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Pressure assisted toilets rely on air pressure to push waste out of the bowl and through the waste outlet. They are generally seen as being more efficient and powerful than gravity fed units, and less likely to clog up. However, they are fairly noisy in comparison.
We have picked out a few of our favorites below, analyzed their specifications, while exploring their pros and cons. Read on to find out which toilet is right for you.
The Yorkville is manufactured by the American Standard Brand. This is a company that we rate highly and believe they produce a level of quality that puts them on par with leaders in the industry.
The 2876100.020 model falls into this category too with great flushing performance and efficiency. It utilizes just 1.1 gallons and will meet WaterSense standards.
Although its elongated bowl improves user comfort, it doesn't meet ADA criteria, or improve accessibility for seniors.
Overall, this is a powerful product that could be a excellent upgrade or replacement in a family home. It won't consume a lot of water, minimizing utility bills, and will clean the bowl effectively.
For those of you looking to buy something with a floor outlet instead, we have some great recommendations below.
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| American Standard Yorkville |
Kohler Barrington | Mansfield Quantum | Zurn | Kohler Highline Classic |
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| Model number | 2876100.020 | K-3578-0 | 146.123.WHT | Z5562 | K-3493-0 |
| Touchless | |||||
| Trip lever | . | ||||
| Button | |||||
| GPF | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 / 1.6 | 1.6 |
| ADA | |||||
Rim height
Height without seat
|
15" | 17" | 14-1/2" | 17" | 17-1/8" |
| Elongated | |||||
| Round | |||||
| Square | |||||
| Dimensions | 29.8 x 20.5 x 29.2" | 31.5 x 31.2 x 21.2" | 29 x 19 x 28" | N/A | 38.2 x 25 x 23.7" |
| Weight | N/A | N/A | 90 lbs | N/A | N/A |
| Concealed trap | |||||
| Skirted | |||||
| One piece | |||||
| Two piece | . | ||||
| Intelligent | |||||
| Floor mount | . | ||||
| Wall mounted | |||||
| Colors | White | White | White | White | White |
| Rating | 82% | 81% | 81% | 81% | 81% |
This is a specific type of flushing system that utilizes an air bladder within the toilets tank. This bladder is designed in such a way that air compresses once it begins filling up with water. When you flush the toilet via a button or trip lever, this air pressure is released, creating a bowl rinse where air pushes water through the bowl powerfully.
The main difference between the two is that gravity based flush mechanisms utilize the force of gravity to drop water through the bowl from the tank. This is by far the most common system found in residential homes. Air assist variants on the other hand utilize compressed air to achieve the same results and can typically handle a larger volume of waste.
They are typically more powerful than most gravity units and are able to handle more waste in bulk. This decreases the likelihood of it clogging up.
A common complaint we find for standard gravity units is that they sweat, which can leave the area wet. This can be frustrating at times as it can be a constant job drying up the excess water. On the other hand, these products have their water inside a bladder within the tank, eliminating tank sweat.
If you want to save money on your water utility bills, you'll be pleased to hear that they generally consume less water. This can result in your household saving thousands of gallons per year. We have a calculator to help you understand the benefits of upgrading to a more efficient toilet.
They create a more hygienic bathroom environment as they rinse and clean the bowl more thoroughly, leaving less bacteria on the bowls surface after use. This goes a long way in minimizing odors.
While there are plenty of pros to owning one, they also can cause problems. You should note that on average, they are more expensive. So if you're working with a tight budget, they may not be the ideal choice.
If you're after a quiet flush, you will probably want to stick to standard gravity products. Their flushes are certainly louder, which is a trade off for having such a forceful flush. This is why they are commonly found in commercial and industrial settings rather than residential.
The 2876100.020 FloWise is made by a brand with a solid reputation. It measures 29-1/4" in height, 20-1/2" in width, and 29-3/4" in depth. It's floor mounted too, but unlike standard toilets, this sends waste through a back outlet instead of a floor one.
It's made of vitreous china, and its coated with a smart, protective layer known as EverClean surface. This ensures germs and dirt doesn't get stuck in the pores of the ceramic china,achieving a thorough flush action. It will also help in stopping stains appearing, leaving it looking cleaner for longer.
As far as water usage is concerned, this is up there with some of the most efficient on the market. A 1.1 gallon flow rate will help users save thousands of gallons of water every year. This translates to more money saved on your utilities, as well as protecting the environment. You max also be entitled to a rebate depending on the state you're in.
The bowl is elongated which is generally more comfortable than round bowls, but they can take up more space. If you've got a small bathroom, it may not be the sensible option as they project further from the wall, limiting floor space.
The trapway measures 2-1/8 inches, and it's fully glazed. However, the exterior doesn't include any skirting to hide the outline of the trap, which knock a few points off its aesthetics in our opinion.
What's more, a 10 by 12 inch water surface area helps reduce odors and stop them lingering.
Next on our list is the Barrington from Kohler. It shares seeral similarities with the 2876100.020, but with some small differences in the design.
It is another example of the outlet going out the back. You will also be mounting it to the floor similarly to gravity based systems, except in this case, the rough in refers to how far up the wall the waste outlet is.
There are two reasons to like the bowls design on the Barrington, the first is that it's elongated which provides the necessary support and space for good seated posture, and secondly, it's comfort height, which is an important feature for many elderly or disabled citizens. We have a guide that talks about this spec in more detail. In comparison to a standard size bowl, which are typically 15-16 inches, this will fall between 17-19 inches depending on the seat you've got installed.
Unlike one piece toilets, the tank and bowl will be delivered unattached. This will naturally mean installing it will be more time consuming.
However, one area in particular the K-3578-0 excels is by achieving a strong flush with minimal water. In fact, it's even more efficient than the Yorkville, with a 1.0 flow rate. This easily meets the Environmental Protection Agencies standards.
If you haven't already, head on over to our Mansfield reviews page and see our thoughts about the quality of this brand and their innovations. They are well known among plumbing professionals and have a solid reputation backing them.
This particular range is known as Quantum, and it features Sloan flush mate technology, known for its performance and durability.
Unlike the others above, and many competing products, this could be an alternative option for people with limited floor space available to them. The round bowl will mean that it doesn't protrude as far as elongated shaped ones.
It fits a twelve inch rough in, and the bowl measures 14-1/2 inches from the floor to the rim. Well below ADA standards, but some people prefer the traditional style bowls as they can provide better posture for improved bowel movements.
The power is there, but with a 1.6 GPF rate, it's not the most economically friendly unit available.
Zurn may not be as well known as some companies in this industry, but looking at the specs they offer along with the built in functionality, we're impressed with the Z5562.
One of the first things that sets it apart from competitors is its dual flushing system. A lot of these power assist units are only offering single flush. This means you're forced to accept the amount of water it consumes, rather than having the ability to pick between a light or heavy flush. By choosing to use water sparingly for liquid waste, you stand to save thousands of gallons every year. In fact, you can see the difference in quantity of water used through the spec sheet. The full flush uses 1.6 gallons, and the partial one 1.0 gallons.
The bowl and tank are separate, meaning it's a two piece design, and the bowl is elongated which is important in terms of user comfort. It's also ADA compliant, meeting seating height requirements for everyone.
It's floor mounted, and similar to the Quantum, the waste outlet goes through the floor instead of the wall. The rough in size needed for this is twelve inches.
You won't need to shop for a seat either as it is included in the price.
The K-3493 from the Highline range provides excellent flushing performance and comfort in one package. It consists of the 4304 bowl and the 4645 tank. However, the seat isn't included which will be an additional expense that you need to be prepared for. We suggest looking at the K-4636 Slow closing Cachet, or the K-5588 Purefresh. Both are compatible with this model.
The power and ability to remove waste in large quantities is something that applies to the K-3493. Its built in mechanism ensures that it achieves a 1000 gram score on the MaP scale. This is the highest that can be achieved and suggests that it won't clog up easily.
There is however a drawback to this level of performance, it's not as efficient as it could be with a 1.6 GPF rate.
The slightly taller than average bowl height allows it to meet ADA standards, as well as the comfort height label. What's more, the extra room given through the elongaed shape is always a plus.
It features a floor waste outlet and measures 38.2 by 25 by 23.7 inches. It has a 2-1/4 inch trapway and a rather generous 12 by 10 inch water spot that will help keep smells down, leaving the bathroom more pleasent for the next person.
Brands - There are plenty of manufacturers to choose from. Separating them is difficult as many of them come equipped with similar features these days. Some of the most recognizable names among them include TOTO, Kohler, American Standard, Mansfield, WoodBridge, Sterling, Delta, Mirabelle, and Ove. We won't recommend any one in particular, but we will suggest that you read our brand guides on each. We look at specific products, their innovations, and give them a rating based on a set criteria.
Bowl style - The bowl shape and size are important factors for user comfort. We have a guide that compares elongated and round bowls here, while discussing the pros of each.
The height of the bowl should be on your radar too. If you've been shopping around for a while, you may of come across the term comfort height. This is a taller type of bowl that makes it easier to sit and stand up. It's primarily aimed at people with disabilities and the elderly, but they are becoming increasingly popular all round. In comparison to standard height bowls, they measure at minimum seventeen inches, this is typically a couple of inches taller, and it can make all the difference for some people.
Location - When we talk about location, we want you to think about two things. Where is the bathroom in relation to the sewage lines, and where is the toilet getting installed?
The first question shouldn't be too much of an issue if your washroom is above the sewer lines. However, if you're below them, in the basement for example, you may need special design known as a macerating toilet. This sends waste through the bowl as a standard product would, but instead of it using gravity, it churns up the waste and utilizes a pump to push the waste up to the sewage pipes.
As for the second question, you need to think about where it will be installed in the bathroom. Is it going to be put into a corner? Does it need to be low profile? Plan ahead and think about things like dimensions and rough in sizes.
Consumer feedback - Before you decide to buy anything, have a read through what people are saying about specific products. This can be in the form of online reviews, or even general home improvement communities. You're more likely to identify any product flaws this way. Are there any issues with the flush? Has anything broken shortly after purchase? Does it leak? Does it feel stable and strong when sitting on it? These are just a few things to look out for.
Glazing - Something that goes hand in hand with the materials used in sanitary wares construction is the protective coating, also known as a layer of gloss that helps prevent waste and bacteria sticking to the insides of the bowl. Alongside a powerful flush, this can be quite the combination, leaving the bowl spotless for the next bathroom visit. This also helps cut down on the amount of cleaning required, and will keep bad smells at bay for longer.
A high pressure toilet could be a excellent upgrade for consumers wanting something that performs to a good level, rinses the bowl effectively, and is unlikely to clog. However, for many buyers, you may need a plumbers expertise to install it for you. Whatever route you decide to take, make sure you've read our guides on our menu, and check customer reviews from several sources around the web.