Has anyone purchased/used an elevated toilet seat? There are a variety of types, but I was instructed to get one for our main floor bathroom. The things I have seen online aren't anything one would want to have in a bathroom used by guests. I can't help but wonder if I wouldn't be better off just getting a new toilet...other than the obvious cost.
The kind that sits on the regular toilet seat are ugly and rather hard to clean after a loose bowel movement, but they do do the job. When we moved into this house, I decided to get one of the ADA or "comfort level" toilet which is about 16 or 17" tall for our master bath.
It is so much safer and easier to use plus it uses considerably less water per flush than our old toilets. Living in Texas where conserving water is becoming an issue, saving water is important.
It cost about $250 installed, but the one we got has two buttons for flushing - Button #1 for urine and #2 for bowel movements. #1 uses considerably less water than the second one. I understand they use these type of toilets in Europe alot of the time where water is really an issue.
I have the comfort height (or handicap height) toilets in all of my bathrooms and have gotten so accustomed to them, regular toilets seem to be sooooooo low to the floor.
On top of that, I have a special toilet seat that helps in cleaning their rear ends with a spray wand ...and the water is stored in the ring to be warmed. So, that lifts that toilet up an additional few inches.
Toilets are not that expensive. I'd vote for exchanging the toilet . I believe the new name "Comfort Height" is quite appropriate.
We have a standard toilet with a 3" raise seat and adjustable side rails. Not the prettiest, but it's what we need. More important than looks, are function and clkeaning. Ours cleans up okay, but the bolts and mounting bracket are a problem--corrosion. Same kind of thing with the 2 bedside commodes we have. Work great, but brackets the buckets rest on rust as does the metal bail handle on DH's. With what they cost and knowing to be used with liquids, you'd think the makers would use better metals.
Thanks for the input..we also have a "comfort height" one in our master bathroom..spoils you for the others, but I recall it costing around $500.00..not good right now, but will check it out some more. This would have been a good year for our son to be a plumber rather than an engineer :-)
We have both toilets "comfort height" and daughter put a "handicap" one in their bath. It is taller than the comfort height. I still use a 3"raised seat with side rails. I found he doesn't "miss" with the 3" seat. He always sits on the toilet. Doesn't bother me but the kids sometimes use the one where they can lift the seat off. We don't have company except for the kids and part-time caregiver and we don't have small children where height would be a problem. They have them at Lowe's for less than $500. and I also have one of the "double flush" and I don't think it was $500.
I have had comfort height toilets in the last two houses. My forty something daughter has bought comfort height toilets for her house as well. My SIL has bad knees, but basically if you are over 40 at some point you are going to come home from the hospital unable to use a regular height toilet.
I doubt anyone can tell that there is "something wrong" with my toilet. Unless they sit on it and realize how much more comfortable they are.
Also, in a lot of cases comfort height toilets handle lower water levels much better than standard ones from the same manufacturer.
Ha a similar experience at church...Darted into a restroom in the Sunday School wing, and there were teeny tiny little potties and I HAD to go. So funny! My knees were higher than my head!
Starling, my sister has the comfort height toilets and I do not like them. Being only 5'3" my feet don't even touch the floor - just my tippy toes. It is very hard to use because of that. Even my hb who is 5'10" does not think they are comfy.
I do agree about the preschool toilets. The retiree park we worked in summer of 2008, for some insane reason when they built the clubhouse they put those in there. When I would go to sit I felt like I was going to fall to the ground. I can only imagine what a taller person would feel like.
The family bathroom at my diner has two toilets. One a preschool one and a second at comfort height. I can't imagine using the little one. I would have had problems with it at 11. Of course when I was 11 I was taller than Charlotte is now. <grin>
I will check out Lowe's and Home Depot both..since G is 6'6" tall and I am 5'8" the taller the better. No short folk in this family...I'm the shortest..daughter is 5'11" and son is 6'6" also.I really do appreciate the help one and all.
Charlotte, did they go after you to lose weight at 11? Both of us were off the height/weight charts at 11. They end at 5 feet and 100 pounds. There was nothing wrong with my weight if they had bothered to figure out how tall I was, but they were hysterical because no 11 year old should weigh 125 pounds in their opinion. Didn't help that I was taller than most of the adult women we knew.
I'm planning on getting one of the taller toilets, not only for him, but for me. We have one in one of the stalls here at work and I prefer it over the regular one. I know my husband will like it better too.
Starling - I only weighed 88 pounds. Between 6th and 7th grade I did gain to 150 pounds but I now know that was due to PCOS. I managed to loose down to 124 my freshman year and maintain that just by being so active. But, obesity is a symptom of PCOS. Oh well between that and genes I am doomed!
I can replace a toilet by myself if I have someone who can lift it up and down on the wax ring while I position it. Measure the distance from the wall to the first screws on your present toilet..to be sure they fit. Most do. A few off brands don't. Kohler, American Standard, all of those DO FIT other plumbing. YOu always need to replace the wax ring, (easy) and probably the water supply line if yours is older. Betcha you can do it all or under $250.00...The toilet should cost about $175-$200. The wax ring should be included in the box with the new toilet...but ask to be sure.
Heck yeah! Been there done that. As a side story, I was plumbing the new faucet in the kitchen sink shortly before my 9 lb 13 oz. son was born. I was in the lower cabinet, leaning against the outside wall and got all the connections in place and tightened. I had been under there for about 15 minutes..and when I tried to get back out...there was NO way!!! I went in on my knees, head first, and twisted around after I was inside. There was no "reverse" leverage to get out. My husband and a friend had to pull me out by my legs...Not a pretty sight. (The faucet NEVER leaked!)
Nancy B, Wow, I am so impressed! Bless those that are adept at situations such as this. How I wish I were in that group now, but, alas, I'm clumsy thumbed and stupid about anyting like this.I have decided to go for the same toilet I have in our master bath..a Toto comfort height. It has been a great addition to our bathroom, so I think it is the way to go. Now..that said...who in hell would have thought this would be a topic for conversation between semi friendly adults? Just blows my mind!...But..I am very grateful that others care enough to share their experiences. This is just such a weird journey.
There is a picture of the new bathroom for my husband here: http://livingwithlewybody.blogspot.com/2009/10/house-progress.html
I bought him a fairly expensive ($500-600) comfort height toilet because I wanted the best possible flush, as he clogs toilets frequently. But comfort height ones are available at Lowes for half that or less. I bought my daughter one there that is comfort height, elongated seat and compact (doesn't stick out further than a round seat toilet) and I wish I had bought the same one for my bathroom because the compact size makes the bathroom look bigger. On Nancy's recommendation I also bought a waterspraying seat for DH.
Another possibility, if you want even more height than comfort height but don't want a thick seat, is that you can buy a fitting that goes between the toilet and the floor and raises it two inches. http://www.dynamic-living.com/product/toilevator-a-raised-seat-alternative