i guess Im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I was stupid lost my account password. I love any help you can offer me.
@Judah Kaden Thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
You guys are the best! Thank you! I was my father's apprentice my whole life. He could fix ANYTHING! Replace a car engine, rebuild a transmission, put on a new roof, replace the heating system, put together your bike and fix your favorite toy! At about 8 years old, I was watching him out a 2nd floor window on a scaffold painting the house. I said, "I can help you paiint." After telling me a few times that it was too dangerous on a scaffold for me, he finally gave in and I climbed out the window and onto the scaffold where I sat happily painting the window trim until my mother came into the room and saw her daughter outside on the scaffold and had a fit, saying, "Frank, what is she doing on a 2nd floor scaffold?!?!" That was the end of my painting the window trim, but I loved it! I never knew what a repairman was until I moved away from home. As he got older and was on dialysis my father felt useless, so I would call and ask him to help me with whatever job I could find to do. He would tell me that he couldn't do the job, and I would reply that he knew HOW to do it and he could guide me through the job and we could do it together. (I knew how to do them, but didn't tell him.) He would come and they were special times spent together talking while doing the job. My fatherr passed away in 2008. A few years later, my home was hit by Superstorm Sandy. The first floor of my townhouse was damaged. My next door neighbor's fatherr was there every day helping fix her place up. I mourned the loss of my father more during that time than when he passed away. He, too, would have been here every day, and we would have done the jobs together. Ironically, today is Father's Day and I feel so privileged to have had him until he was 83. It's not a sad day, but a day of happy memories. Gentlemen, thank you for this video in which a son honors his father so much. Sir, you are not "grumpy". You are perfect and remind me so much of my father. A very Happy Father's Day to both of you, and thank you for providing this forum, on this day, that I randomly found and had the opportunity to remember my father. Happy Father's Day, Pop. I love you and miss you. ❤ To any other readers on this site, sorry for taking up so much room and going on a tangent. It's funny the way the heavens reach out to us. Be open to it. Some very wonderful things may lie ahead for you, too. Be well everyone and Happy Father's Day to all.
Wavewatcher I, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful tribute to your dad and the very special relationship you both had. You sound like an amazing person yourself. You made Mrs. Grumpy Plumber cry as I read it. Jim feels so fortunate to have this opportunity to share his plumbing knowledge with so many people and in turn, help them solve problems. Your thoughtful comments made his Father’s Day extra special. Thank you! All the best to you.
Dad, Son relationship - that's awesome, men! Just the way it's supposed to be yet so many don't enjoy. I was one of the blessed ones - just buried my Great Dad. Really enjoyed seeing the two of you interact. Keep it up. Plumbing is important but a good, respectful, close, honoring relationship is far more important! Cheers!
Loved your comment. It actually made me feel better about my own! I didn't focus on the plumbing either. I'm sorry for your loss. It's a bit late, but no less heartfelt, I just got here. Happy Father's Day to you. I have a feeling that someone wanted to reach out to you and I happen to be the very privileged and humble way that was found. What a special day!
Hello there, every time i sit on the toilet or get up, there is a sound, i feel like the tank is loose where do i tighten it Sir? Thank you, God’s blessing to you two!
Yes, a great comment. I wished it for myself but my dad tried not to have this relationship between us. It seems he wanted me to be out in the world with my own something, but also he was a little too much worried about my well-being and bothered with my relationship with others.
I first saw Totos when I was in Japan. The most clever plumbing appliance I've ever seen was a Toto. Over there, they don't have a lot of room. So in a bar or restaurant rest room, the sink was the top of the toilet tank, and the gray water drained into the toilet tank, and was used to flush the toilet. Not only did that eliminate the need for two fixtures in the room, but it cut down on water usage and waste. It made perfect sense to me.
As an insurance adjuster, I came across a great plumber. I sent him to many homes. When it was my turn to replace, he installed Totos. I had never heard of them. He said they were the best and so far I have to agree wholeheartedly.
I repacked an old water hog with a Toto, now I’m replacing an American Standard with a Toto, the latest one I’m replacing is a low end standard height with a round bowl. If it is more money, as Jim said it’s going to be around forever, if you amortize the expense over its life it amounts to pennies. Thank you for the advice.
We put toto toilets on our home years ago and they are great. We’ve moved and will be replacing these toilets with Totos. Yes, the price has gone up but still a good deal. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I'm a first-time homeowner and appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge. Also, I think it's very cool that the information is also included in the description as a quick summary.
I’ve had a Mansfield dual flush toilet that hasn’t plugged in ten years. I put a 1.2 GPF Deer Valley in our basement a couple of years ago that has been excellent. It takes 18 seconds to refill. The best part though is that because the tank is so small they made the front of the tank concave-it doesn’t stick into your back. I also changed out 42 toilets in an 8-floor senior high-rise I was Maintenance Director at. I was switching old American Standard closets for ADA height Kohlers with the Sloan pressurized gear. Used the neoprene gaskets. The residents absolutely loved the higher seat. If you’re buying a new toilet, get one with the higher seat. it’s well worth it.
I had to replace the three toilets which came with our new house twenty years ago,... they did not work!!! Builders grade Universal Rundle....junk !! Replaced them with American Standard Champion 4, elongated ADA height. Perfectly happy with them,....they have never failed to flush! Highly recommend them.!
@@TheGrumpyPlumber my house is 20 years old and I replaced the main bathroom toilet with an as Champion 4 a few months ago. I am in a ranch style and my toilets sit back to back in the main and master baths. Now that I've changed the toilet in the main bath, when either toilet is flushed, the pressure pulls water from the opposite toilet and vice versa. The toilet pipes tie into the same waste pipe. I am told that this is the reason and also because my toilets are not back to back toilets. With this being said, can you suggest some good cost efficient back to back toilets that will no longer cause this issue. I would like something economical that cleans the bowl well and preferably known for no clogging. Any suggestions will help thank you so much.
Hattie Graves, if you can find back to back toilets I will also sell you a bridge to nowhere! In all my years I have never heard of back to back toilets. If I was coming to do the work, I would check the vent/ vents to those toilets. If there was one vent, it might be plugged or both could be plugged. Take a garden hose and run water down the vents. The water will back up in the vents are plugged. ( Make sure the water does not run into another fixture and flood the house.) Check that out as it’s easy to do.
Great to meet you fellas. As a Disabled Vet living on my VA disability, I try to do ALL my home repairs. So far, I’ve only needed help with siding and gutters. Thanks for the advice.
I renovated two bathrooms. I put American Standard's "Clean" model in both, one year apart, ada height. With the first one, my plumber said "oh, you got one of those" . My heart sank, thinking I had bought something sub par. He went on to explain that his sister got one and he told her he would never put one of those in again. It was because they are made in one piece, therefore heavier and a little awkward to handle. He manage it with a lot of grunting and sweating, but I absolutely love it. It operates perfectly and the sides on the bottom are smooth making it easy to clean. There's no condensation for it to collect hair, etc. A year later when it came time to install the second one, he politely turned me down. I got to hear another plumber, who was younger, grunt and sweat and swear, as he installed it.
Didn't realize how difficult it is to replace a toilet until I bought two American Standard's Champion 4 toilets. This toilet was leaking from the very first install. The home repair guy switched out the screws but it kept leaking. After removing the tank, I suspect the valve flush gasket was leaking. Then I read the reviews which revealed that the tanks and bowls would crack all by themselves over time, so I decided to take a loss (>$500) and dumped both toilets in the garbage. Ready to give Toto a try, this is the second youtube video recommending Toto.
American Standard Quantum; easier to find than Toto and not crazy expensive. 3 of them in my house, 6 years old, no problems, no plunging. Great so far.
Toto's are good, but can make a dripping sound internally. It is not a leak, but water dripping from the bowl to the drain. Just installed an American Standard with the VorMax flush, so far it has worked well.
Toto comes with a separate trap so that the toilet can be used for different distances from the wall. This is a great idea. Not all of their toilets are like this. They have built in traps. The drip sound is caused from too much water in the trap seal. It will eventually seek the water level for the trap seal and stop dripping. Good luck with that American Standard, you are going to need it.
@@johnkrim8377 It is a design flaw in the Toto toilets. You can search on-line and find many complaints. There is no external leak, it is the sound from inside the lower section.
Hello!!! We want to THANK YOU for doing this video and the interview with "the Grumpy Plumber"!! We were going to get a different toilet (and bidet) for our current remodel for 2 new bathrooms (we had only one toilet in our house from 1950 which flushed every time like a dream!). We were told toilets are toilets etc... but after living in a newer house that we purchased we knew it wasn't true and hated the newer low-flow toilet systems. As I did my research I found your video, and have been thankful ever since. Long story short, we purchased the Toto brand toilet (and the Toto bidet seats from our local Costco) for both bathroom remodels. Yes it was kind of pricey but if anyone has spent a night (or days) unclogging a toilet will know how much that is worth too. We love both of them- the Toto toilet and the bidet!! The toilets flush perfectly each time, no clogs. And of course maybe it is true that too much toilet paper clogs the system- but no need to worry about that now with the bidet. Thank you so much for publishing this video!!! I have subscribed, liked, and told everyone that I know about you guys! THANKS AGAIN!!!
Karen, we can tell you are so excited because of your new Washlet toilet seat! Thanks for the testimony and positive review. You made this Grumpy Plumber’s day.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Yay!! Glad to hear that you read and liked my review, I hope that the Grumpy Plumber isn't grumpy today and is smiling because he did good. Heck, he did fantastic. We are sooo thrilled! Haha!!
I LOVE you guys!!! I have NEVER left a review on a youtube video, but you guys are AMAZING. NO BS and right to the point! Easiest research I have ever had to do.
I bought my first Toto toilet over 15 years ago. 11 years ago I bought a different house. We simultaneously owned both the old and new houses for a few months during the transition, and I loved the Toto so much that I swapped toilets between the two houses so I could keep it. That original Toto is still going strong in our master bathroom.
Interesting. I actually bought two Totos for our home sometime around 2000(or so?) and they worked THE best! Never had an issue. Thanks for your informative video.
I bought an unheard brand from Lowe's for the kids bathroom. They had an annoying habit of flushing a couple of rolls of paper at a time. With laminate floors the last thing you need is a flood. The brand was Penquin. The reason for buying it was it was advertised as an anti run over toilet. Hands down one of the best purchases I have ever made. It works by having 4 or 5 holes up under the front rim. If the water gets that high it goes in those holes and runs directly to the drain in the floor. It wouldn't prevent a flood if the large drain was plugged but if the s trap designed into the toilet gets clogged, which is where they usually do, then the toilet won't overflow. However we've since switched to bidets and there isn't much, if any, paper being flushed.
In my condo 11 years ago, after long exhaustive research, i decided to spring for a Toto Eco-Drake II. 1.28 gpf, cyclone flushing action, ADA height. Probably overkill as I didn’t have a water bill (part of the association fee) so I didn’t see the water savings directly. But where the original Mansfield 3.5 gpf clogged almost daily, the Toto clogged maybe 5 times in 8 years. It was my only toilet so it was mission-critical. 😀 When I moved and bought my house a few years ago, one of the first things I had done was change out the Kohler for a Toto Entrada. The idiots who put in the Kohler used a 1.6 gpf tank on a 3.5 gpf bowl; it would barely flush my pee. The Entrada was less than $200 on Amazon, plus $125 to install. (The plumber I hired was impressed with my choice of toilet.) It also has a 1.28 gpf and ADA height, but standard (straight down) rather than cyclone flush, so it doesn’t clean the bowl quite as well. But that’s my only regret. If I’d known that I would have spent a bit more for a Drake with ADA height. (I’m actually thinking of getting a Drake to put upstairs and having the Entrada pulled out and moved downstairs, which I don’t use nearly as much.) Last year I bought a cheap plastic $30 bidet attachment, it fits between the seat and the bowl. They are commonly sold in the Middle Eastern markets in my area. I cut my TP usage by about two-thirds (and was laughing while others were hoarding it). It’s a manual cold water bidet but it was easy to install (I did have to tighten the packing nut on the supply valve when it leaked) and it works awesome. BTW I can clearly hear you Dad’s Michigan accent after having lived here for over 17 years.
After a bathroom remodel 5 years ago I went to Arizona and bought a pair of American Standard Cadet 4 toilets (1.6 gallon) for my home in California. They advertised it would flush 20 golf balls, and I think it would do it! I've never had to do a double flush. Jeffery Dahmer would have loved it!
Oh Man, I love this. My dad passed away 5 years ago and I would give anything to get some advice from him. I've been struggling with some piddly stupid repair and even though this didn't answer my question, I appreciate the no nonsense advice. I ❤️ the grumpy plumber. Reminds me of my dad and I needed that on this lonely Christmas Eve. Thanks. ❤️
Dear Sara, you made this Grumpy plumber’s day with your kind comment. Could I help you with your piddly repair problem? I would be happy to give it a shot. Sorry for your loss.....holidays can be hard.
Hi Sara, I lost my mom just before Christmas a year ago, it won't always be as hard as it is now. Blessings to you and don't be afraid to reach out to family and friends. One of the best places to make friends is at your local church. Go there to BE a friend and people will gravitate to you. Of course let The Lord be your comfort too.
While watching this video I was thinking how pleasant this feels because it reminds me of getting advice from my own Dad about house stuff, since he was in the building industry all my life. (Lost both within weeks five years ago So, yeah...sigh). Now if I could just figure out how to vent the dryer in my, hopefully someday reno'ed bath/laundry room. To all who read this, Peace be with you : }
@@TheGrumpyPlumber I don't check the email associated with this account often so sorry for my delay in response. Thank you so much for your kind offer. I ended up replacing the fill valve assembly and flapper and it fixed my problem, but I may take you up on your offer if another issue presents itself. I've probably watched 10 of your videos, just because I enjoy how you and your son converse with each other. ❤️ I don't think you're grumpy. 🙂 I think you are honest and no nonsense and I trust your advice. Thanks again for your offer, your videos and your kind words. Holidays are tough, but they are easier when a complete stranger offers a helping hand. Thank you. ❤️
Greetings! Your videos are terrific - very helpful. We have a Toto Drake II 1 gal model CST435CUFG - it's 3 years old and has worked like a champ......until recently! Suddenly it wouldn't flush even one single square of TP down on the first flush, but if we flushed it again immediately after the bowl refilled, it would flush. My husband snaked it with a 6' line. Then I had several conversations with Toto tech line guy and he was helpful until his suggestions didn't work. He decided it was a clogged air vent, which sounded plausible so we took the 25' snake up to the roof and it went straight down unimpeded. Toto tech advice stopped communicating after that. Had a young plumber in and he first raised the water level in the tank and then decided we need the 1.28 gal tank and offered to do that for $621 (not even an entirely new toilet - just the tank). I don't think it's the amount of water in the tank. When flushed the water rises in the bowl but the second flush works like it used to work. A plumber was at the office today and I talked with him and he said he thought it sounded like a clog that needed snaking again. My husband has lost interest in that. BUT when I told him about you he acted like he just might listen to you!! So if you have any suggestions I would really appreciate them! Thank you.
Elizabeth Suzuki, it sounds like you either have one of the information stickers that are on the tank or lid that has gone down into the bowl or a cleaning capsule that went into the bowl. Remove the tank and look into the opening of the bowl and see if you can see anything. I’ve had that happen before. Another thing, get rid of the phone number of that kid who offered to sell you that tank. I’m pretty sure you have something that went into the bowl and is blocking the flush. It’s easy to remove the tank. Remove the water and take the two nuts off under the bowl. Just be careful as the tank is fragile. Hope this is the answer.
Great stuff. I’m a plumber just getting ready for work and I enjoyed listening to the grumpy plumber. There’s no substitute for experience! I’m on board and I’m looking forward to watching more!
I put an AS in my basement bathroom and it developed tiny almost imperceptible cracks in the back side, leaking enough to ruin the laminate flooring. I contacted AS and they asked for a picture and the codes inside the tank. They sent me a new bowl for free! It flushes perfectly. It’s the one they show flushing golf balls.
I love Toto I still have old Koehler toilets 20 years old but still working if I ever replace I will replace with a Toto but I have a Toto cast iron kitchen sink dual basin enamel microban coating!! It’s is beautiful and so functional we love it .
Great father-and-son bit with good info. Son flashes a great smile at 3:48 (wonder if Richard Gere's dad also looks like "The Grumpy Plumber"), and love the failure explanation of why toilet flappers eventually leak! Thanks, Guys!
I have Had good luck with the Elongated American standard cadet two or three I think I have . It's been great , it's chair height or close too it . I think about ten years ago it was $250.00 each . American standard does make good toilet's , but don't skimp on the price .
In my opinion.. The best flushing toilet is a power flushing toilet, a black tank inside your toilet tank mainly used in commercial bathrooms but some bathrooms with bad pipe pitched toilet pipes.. some cheap brand toilets can be upgraded by changing the parts in the tank
I bought a AS 3 years ago, the golf ball ad. Worked good for 2 1/2 years, then started leaking water into the bowl. Replaced the silicone ring on the flapper valve. Still leaks into the bowl. Going to get the Toto Drake. As an aside, I'm an 80 year old non plumber but in the 1960's I worked as a handyman in a bungalow camp. 50 cabins, 50 toilets. They had been installed in the 1930-40's. Wooden tanks set a few inches above the bowl. Very few problems. Great flushing action.
Grant, when I change a flapper valve where it seals to the flush valve, I always clean off the lime around that rim. But, I hope you really like the Toto. Thanks for sharing your interesting story.
Great listening to you!! Thank you.... my eyes hurt from looking at all the toilets on the internet. I have an AS from 1953 and it still does the trick for my family. I appreciate your knowledge and advice of sticking to "what works" as opposed to " what's new". Now I am off to look at Toto's and see what they offer. Again..Thank you.
Thanks for your advice. I agree that the small height increase for an ADA compliant (“comfort height”) toilet makes a noticeable difference, at only a slight price increase.
Thanks for the info... never had Toto but heard good things! We’ve got a Gerber that’s worked flawlessly for over 20 years and an American Standard that’s been a problem since day 1... IDK why!
I have 3 American Standard golf ball toilets and they all leak around the floor. Replaced the seals 3 or 4 times so far with no sign of improvement. What a mess
Yep. Just commented above that my two Eljers, from 1960, are finally being replaced. They started having problems, one just minor, about 5 years ago. The house has been vacant, but now I'm restoring. Getting new flooring and figure now's the time to get a more water-efficient toilet. But yeah, the old Eljer lasted a pretty long time.
For $200.00 the American Standard with dual flush valves are great! It's the one with the label that shows how it can flush golf balls. Nice height and flush ports under the rim....rim job cleaning every flush, can't go wrong for the price.
Matt Monaghan, there is nothing wrong with an American Standard toilet. But, I’ve never pooped golf balls. Every toilet out there can do the same thing. It is a good price and I’m sure it works for you and a lot of people.
I enjoyed your video "Grumpy". I also like Toto. But in light of our aging population in Pittsburgh, I use what you call "ADA" toilets. I've been a Master Plumber for 35 years, and a County Plumbing Inspector the last 5 years. I also taught Plumbing school at night for 12 years. Ya know what's funny. The tall toilets were called "Handicapped" toilets in the 90's, Then switched to "ADA", Now because of our overly politically correct society, we are required to call them "Comfort Height" toilets. LOL... I also am a believer, as a single man, with installing a residential urinal with a simple Central Brass 1/2" self closing valve. Saves big on water. But as plumbing brothers sir, I'm inclined to agree with every tip you have just given. Enjoyed the video, you have a new subscriber !
@@TheGrumpyPlumber - You know what Grumpy? I actually put one-gallon bladders of water inside the tanks to lessen the water consumption, so by my measurement these toilets are now consuming about 3.5 GPF. They do flush very well and were built to last. That's why I've kept them. Keep up the good work.
I put American Standard in when I bought my last house....took them back to Lowe’s twice! Leaked and couldn’t get them to stop. Call AS and they new the tank to bowl seal was bad they were back ordered no fix...I got Kohler and not one issue in two years.
Love Toto products. The bigger bore size makes all the difference. I had a customer who's teenage son lived on cheeseburgers and was everlasting plugging up the toilets. Changed them all to Toto, no problems ever since. Most toilets are a 2" bore Totos are 3''.
My TOTO Drake clogs up every other day. I'm thinking about replacing it after only 4 months of use. I had to call roto rooter for the last clog it he charged $475. Not happy.
@@synewparadigm I think my roommate used napkins to wipe himself which clogged the TOTO toilet. Doesn't matter what brand you buy. They will all clog. Be prepared with at least three types of un-cloggers, large snake, small snake, plungers, blasters and tools to take the toilet off the floor. Keep them handy.
BINGO!! Brief n Sweet....THANKS! Answered my main question pretty quick. Nuttin better for wise advice than a hands-on guy, that's been there and done that ! Gotta love a good plumber. EVENTUALLY, We'll ALL NEED YOUR SERVICES!!
Great video! It's clear the Grumpy Plumber knows what he's talking about! Is there a preferred toilet 'innards' brand? Korky? Fluidmaster? Another brand/style?
Tom Myers, I like Fluidmaster fill valves aka ballcock. If I’m repairing a Kohler toilet, I use Kohler original parts. Same for American Standard toilets. For Toto, I use their fill valve and flush valves or their flapper valve. On all top brand toilets, you will find the model number either stamped into the ceramic or inked on the back wall of the tank. If you have problems, call the manufacturer as they will help you locate the parts needed.
I have two Toto's and one Kohler. The Kohler is pretty good, but the Totos are great. The Toto was recommended by my plumber who said it would cost more, but the return on the investment was worth it. After six years with one and five years with the other he was right.
32 year old Gerber toilets (3.8 gallon flush, about 3 gallons with a brick inside the tank) are still working and look brand-new. No issues except for some routine maintenance once every 5 to 10 years. To reduce water usage, we follow the "if it is yellow let it mellow" principle.
I was a professional drain cleaner for 20 years before I spent the next 19 repairing all plumbing. I cleaned 30,000 drains and Mansfield "Water Closets" are very good and inexpensive. Now faucets, I recommend Moen or Delta. They are not as fancy because they use their own distinct proven cartridges. Charmin, any type, is a problem when used in any toilets. Sam's club and some others are using Charmin under other names.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Yeah, I actually had bad luck with Kohler toilets. 2 in a row from home depot and both had an internal defect that released sewer gas into the rooms. Great vids BTW!
@@u2mister17 Moen? "Guaranteed To Leak For Life"! IMHO JUNK! BTW, I held a masters license in 2 states in the northeast before moving to the southeast to go into a new business.
my dad was a plumber he didn't like american standard very much either he said their quality had gone down over the years, but he was real old school born in 1916 he liked the brass toilet mechanisms not much of that stuff around anymore
Thank you for sharing your experience and recommended brand. I see it commercially installed especially at airports and casinos though not many in residential homes. Plan to ADA upgrade also.
Kohler has gotten quite good at the siphon action in for the one piece at Depot, which used to make horrible swirlypoo/maybe flushers. I'm not all that long in the loins- just some extra above average, but my brother's Toto, I dip in the water when I sit and lean forward. Sorry to be a bit graphic.
TOTO Toilet. I have had 5 TOTO Toilets and have not had any issues with what they flush. I HAVE had issues with the construction and how they flush. 1 - TOTO’s inside tank flush mechanism is a round piston that goes down into a cylinder. The mechanism hangs up and does not seal at times. It does not matter how old your TOTO is - this can happen at any time. I have added a large lead EGG shaped fishing weight to the top of the piston to help assure it goes down. This has worked very well but not perfect. The inside tank flush mechanism is not the old “flapper” style. I do not know if the other brands current models use the old rubber stopper/flapper(inexpensive to repair) or not. I am only familiar with TOTO. 2 - The flush handle on the outside that is connected to the inside tank lift rod is an issue. They did not build the tank top to accommodate a proper swing of the interior lift arm. A hard push of the handle can result in the handle being stuck in the down position. This lets the water run until the handle position is corrected. As the homeowner I know how to flush so this does not happen, but the grand kids don’t, and the handle constantly hangs up after they flush. The flush mechanism should be kid proof. 3 - The bowl Interior surface or glaze lets debris stick to it unlike any other brand I have ever seen.
I appreciate your comments on the Toto toilets. I recommend you change the flush valve. If you have a one piece toilet, there are only three screws to remove the flush valve. On the tank type, just remove the tank and remove the large 3” nut and install the new flush valve. You have to make sure you have the correct flush lever to alleviate the sticking problem. I agree that the glaze in the bowl is not the greatest. I recommend you call Toto (1888 295-8134) and give them the number found ( in black ink) on the back wall right hand side of the inside of the tank. They will give you the correct part numbers of the flush valves and tank levers. P.S. that canister flush valve was designed to make the 1.2 gallon flush.
I agree. In my experience the Totos are the best. They cost more, but they work much better than the two American Standard models I also bought, trying to save a little money.
I can't speak to their current toilet models, but my 20 year old American Standard Champions are amazing! I put a Toto in a prior house in the '90's and it was a great toilet as well. I think that all of today's name-brand toilets work really well (especially compared to 25 years ago when the early lower flow toilets were awful!)
I have a Crane Galaxy from 2005. It's the old ballcock & flapper style with a 2.5 gpf. I've never used a plunger on it. I think the older ones were made better
Have all three brands mentioned in my home. Like Toto the best by far. Others work fine, but not nearly as well as the Toto. If I renovate any further, Toto it will be
@@asht7899 I don't think they make the model I have any longer, but something similar to the Promenade line. It is a 2 piece elongated unit in cotton, nothing fancy. If I recall, it was under $500 when we installed it years ago. Works well and would recommend highly.
Look at what they use in commercial places, hotels, etc. You'll typically see Toto, and American Standard. It's gotta be a 1.6 gal flush, anything less doesn't do the job. It's gotta have a 3" flush valve, anything less doesn't do the job. It's gotta be ADA compliant, since we're not getting any younger. The American Standard Champion 4 has all of that, plus a soft close seat and lid.
Quietactually, now they are flushing toilets with a 1.28 gallon flush. Toto does a nice job of flushing. Haven’t checked other toilet brands. I hope they are working as well.
Quietactually imo, Champion 4 is great if you want to double flush constantly and clean the bowl at a high frequency. This is my experience. If I could fix those problems I would actually love it. Do you have any suggestions to make my toilet bowl experience better with this toilet?
I've had great luck with the Champion 1.6. One and done. Never clogged it or even had to flush it twice. So I got another one. It was a 1.28. Or I call it a 2.56. It only flushes pee the first time. I'm gonna try extending the fill tube & replacing the fill valve to allow more water.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Thanks. I realized my spare fill valve was same as the OEM and it was extendable. I had to remove it to get to the slide ring to change the height. I was able to raise it to a half inch above the tank without hitting the lid. I added a little silicone to the pvc then a hose clamp. Works like the 1.6 now !
Appreciate the honesty in this video. I had a one piece american toilet that never flushed properly. Out of curiosity, on random occasions, I would look to see what brand toilets friends or acquaintances had in their bathroom. Three familes that don't even know each other had Toto toilets in their house. After that stunning revelation, I bought a 1.6 Toto Drake and have never had a problem after eating a big burrito. I see why the big stores like Home Depot and Lowes don't stock them. Once you solve the problem, you lose a customer for life. Big stores need customers from failing and defective products.
I'm replacing a 2003 Vitromex, in an area with a lot of limestone in the water supply. Flap valves go bad in a few months. They don't flush well, won't wash the bowl (paper sticks), and need to have a gallon pitcher of water dumped in the bowl to get them to finish the job. When I'm looking at replacements, I'm looking for reliable mechanisms that stand up to hard water, and get the job done, not how pretty it is or how little water it uses. Many of the toilet reviews complain about fancy flush mechanisms that leak (aquapiston), don't fit a plunger (several with square-ish exits at the bottom), or have complicated flush mechanisms with hard-to get parts. Suggestions?
I remodeled all three of my bathrooms and put three different of the best toilets in. The American standard 1.6 is by far the best flushing of the three major brands.
My one piece, dual flush Costco toilet is a beast. The water doesn’t swirl around the toilet when flushed, it seems to come out and push everything straight down. Surprisingly powerful especially when you consider how little water it uses.
Toto don't f*ck around when it comes to toilets. You'll usually see them used in commercial settings (think office restrooms or other high traffic areas where plumbing is largely inaccessible). I mainly checked this video out in case there was something a little price friendlier but maybe similar quality. Nope. Even Toto dual-flushes are kinda expensive, but guess that's what we'll rock in our new bathroom. Like Ron Popeil used to say, "Set it and forget it!"
Regarding the recommendation to buy the taller seat version, some people are short, including me. I have no desire to have to climb on a stool to sit on a toilet or to have my feet not reach the floor.
Thanks for watching The Grumpy Plumber! CLICK SUBSCRIBE for more unbiased, practical, no B.S. plumbing advice.
i guess Im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..?
I was stupid lost my account password. I love any help you can offer me.
@Marley Jagger instablaster :)
@Judah Kaden Thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Judah Kaden it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thank you so much, you really help me out :D
@Marley Jagger no problem xD
You guys are the best! Thank you! I was my father's apprentice my whole life. He could fix ANYTHING! Replace a car engine, rebuild a transmission, put on a new roof, replace the heating system, put together your bike and fix your favorite toy! At about 8 years old, I was watching him out a 2nd floor window on a scaffold painting the house. I said, "I can help you paiint." After telling me a few times that it was too dangerous on a scaffold for me, he finally gave in and I climbed out the window and onto the scaffold where I sat happily painting the window trim until my mother came into the room and saw her daughter outside on the scaffold and had a fit, saying, "Frank, what is she doing on a 2nd floor scaffold?!?!" That was the end of my painting the window trim, but I loved it! I never knew what a repairman was until I moved away from home. As he got older and was on dialysis my father felt useless, so I would call and ask him to help me with whatever job I could find to do. He would tell me that he couldn't do the job, and I would reply that he knew HOW to do it and he could guide me through the job and we could do it together. (I knew how to do them, but didn't tell him.) He would come and they were special times spent together talking while doing the job. My fatherr passed away in 2008. A few years later, my home was hit by Superstorm Sandy. The first floor of my townhouse was damaged. My next door neighbor's fatherr was there every day helping fix her place up. I mourned the loss of my father more during that time than when he passed away. He, too, would have been here every day, and we would have done the jobs together.
Ironically, today is Father's Day and I feel so privileged to have had him until he was 83.
It's not a sad day, but a day of happy memories.
Gentlemen, thank you for this video in which a son honors his father so much. Sir, you are not "grumpy". You are perfect and remind me so much of my father. A very Happy Father's Day to both of you, and thank you for providing this forum, on this day, that I randomly found and had the opportunity to remember my father.
Happy Father's Day, Pop. I love you and miss you. ❤
To any other readers on this site, sorry for taking up so much room and going on a tangent. It's funny the way the heavens reach out to us. Be open to it. Some very wonderful things may lie ahead for you, too. Be well everyone and Happy Father's Day to all.
Wavewatcher I, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful tribute to your dad and the very special relationship you both had. You sound like an amazing person yourself. You made Mrs. Grumpy Plumber cry as I read it. Jim feels so fortunate to have this opportunity to share his plumbing knowledge with so many people and in turn, help them solve problems. Your thoughtful comments made his Father’s Day extra special. Thank you! All the best to you.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber i LOVE THE OLD GUY HES THE BEST
Dad, Son relationship - that's awesome, men! Just the way it's supposed to be yet so many don't enjoy. I was one of the blessed ones - just buried my Great Dad. Really enjoyed seeing the two of you interact. Keep it up. Plumbing is important but a good, respectful, close, honoring relationship is far more important! Cheers!
Me too. Sorry for your loss man
Loved your comment. It actually made me feel better about my own! I didn't focus on the plumbing either. I'm sorry for your loss. It's a bit late, but no less heartfelt, I just got here. Happy Father's Day to you. I have a feeling that someone wanted to reach out to you and I happen to be the very privileged and humble way that was found. What a special day!
Hello there, every time i sit on the toilet or get up, there is a sound, i feel like the tank is loose where do i tighten it Sir? Thank you, God’s blessing to you two!
Yes, a great comment. I wished it for myself but my dad tried not to have this relationship between us. It seems he wanted me to be out in the world with my own something, but also he was a little too much worried about my well-being and bothered with my relationship with others.
respect for showing your dad proper respect and willing to listen to grumpy plumber
I first saw Totos when I was in Japan. The most clever plumbing appliance I've ever seen was a Toto. Over there, they don't have a lot of room. So in a bar or restaurant rest room, the sink was the top of the toilet tank, and the gray water drained into the toilet tank, and was used to flush the toilet. Not only did that eliminate the need for two fixtures in the room, but it cut down on water usage and waste. It made perfect sense to me.
@@karlwithak. 18 gallons is insane
Your dad's a great storyteller and makes the industry sound glamourous. Thanks for sharing him with us.
But when we have an issue we run for their services 😂
I became a toilet technician just for the prestige and status.
Appreciate being part of the conversation. Thanks for posting. Felt like I was sitting in with my Dad.
As an insurance adjuster, I came across a great plumber. I sent him to many homes. When it was my turn to replace, he installed Totos. I had never heard of them. He said they were the best and so far I have to agree wholeheartedly.
Which toto?
I don't know, but your dad reminds me of my college math teacher- so thorough, knowledgeable , n easy to understand.
I repacked an old water hog with a Toto, now I’m replacing an American Standard with a Toto, the latest one I’m replacing is a low end standard height with a round bowl. If it is more money, as Jim said it’s going to be around forever, if you amortize the expense over its life it amounts to pennies. Thank you for the advice.
We put toto toilets on our home years ago and they are great. We’ve moved and will be replacing these toilets with Totos. Yes, the price has gone up but still a good deal. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I'm a first-time homeowner and appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge. Also, I think it's very cool that the information is also included in the description as a quick summary.
I’ve had a Mansfield dual flush toilet that hasn’t plugged in ten years. I put a 1.2 GPF Deer Valley in our basement a couple of years ago that has been excellent. It takes 18 seconds to refill. The best part though is that because the tank is so small they made the front of the tank concave-it doesn’t stick into your back. I also changed out 42 toilets in an 8-floor senior high-rise I was Maintenance Director at. I was switching old American Standard closets for ADA height Kohlers with the Sloan pressurized gear. Used the neoprene gaskets. The residents absolutely loved the higher seat. If you’re buying a new toilet, get one with the higher seat. it’s well worth it.
I had to replace the three toilets which came with our new house twenty years ago,... they did not work!!! Builders grade Universal Rundle....junk !!
Replaced them with American Standard Champion 4, elongated ADA height. Perfectly happy with them,....they have never failed to flush! Highly recommend them.!
Noel, you are right about those Universal Rundle toilets! Those American Standards are good toilets.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber my house is 20 years old and I replaced the main bathroom toilet with an as Champion 4 a few months ago. I am in a ranch style and my toilets sit back to back in the main and master baths.
Now that I've changed the toilet in the main bath, when either toilet is flushed, the pressure pulls water from the opposite toilet and vice versa. The toilet pipes tie into the same waste pipe.
I am told that this is the reason and also because my toilets are not back to back toilets.
With this being said, can you suggest some good cost efficient back to back toilets that will no longer cause this issue. I would like something economical that cleans the bowl well and preferably known for no clogging. Any suggestions will help thank you so much.
Hattie Graves, if you can find back to back toilets I will also sell you a bridge to nowhere! In all my years I have never heard of back to back toilets. If I was coming to do the work, I would check the vent/ vents to those toilets. If there was one vent, it might be plugged or both could be plugged. Take a garden hose and run water down the vents. The water will back up in the vents are plugged. ( Make sure the water does not run into another fixture and flood the house.) Check that out as it’s easy to do.
Great to meet you fellas. As a Disabled Vet living on my VA disability, I try to do ALL my home repairs. So far, I’ve only needed help with siding and gutters. Thanks for the advice.
I renovated two bathrooms. I put American Standard's "Clean" model in both, one year apart, ada height. With the first one, my plumber said "oh, you got one of those" . My heart sank, thinking I had bought something sub par. He went on to explain that his sister got one and he told her he would never put one of those in again. It was because they are made in one piece, therefore heavier and a little awkward to handle. He manage it with a lot of grunting and sweating, but I absolutely love it. It operates perfectly and the sides on the bottom are smooth making it easy to clean. There's no condensation for it to collect hair, etc. A year later when it came time to install the second one, he politely turned me down. I got to hear another plumber, who was younger, grunt and sweat and swear, as he installed it.
Long time home owner and Glacier Bay proved the best for me.
Didn't realize how difficult it is to replace a toilet until I bought two American Standard's Champion 4 toilets. This toilet was leaking from the very first install. The home repair guy switched out the screws but it kept leaking. After removing the tank, I suspect the valve flush gasket was leaking. Then I read the reviews which revealed that the tanks and bowls would crack all by themselves over time, so I decided to take a loss (>$500) and dumped both toilets in the garbage. Ready to give Toto a try, this is the second youtube video recommending Toto.
The plumber I hired today said almost exactly what your dad said lol. He told me to get a Toto so I did. Smart men!
Which toto you got?
Keep your honest informative videos coming. It’s a pleasure to watch.
On my way to Home Depot now to buy a toilet. Huge props to your pops for sharing ~50yrs of practical real world knowledge
44 year plumber here Toto is the best period although you will see some complaints out there I’m not grumpy yet but give me a year or two
I totally agree!! Not about you being grumpy, but about Toto being one of the best. I'm a believer!! lol
How would you compate a toto to a 2003 Eljer Patriot?
@@papichulohoy I hate eljer
@@patrickdavis3409 Why is that Patrick, please relate your experiences with them. I've never really had a problem with them. I like the rim flush.
Just had a Toto Drake II installed a couple days ago. WOW. They are amazing. Gonna replace another old American standard with another Toto!
You are making GREAT video memories with your Dad. Someday, you will be very glad you did this!
I 1000% agree.
American Standard Quantum; easier to find than Toto and not crazy expensive. 3 of them in my house, 6 years old, no problems, no plunging. Great so far.
Totos are a lot easier to find now. If I can find ‘em in Lincoln NE you can find them about in any town! 🙂
Sir you got a very good son, very respectful to dad.
I hope my son can be like this when he grows up.
Got our first Toto back around 2004, was amazed at how well it flushed. 2010 got a second Toto for the other bathroom. Great product.
Which toto?
Toto's are good, but can make a dripping sound internally. It is not a leak, but water dripping from the bowl to the drain. Just installed an American Standard with the VorMax flush, so far it has worked well.
Toto comes with a separate trap so that the toilet can be used for different distances from the wall. This is a great idea. Not all of their toilets are like this. They have built in traps. The drip sound is caused from too much water in the trap seal. It will eventually seek the water level for the trap seal and stop dripping. Good luck with that American Standard, you are going to need it.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber I look forward to it reaching level, it has only been three years. Maybe it will stop making the leaking sound by six years.
ttaylor7777 , If you hear water dripping , something is leaking by in your toilet and needs to be fixed, it should not drip at all .👷🏻
@@johnkrim8377 It is a design flaw in the Toto toilets. You can search on-line and find many complaints. There is no external leak, it is the sound from inside the lower section.
Hello!!! We want to THANK YOU for doing this video and the interview with "the Grumpy Plumber"!! We were going to get a different toilet (and bidet) for our current remodel for 2 new bathrooms (we had only one toilet in our house from 1950 which flushed every time like a dream!).
We were told toilets are toilets etc... but after living in a newer house that we purchased we knew it wasn't true and hated the newer low-flow toilet systems. As I did my research I found your video, and have been thankful ever since.
Long story short, we purchased the Toto brand toilet (and the Toto bidet seats from our local Costco) for both bathroom remodels. Yes it was kind of pricey but if anyone has spent a night (or days) unclogging a toilet will know how much that is worth too.
We love both of them- the Toto toilet and the bidet!! The toilets flush perfectly each time, no clogs. And of course maybe it is true that too much toilet paper clogs the system- but no need to worry about that now with the bidet.
Thank you so much for publishing this video!!! I have subscribed, liked, and told everyone that I know about you guys! THANKS AGAIN!!!
Karen, we can tell you are so excited because of your new Washlet toilet seat! Thanks for the testimony and positive review. You made this Grumpy Plumber’s day.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Yay!! Glad to hear that you read and liked my review, I hope that the Grumpy Plumber isn't grumpy today and is smiling because he did good. Heck, he did fantastic. We are sooo thrilled! Haha!!
I agree that Toto rules, I have the Toto single piece ultra max comfort height, it’s great. I’ve done plumbing over 40 yrs
I LOVE you guys!!! I have NEVER left a review on a youtube video, but you guys are AMAZING. NO BS and right to the point! Easiest research I have ever had to do.
I bought my first Toto toilet over 15 years ago. 11 years ago I bought a different house. We simultaneously owned both the old and new houses for a few months during the transition, and I loved the Toto so much that I swapped toilets between the two houses so I could keep it. That original Toto is still going strong in our master bathroom.
Interesting. I actually bought two Totos for our home sometime around 2000(or so?) and they worked THE best! Never had an issue. Thanks for your informative video.
I bought an unheard brand from Lowe's for the kids bathroom. They had an annoying habit of flushing a couple of rolls of paper at a time. With laminate floors the last thing you need is a flood.
The brand was Penquin. The reason for buying it was it was advertised as an anti run over toilet. Hands down one of the best purchases I have ever made. It works by having 4 or 5 holes up under the front rim. If the water gets that high it goes in those holes and runs directly to the drain in the floor. It wouldn't prevent a flood if the large drain was plugged but if the s trap designed into the toilet gets clogged, which is where they usually do, then the toilet won't overflow.
However we've since switched to bidets and there isn't much, if any, paper being flushed.
Straight talk .not afraid to name names I like that first time I saw your video .subscribe
In my condo 11 years ago, after long exhaustive research, i decided to spring for a Toto Eco-Drake II. 1.28 gpf, cyclone flushing action, ADA height. Probably overkill as I didn’t have a water bill (part of the association fee) so I didn’t see the water savings directly. But where the original Mansfield 3.5 gpf clogged almost daily, the Toto clogged maybe 5 times in 8 years. It was my only toilet so it was mission-critical. 😀
When I moved and bought my house a few years ago, one of the first things I had done was change out the Kohler for a Toto Entrada. The idiots who put in the Kohler used a 1.6 gpf tank on a 3.5 gpf bowl; it would barely flush my pee. The Entrada was less than $200 on Amazon, plus $125 to install. (The plumber I hired was impressed with my choice of toilet.) It also has a 1.28 gpf and ADA height, but standard (straight down) rather than cyclone flush, so it doesn’t clean the bowl quite as well. But that’s my only regret. If I’d known that I would have spent a bit more for a Drake with ADA height. (I’m actually thinking of getting a Drake to put upstairs and having the Entrada pulled out and moved downstairs, which I don’t use nearly as much.)
Last year I bought a cheap plastic $30 bidet attachment, it fits between the seat and the bowl. They are commonly sold in the Middle Eastern markets in my area. I cut my TP usage by about two-thirds (and was laughing while others were hoarding it). It’s a manual cold water bidet but it was easy to install (I did have to tighten the packing nut on the supply valve when it leaked) and it works awesome.
BTW I can clearly hear you Dad’s Michigan accent after having lived here for over 17 years.
peacefrog521, thanks so much for sharing your experiences with this old Michigan plumber!
After a bathroom remodel 5 years ago I went to Arizona and bought a pair of American Standard Cadet 4 toilets (1.6 gallon) for my home in California. They advertised it would flush 20 golf balls, and I think it would do it! I've never had to do a double flush. Jeffery Dahmer would have loved it!
😮😂
And an efficient and quiet flush is a bonus.
The best tank flushing toilet hands down is the old school high wall mounted, near ceiling with long pull chain..
Cara, it will also wash your bottom for you! They are great.
We love the grumpy plumber, he is the best !!! 10/10
Oh Man, I love this. My dad passed away 5 years ago and I would give anything to get some advice from him. I've been struggling with some piddly stupid repair and even though this didn't answer my question, I appreciate the no nonsense advice. I ❤️ the grumpy plumber. Reminds me of my dad and I needed that on this lonely Christmas Eve. Thanks. ❤️
Dear Sara, you made this Grumpy plumber’s day with your kind comment. Could I help you with your piddly repair problem? I would be happy to give it a shot. Sorry for your loss.....holidays can be hard.
Hi Sara, I lost my mom just before Christmas a year ago, it won't always be as hard as it is now. Blessings to you and don't be afraid to reach out to family and friends. One of the best places to make friends is at your local church. Go there to BE a friend and people will gravitate to you. Of course let The Lord be your comfort too.
While watching this video I was thinking how pleasant this feels because it reminds me of getting advice from my own Dad about house stuff, since he was in the building industry all my life. (Lost both within weeks five years ago So, yeah...sigh). Now if I could just figure out how to vent the dryer in my, hopefully someday reno'ed bath/laundry room. To all who read this, Peace be with you : }
@@babbs128 My dad was a builder too and I grew up on construction sites. I feel you. ❤️
@@TheGrumpyPlumber I don't check the email associated with this account often so sorry for my delay in response. Thank you so much for your kind offer. I ended up replacing the fill valve assembly and flapper and it fixed my problem, but I may take you up on your offer if another issue presents itself.
I've probably watched 10 of your videos, just because I enjoy how you and your son converse with each other. ❤️ I don't think you're grumpy. 🙂 I think you are honest and no nonsense and I trust your advice.
Thanks again for your offer, your videos and your kind words. Holidays are tough, but they are easier when a complete stranger offers a helping hand. Thank you. ❤️
Greetings! Your videos are terrific - very helpful.
We have a Toto Drake II 1 gal model CST435CUFG - it's 3 years old and has worked like a champ......until recently! Suddenly it wouldn't flush even one single square of TP down on the first flush, but if we flushed it again immediately after the bowl refilled, it would flush. My husband snaked it with a 6' line. Then I had several conversations with Toto tech line guy and he was helpful until his suggestions didn't work. He decided it was a clogged air vent, which sounded plausible so we took the 25' snake up to the roof and it went straight down unimpeded. Toto tech advice stopped communicating after that.
Had a young plumber in and he first raised the water level in the tank and then decided we need the 1.28 gal tank and offered to do that for $621 (not even an entirely new toilet - just the tank). I don't think it's the amount of water in the tank. When flushed the water rises in the bowl but the second flush works like it used to work. A plumber was at the office today and I talked with him and he said he thought it sounded like a clog that needed snaking again. My husband has lost interest in that. BUT when I told him about you he acted like he just might listen to you!! So if you have any suggestions I would really appreciate them! Thank you.
Elizabeth Suzuki, it sounds like you either have one of the information stickers that are on the tank or lid that has gone down into the bowl or a cleaning capsule that went into the bowl. Remove the tank and look into the opening of the bowl and see if you can see anything. I’ve had that happen before. Another thing, get rid of the phone number of that kid who offered to sell you that tank. I’m pretty sure you have something that went into the bowl and is blocking the flush. It’s easy to remove the tank. Remove the water and take the two nuts off under the bowl. Just be careful as the tank is fragile. Hope this is the answer.
Great stuff. I’m a plumber just getting ready for work and I enjoyed listening to the grumpy plumber. There’s no substitute for experience! I’m on board and I’m looking forward to watching more!
I'm a grumpy old plumber as well, nice to see the real deal on here!
Thanks ol buddy!
Great information. I like opinions from experts. Saves me a lot of time in research. Thank you!👍🏼🤙🏼💪🏼
I put an AS in my basement bathroom and it developed tiny almost imperceptible cracks in the back side, leaking enough to ruin the laminate flooring. I contacted AS and they asked for a picture and the codes inside the tank. They sent me a new bowl for free! It flushes perfectly. It’s the one they show flushing golf balls.
I love Toto I still have old Koehler toilets 20 years old but still working if I ever replace I will replace with a Toto but I have a Toto cast iron kitchen sink dual basin enamel microban coating!! It’s is beautiful and so functional we love it .
Your Father is an Extremely Smart Man and he is " Not Grumpy " at all / He is just like my father and I love working with my Dad.
OH YEA !
Great father-and-son bit with good info. Son flashes a great smile at 3:48 (wonder if Richard Gere's dad also looks like "The Grumpy Plumber"), and love the failure explanation of why toilet flappers eventually leak! Thanks, Guys!
I have Had good luck with the
Elongated American standard cadet two or three I think I have . It's been great , it's chair height or close too it . I think about ten years ago it was $250.00 each . American standard does make good toilet's , but don't skimp on the price .
$250 for a low end American Standard?? I got their Champion 4 for $199.
rental guy here. use glacier bay.. works fine..problems i have is with older women using too much paper in septic systems.
your dad is so adorable...thank you for the awesome tips. gonna to purchase my new 🚽 today
plumber here...this guy knows what he's talking about!
In my opinion.. The best flushing toilet is a power flushing toilet, a black tank inside your toilet tank mainly used in commercial bathrooms but some bathrooms with bad pipe pitched toilet pipes.. some cheap brand toilets can be upgraded by changing the parts in the tank
I bought a AS 3 years ago, the golf ball ad. Worked good for 2 1/2 years, then started leaking water into the bowl. Replaced the silicone ring on the flapper valve. Still leaks into the bowl. Going to get the Toto Drake. As an aside, I'm an 80 year old non plumber but in the 1960's I worked as a handyman in a bungalow camp. 50 cabins, 50 toilets. They had been installed in the 1930-40's. Wooden tanks set a few inches above the bowl. Very few problems. Great flushing action.
Grant, when I change a flapper valve where it seals to the flush valve, I always clean off the lime around that rim. But, I hope you really like the Toto. Thanks for sharing your interesting story.
Great listening to you!! Thank you.... my eyes hurt from looking at all the toilets on the internet. I have an AS from 1953 and it still does the trick for my family. I appreciate your knowledge and advice of sticking to "what works" as opposed to " what's new". Now I am off to look at Toto's and see what they offer. Again..Thank you.
Mary Gibbs, when I buy a good quality product and I know I will have it for a long time, it’s worth the price.
Thanks for your advice. I agree that the small height increase for an ADA compliant (“comfort height”) toilet makes a noticeable difference, at only a slight price increase.
Omg, I’ve watched your Hawaii travel videos! We’re doing some home renovations… never did I ever think I’d stumble upon a video by you about toilets.
Thanks for the info... never had Toto but heard good things! We’ve got a Gerber that’s worked flawlessly for over 20 years and an American Standard that’s been a problem since day 1... IDK why!
Toto toilets are the BEST hands down. Flushes well.
I have 3 American Standard golf ball toilets and they all leak around the floor. Replaced the seals 3 or 4 times so far with no sign of improvement. What a mess
Thanks was just doing some research on buying toilets and now will be looking at Toto, based on your dads recommendation. Thanks!
used to see Eljer in older homes - still have a Universal (from 1957) in one of our bathrooms - thank you so much for all these tips ! !
That's what we have now and were advised to look at replacing but I'd rather not, and after researching I don't think we will.
Yep. Just commented above that my two Eljers, from 1960, are finally being replaced. They started having problems, one just minor, about 5 years ago. The house has been vacant, but now I'm restoring. Getting new flooring and figure now's the time to get a more water-efficient toilet. But yeah, the old Eljer lasted a pretty long time.
For $200.00 the American Standard with dual flush valves are great! It's the one with the label that shows how it can flush golf balls. Nice height and flush ports under the rim....rim job cleaning every flush, can't go wrong for the price.
Matt Monaghan, there is nothing wrong with an American Standard toilet. But, I’ve never pooped golf balls. Every toilet out there can do the same thing. It is a good price and I’m sure it works for you and a lot of people.
I enjoyed your video "Grumpy". I also like Toto. But in light of our aging population in Pittsburgh, I use what you call "ADA" toilets. I've been a Master Plumber for 35 years, and a County Plumbing Inspector the last 5 years. I also taught Plumbing school at night for 12 years. Ya know what's funny. The tall toilets were called "Handicapped" toilets in the 90's, Then switched to "ADA", Now because of our overly politically correct society, we are required to call them "Comfort Height" toilets. LOL... I also am a believer, as a single man, with installing a residential urinal with a simple Central Brass 1/2" self closing valve. Saves big on water. But as plumbing brothers sir, I'm inclined to agree with every tip you have just given. Enjoyed the video, you have a new subscriber !
Really enjoyed listening to the Grumpy Plumber. Learned a lot I didn’t know before. Thanks much.
I agree with Grumpy's assessment, but I have American Standard cadets in a rental house that date from the 70s and they are still running strong.
I’m glad they work for you.....That’s when they were flushing on 5 gallons of water. Now they’re flushing on 1.2 gallons. Hang on to them!
@@TheGrumpyPlumber - You know what Grumpy? I actually put one-gallon bladders of water inside the tanks to lessen the water consumption, so by my measurement these toilets are now consuming about 3.5 GPF. They do flush very well and were built to last. That's why I've kept them. Keep up the good work.
I put American Standard in when I bought my last house....took them back to Lowe’s twice! Leaked and couldn’t get them to stop. Call AS and they new the tank to bowl seal was bad they were back ordered no fix...I got Kohler and not one issue in two years.
Kit Otterstrom, exactly which Kohler did you purchase that you're having great results with?
I have had 3 Toto toilets for the last 16 years. They even sent me a self closing seat when one broke. Changed the flappers only twice.
Always special to interview your dad thanks for sharing your experience. Which is the best teacher.
Love Toto products. The bigger bore size makes all the difference. I had a customer who's teenage son lived on cheeseburgers and was everlasting plugging up the toilets. Changed them all to Toto, no problems ever since. Most toilets are a 2" bore Totos are 3''.
Have you had any experience with Caroma? They have 4"
So... size matters?
My TOTO Drake clogs up every other day. I'm thinking about replacing it after only 4 months of use. I had to call roto rooter for the last clog it he charged $475. Not happy.
@@crand20033it's crazy confusing. What toilet did you end up buying ?
@@synewparadigm I think my roommate used napkins to wipe himself which clogged the TOTO toilet. Doesn't matter what brand you buy. They will all clog. Be prepared with at least three types of un-cloggers, large snake, small snake, plungers, blasters and tools to take the toilet off the floor. Keep them handy.
BINGO!!
Brief n Sweet....THANKS!
Answered my main question pretty quick.
Nuttin better for wise advice than a hands-on guy, that's been there and done that ! Gotta love a good plumber.
EVENTUALLY, We'll ALL NEED YOUR SERVICES!!
Best toilet I ever got was 1.6 gallon American standard that thing would flush like it was out to impress
For longevity, try a Kohler Wellworth or Highline 1.6 gpf. with the canister flush valve.
Great video! It's clear the Grumpy Plumber knows what he's talking about! Is there a preferred toilet 'innards' brand? Korky? Fluidmaster? Another brand/style?
Tom Myers, I like Fluidmaster fill valves aka ballcock. If I’m repairing a Kohler toilet, I use Kohler original parts. Same for American Standard toilets. For Toto, I use their fill valve and flush valves or their flapper valve. On all top brand toilets, you will find the model number either stamped into the ceramic or inked on the back wall of the tank. If you have problems, call the manufacturer as they will help you locate the parts needed.
Very good. Frank to the point! Love it.
the best Toto Drake, Kory Flapper and Fluidmaster 400a fill valve. good advice Wheelchair Larry
I just bought a Toto. It flushes just fine. Thanks for the video.
American standard cadet pro 3
Plumber from Alberta Canada. I have been recommending Toto for 10 years.
I have two Toto's and one Kohler. The Kohler is pretty good, but the Totos are great. The Toto was recommended by my plumber who said it would cost more, but the return on the investment was worth it. After six years with one and five years with the other he was right.
32 year old Gerber toilets (3.8 gallon flush, about 3 gallons with a brick inside the tank) are still working and look brand-new. No issues except for some routine maintenance once every 5 to 10 years. To reduce water usage, we follow the "if it is yellow let it mellow" principle.
We've been using Mansfield brand low flow toilets for 5 years now with no problems. (6 rental units)
Those are great toilets. I’ve installed a lot and forget about those. Used them for years and recommend them. Thanks for the comment.
I was a professional drain cleaner for 20 years before I spent the next 19 repairing all plumbing.
I cleaned 30,000 drains and Mansfield "Water Closets" are very good and inexpensive.
Now faucets, I recommend Moen or Delta. They are not as fancy because they use their own distinct proven cartridges.
Charmin, any type, is a problem when used in any toilets. Sam's club and some others are using Charmin under other names.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Yeah, I actually had bad luck with Kohler toilets. 2 in a row from home depot and both had an internal defect that released sewer gas into the rooms. Great vids BTW!
@@u2mister17 Moen? "Guaranteed To Leak For Life"! IMHO JUNK! BTW, I held a masters license in 2 states in the northeast before moving to the southeast to go into a new business.
@@rakentrail Sheesh, I thought I was giving tips to a landlord. No idea I commented to Apollo.
my dad was a plumber he didn't like american standard very much either he said their quality had gone down over the years, but he was real old school born in 1916 he liked the brass toilet mechanisms not much of that stuff around anymore
Thank you for sharing your experience and recommended brand. I see it commercially installed especially at airports and casinos though not many in residential homes. Plan to ADA upgrade also.
Kohler has gotten quite good at the siphon action in for the one piece at Depot, which used to make horrible swirlypoo/maybe flushers.
I'm not all that long in the loins- just some extra above average, but my brother's Toto, I dip in the water when I sit and lean forward. Sorry to be a bit graphic.
Glacier Bay toilets are not made by Kohler they are made in China, contracted by a company called Foremost Groups based in the US.
Glacier Bay is a Homedepot brand. I just installed a faucet made by Glacier Bay.
Glacier Bay toilets are trash
TOTO Toilet.
I have had 5 TOTO Toilets and have not had any issues with what they flush.
I HAVE had issues with the construction and how they flush.
1 - TOTO’s inside tank flush mechanism is a round piston that goes down into a cylinder. The mechanism hangs up and does not seal at times. It does not matter how old your TOTO is - this can happen at any time. I have added a large lead EGG shaped fishing weight to the top of the piston to help assure it goes down. This has worked very well but not perfect.
The inside tank flush mechanism is not the old “flapper” style. I do not know if the other brands current models use the old rubber stopper/flapper(inexpensive to repair) or not. I am only familiar with TOTO.
2 - The flush handle on the outside that is connected to the inside tank lift rod is an issue. They did not build the tank top to accommodate a proper swing of the interior lift arm.
A hard push of the handle can result in the handle being stuck in the down position. This lets the water run until the handle position is corrected. As the homeowner I know how to flush so this does not happen, but the grand kids don’t, and the handle constantly hangs up after they flush. The flush mechanism should be kid proof.
3 - The bowl Interior surface or glaze lets debris stick to it unlike any other brand I have ever seen.
I appreciate your comments on the Toto toilets. I recommend you change the flush valve. If you have a one piece toilet, there are only three screws to remove the flush valve. On the tank type, just remove the tank and remove the large 3” nut and install the new flush valve. You have to make sure you have the correct flush lever to alleviate the sticking problem. I agree that the glaze in the bowl is not the greatest. I recommend you call Toto (1888 295-8134) and give them the number found ( in black ink) on the back wall right hand side of the inside of the tank. They will give you the correct part numbers of the flush valves and tank levers. P.S. that canister flush valve was designed to make the 1.2 gallon flush.
I agree. In my experience the Totos are the best. They cost more, but they work much better than the two American Standard models I also bought, trying to save a little money.
I can't speak to their current toilet models, but my 20 year old American Standard Champions are amazing! I put a Toto in a prior house in the '90's and it was a great toilet as well. I think that all of today's name-brand toilets work really well (especially compared to 25 years ago when the early lower flow toilets were awful!)
I have a Crane Galaxy from 2005. It's the old ballcock & flapper style with a 2.5 gpf. I've never used a plunger on it. I think the older ones were made better
A pleasure to listen to you. Full of info...nice son...you did a great job raising him to be respectful...learned a lot from you...not just plumbing 😊
Thanks for the insights. I went with a Kohler and it works very well compared to the horribly flushing one it replaced.
May I know which model you bought?
Omg I'm so glad I found this channel. Love you guys ❤️🥰
Have all three brands mentioned in my home. Like Toto the best by far. Others work fine, but not nearly as well as the Toto. If I renovate any further, Toto it will be
Which toto?
@@asht7899 I don't think they make the model I have any longer, but something similar to the Promenade line. It is a 2 piece elongated unit in cotton, nothing fancy. If I recall, it was under $500 when we installed it years ago. Works well and would recommend highly.
Look at what they use in commercial places, hotels, etc. You'll typically see Toto, and American Standard. It's gotta be a 1.6 gal flush, anything less doesn't do the job. It's gotta have a 3" flush valve, anything less doesn't do the job. It's gotta be ADA compliant, since we're not getting any younger. The American Standard Champion 4 has all of that, plus a soft close seat and lid.
Quietactually, now they are flushing toilets with a 1.28 gallon flush. Toto does a nice job of flushing. Haven’t checked other toilet brands. I hope they are working as well.
I'm a plumber and I have never seen any toilet with a 4" flush valve. I think you meant 3"
Quietactually imo, Champion 4 is great if you want to double flush constantly and clean the bowl at a high frequency. This is my experience. If I could fix those problems I would actually love it. Do you have any suggestions to make my toilet bowl experience better with this toilet?
Main problem in retrofitting in older homes is insufficient venting and tight turns downstream.
I've had great luck with the Champion 1.6. One and done. Never clogged it or even had to flush it twice. So I got another one. It was a 1.28. Or I call it a 2.56. It only flushes pee the first time. I'm gonna try extending the fill tube & replacing the fill valve to allow more water.
Good luck. I hope it works. Usually a 3/4” pvc coupling will extend the overflow.
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Thanks. I realized my spare fill valve was same as the OEM and it was extendable. I had to remove it to get to the slide ring to change the height. I was able to raise it to a half inch above the tank without hitting the lid. I added a little silicone to the pvc then a hose clamp. Works like the 1.6 now !
Did you also change the flapper?
@@TheGrumpyPlumber Yes. That had been leaking since it was new.
Appreciate the honesty in this video. I had a one piece american toilet that never flushed properly. Out of curiosity, on random occasions, I would look to see what brand toilets friends or acquaintances had in their bathroom. Three familes that don't even know each other had Toto toilets in their house. After that stunning revelation, I bought a 1.6 Toto Drake and have never had a problem after eating a big burrito. I see why the big stores like Home Depot and Lowes don't stock them. Once you solve the problem, you lose a customer for life. Big stores need customers from failing and defective products.
Lowes has them online.
I'm replacing a 2003 Vitromex, in an area with a lot of limestone in the water supply. Flap valves go bad in a few months.
They don't flush well, won't wash the bowl (paper sticks), and need to have a gallon pitcher of water dumped in the bowl to get them to finish the job.
When I'm looking at replacements, I'm looking for reliable mechanisms that stand up to hard water, and get the job done, not how pretty it is or how little water it uses. Many of the toilet reviews complain about fancy flush mechanisms that leak (aquapiston), don't fit a plunger (several with square-ish exits at the bottom), or have complicated flush mechanisms with hard-to get parts.
Suggestions?
I remodeled all three of my bathrooms and put three different of the best toilets in. The American standard 1.6 is by far the best flushing of the three major brands.
My one piece, dual flush Costco toilet is a beast. The water doesn’t swirl around the toilet when flushed, it seems to come out and push everything straight down. Surprisingly powerful especially when you consider how little water it uses.
If your toilet flushes straight down then it is defying a law of nature called Coriolis Effect 😁
@@TheNYgolfer Perhaps the laws of physics cease to exist on his toilet! ;-)
Just found your video.. Never heard of totos. Will check out. Best wishes
Toto don't f*ck around when it comes to toilets. You'll usually see them used in commercial settings (think office restrooms or other high traffic areas where plumbing is largely inaccessible).
I mainly checked this video out in case there was something a little price friendlier but maybe similar quality. Nope. Even Toto dual-flushes are kinda expensive, but guess that's what we'll rock in our new bathroom. Like Ron Popeil used to say, "Set it and forget it!"
Stands for Tokyo Toilets
Didn't know that. Very cool.
I agree. Toto toilets are very good. I installed one and am very happy with it.
Regarding the recommendation to buy the taller seat version, some people are short, including me. I have no desire to have to climb on a stool to sit on a toilet or to have my feet not reach the floor.
The ADA toilet bowl height are a bit over an inch taller. 15" standard. 16.5" ADA.
Mood!