least. Maybe they are too cheep for contractors/plumbers to push. Could it be that "Toto" and "Sterling" are made by the same firm?

A topic Noach finally knows something about!

Why this topic here? I already addressed that...but can do it again *smile*

I can relate travel to anything..already have done that..read previous posts.

Sometimes we connect with people who share the same love of traveling..but we still have the same problem at home..hmmm...think I just made the travel connection again...

Anyone else have a "Toto" experience?

The Today show is currently broadcasting from Australia for the Olympics, and Katie Couric and Matt Lauer were actually discussing the toilets there the other day -- they said each toilet has an option for flushing with either a small amount of water or a larger amount for "bigger jobs." I think they are meant to be environmentally friendly while still able to handle the problem JB mentioned. I've never seen these in the U.S. though.

Dave Barry has actually done some very funny columns on this same subject, about the black market in toilets that has sprung up, toilet bootleggers from Canada, etc.

here