Toilet Buyer’s Guide: 5 Best Toilets with Touchless Flush
Restrooms, both public and our own, can be downright gross. We’ve all done the dance where we finish up our business, balance on one foot, and use the other to flush the toilet. It’s like the bathroom version of the Hokey Pokey. Well, with the help of some new technology, bathrooms are becoming more user-friendly thanks to the help of touchless toilet flush systems.
Touchless toilet flush systems are just that, touchless flush systems that enable users to flush without having to touch any handles or doing the bathroom Hokey Pokey.
While many touchless systems work with the use of motion sensors to sense when the toilet needs flushing, newer technology allows users to simply wave their hand over the toilet, where a sensor is located, and flush the system that way.
While touchless toilet flushing systems were once only available for public restrooms, they are now becoming more commonplace amongst residential units as well. While some touchless flush toilets are expensive, there are ways to fit your toilet with newer technologies to make them touchless.
Read on to learn how these systems work and see which option would be best for your bathroom needs.
Comparison Table
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How Do Touchless Toilet Flush Systems Work?
Touchless toilet flush systems work in a few different ways depending on the model that is in use. One of the most common touchless flush systems make use of a motion sensor located near the top of the toilet but facing out over the seat.
These motion sensors make use of an infrared light that is set to trigger when you are within a certain distance. Once in that pre-determined distance, the light will generally wait until you have moved out of the way and then initiate the flush.
These toilets are very common in public restrooms, and they are not without their faults. One of the main issues users come across is premature flushing. Sometimes these infrared beams are programmed for closer proximity, which means if you lean too far over while doing your business, it could detect and flush thinking you’ve gotten up off the seat.
One way that this premature flush problem has been addressed is with some newer technology that places the sensor up on top of the toilet’s water tank, and instead of the infrared beam detecting your movement away from the toilet, users wave their hand over the sensor when they are done.
Kohler was the first to come out with these new touchless toilets and the newer systems work by emitting an electromagnetic field that sends a signal to flush the toilet when your hand waves over the sensor.
While these newer toilet sensors seem to be a little more reliable than the motion sensors that face forward, they aren’t without their downfalls, such as the need to change the batteries to keep the unit running.
Benefits of Touchless Toilet Flush Systems
As with any technology, there are going to be some bumps in the road, but it seems as if the benefits far outweigh the consequences when it comes to touchless toilet flush systems.
Besides eliminating the gross-factor of having to touch a germy toilet handle, there are a few other benefits to having one of these systems in your bathroom.
- Hygiene/Overall Well-Being – Touchless toilet flush systems provide better overall well-being and health because there is less contact with the toilet, one of the homes’ dirtiest surfaces.
- Convenience – Wave your hand and your toilet flushes. It can’t get much easier than that, especially when trying to avoid doing the bathroom Hokey Pokey. Avoiding germs, and in some cases, making it “fun” to flush (hello parents with young children!), these touchless toilets are making trips to the bathroom much simpler.
- Modern – While many aren’t too concerned with how modern their toilet is, the fact of the matter is, when it comes to remodeling, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, the more modern, the better. Touchless toilet flush systems are quite literally the wave of the future. The designs of these toilets are becoming more modern, and so is the technology used to power them. With motion sensors becoming more advanced, it is becoming more common to see touchless flush systems than it is to see the standard flush handles.
5 Best Toilets with Touchless Flush
Touchless Toilets can be fantastic, but they can also be very expensive depending on what you are looking for. While some systems can run a few hundred, some units are upwards of several thousand.
Many different things factor into the budget of these touchless toilets, including the touchless flush system, the design of the toilet itself and the maker.
Below, we have compiled the top five touchless flush toilets on the market from two of the top brands and have ranked them based on customer reviews and budget. In the case of a tie in the customer rankings, the budget was taken into consideration.
Keep in mind, while motion sensor toilets have been around for some time, touchless toilets in the home are considered a newer technology, so don’t be shocked by the lower review rates.
1. KOHLER K-6419-0 Cimarron Touchless Comfort Height 2-piece 1.28 GPF…
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With no handle to touch to flush, this Cimarron toilet allows users to do their business with less worry about picking up germs. The KOHLER touchless toilet features innovative AquaPiston technology that delivers a fast, powerful flush that is virtually plug-free.
With a 1.28-gallon flush, this toilet provides water savings of up to 16,500 gallons per year without sacrificing performance. The flush is activated by the no-touch sensor, which is mounted inside of the tank and is powered by 4 AA batteries. With a simple wave of the hand, the toilet flushes and users can go on with their day.
2. American Standard 2794119.020 Studio Activate Touchless Right Height…
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The American Standard Studio is a high-end touchless toilet that flushes automatically and has a sleek concealed trapway for a seamless look that suits any bathroom design. This toilet is not only stylish, but it also includes American Standard’s EverClean surface. It helps to stop the growth of mildew, mold, and bacteria, helping to keep your bathroom clean.
This toilet not only meets the EPA WaterSense Criteria, but also comes with a PowerWash rim that scrubs the bowl with each flush, and a wave hand actuator and a manual override flush button for backup if needed. The touchless sensor is powered by 4 AA batteries.
3. KOHLER K-6418-0 Cimarron Touchless Comfort Height 2-piece 1.28 GPF…
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The KOHLER touchless toilet features a touchless module that projects a field through the top of the tank lid that senses your hand, causing the toilet to flush when users wave their hands over it. Then, single-flush gravity uses the force of gravity and a precision-engineered tank, bowl, and trapway to create a strong siphon during flushing.
With a 1.28-gallon flush, this toilet provides water savings of up to 16,500 gallons per year without sacrificing performance. The flush is activated by the no-touch sensor, which is mounted inside of the tank and is powered by 4 AA batteries. When the batteries are low, the unit will beep five times when activated to alert users that it’s time to replace them.
4. American Standard 2794119.020 Studio Activate Touchless Right Height…
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The American Standard Studio Activate features a luxury touchless toilet flush, and the siphon action jetted bowl creates a powerful flush. The concealed trapway is a large 2-1/8 inch, and the flush valve is oversized at 3 inches to help prevent clogging.
This toilet is not only stylish but includes American Standard’s EverClean surface which helps to stop the growth of mildew, mold, and bacteria, helping to keep your bathroom clean.
This toilet not only meets the EPA WaterSense Criteria, but also comes with a PowerWash rim that scrubs the bowl with each flush, and a wave hand actuator and a manual override flush button for backup if needed. The touchless sensor is powered by 4 AA batteries.
5. KOHLER K-8687-0 San Souci Touchless Comfort Height 1.28 Gpf Compact…
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The KOHLER San Souci one-piece toilet offers users a sleek, contemporary design along with KOHLER’s touchless flush technology. The KOHLER touchless toilet features innovative AquaPiston technology that delivers a fast, powerful flush that is virtually plug-free. The compact, elongated bow also offers added comfort while occupying the same space as a round-front bowl, making it space friendly.
The 1.28-gallon flush provides significant water savings of up to 15,500 gallons per year and meets the strict EPA flushing guidelines. The flush is activated by the no-touch sensor, which is mounted inside of the tank and is powered by 4 AA batteries.
What to Look for In Touchless Toilets
When shopping for your new touchless toilet, there are a few different things you will want to keep in mind.
- Brand – While there are a wide variety of brands out on the market, some are more noteworthy than others. While it is not always essential to shop by brand names, sometimes those names come with better reviews and standards than others. For example, the two brands featured above (American Standard and KOHLER) are two of the most notable brands on the market.
- Water Efficiency – Water efficiency is becoming a top priority when it comes to both the kitchen and bathroom. Something you’ll notice in the top six touchless toilets listed above is the fact that they all meet the EPA WaterSense Criteria. This means that they perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts and are 20 percent more water efficient than average products in their category, such as toilets.
- Waste Outlet – When looking at toilets, you will want to keep in mind what type of waste outlet your plumbing setup has. In most cases, there are one of two options: through the floor and out the back.
Touchless Toilet Flush Alternatives
While many want the convenience of touchless toilet flush systems in their homes, it can be hard justifying the expense. Well, don’t fret. There is an option that fits many existing toilets to help make them touchless!
Kits such as KOHLER’s K-1954-0 Touchless No products found. help transform most standard toilets into touchless toilets without much hassle.
Touchless Toilet Flush Systems Are the Wave of The Future
Touchless toilet flush systems are becoming ever more popular not only for use in public restrooms but more frequently in residential units as well. Moreover, while touchless toilets can be somewhat expensive, touchless toilet flush kits are making it easier to bring existing toilets into the future by making them hands-free.
Last update on 2024-03-28 at 01:20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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