The number one job of a toilet is to flush waste from the toilet bowl. It is, in fact, its only job. The number one complaint homeowners have of toilets is clogging; of not being able to perform its number one job. The strongest flushing toilet is one that doesn’t clog, clears waste quickly and efficiently, and is quiet.
Strongest Flushing Toilet ‘Sneak Peek’
| Product Name | Powered By | Find it Here |
|---|---|---|
| American Standard Cadet Pressure Assisted Toilet | Pressure Assist | Check Up-to-Date Price on Amazon |
| TOTO Ultramax One Piece Toilet | Siphon Flushing | Check Up-to-Date Price on Amazon |
| Swiss Madison One Piece Toilet | Tornado Flush | Check Up-to-Date Price on Amazon |
| Kohler Santa Rosa Toilet | Aquapiston Flush | Check Up-to-Date Price on Amazon |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
What Makes a Toilet a ‘Strong Flusher’?
Since 1992, when the Environmental Protection Agency introduced new standards for water usage in toilets, manufacturers have been producing toilets that use as little as 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF). Toilets typically use water pressure to clear the toilet bowl, so using less water resulted in less-than-stellar flushing performance.
The solution to this was for manufacturers to engineer toilet bowls to work more effectively and efficiently. Newer model toilets use a few different design elements for this:
- Enlarged Trapway. The trapway is the piping in a toilet that leads from the base of the toilet to the drain. The toilet with largest trapway will allow water and waste to leave the toilet bowl faster. It’s a balance though because, if the trapway is too large, then the siphon action of the trap is lost, which is where most of the flushing power comes from.
- Ceramic Glazing. It physics that says that less friction will mean a quicker release. Toilet manufacturers have realized that a smoother glazing on the toilet bowl and trapway can mean that waste and water flow faster and easier.
- Siphon Jet Flushing. Normal gravity-fed toilets rely on the pressure of the water released from the tank to fill the toilet bowl and push waste and water quickly into the trapway creating a siphon that then pulls the waste and water out of the bowl. Siphon jet flushing is an evolution of this process. Water is still released from the tank into the bowl, but some of it is also redirected down a siphon ‘jetway’ that directs water directly to the trap to more quickly overcome the trapway pressure and create a stronger siphon action. It’s a simple use of technology to increase flush performance while using less water resulting in toilets with strong flush while using less water.
- Pump Assisted Flushing. These toilets hold the water in the tank under pressure. When the toilet is flushed, a combination of gravity and pressure from the tank produce a very strong flushing action. These are very high performance toilets; usually seen in industrial settings but also becoming more common in households also.
- Dual Flushing. This feature allows for the release of less water (and therefore less water pressure) for liquid waste, and more water (= greater water pressure) for solid waste. It combines with the elements above to provide specific flushing performance based on the type of waste.
How Do You Measure Flush Strength?
In 2003 the University of Washington set forth to update the toilet facilities on campus. In an effort to find the strongest flushing toilet replacement that both conserved water and offered superior flushing performance, the university funded a study to determine which toilets had the best flush and could be deemed the ‘strongest toilet’.
The study authors used a variety of methods to determine flush performance:
- Increasing Lengths of Loosely Wadded Toilet Paper. One of the most common ‘cloggers’ is a giant wad of toilet paper. In this test, various wads of toilet paper were placed in the toilets and flushed to determine just how large of a wad the flush could remove.
- Tofu Cut Into Standard, Uniform Blocks. This test simulated the removal of solid waste. The researchers cut the tofu into ‘typical shapes’, placed them in the toilet and flushed. If the block was removed they flushed again to be sure it wasn’t lodged in the trap.
- Concentrated Brine Solution. To determine if the toilet bowl water was being completely replaced when flushing liquid waste, the researchers added a concentrated salt solution to the water and flushed. They then measured the conductivity of the water in the bowl to determine if the water had, indeed, been completed replaced.
While I find it super interesting that there is such a study to find the strongest flushing toilet, the results are from 2003, and are for professionally installed industrial toilets so are not valid for our use (although two of the brands below, Toto and American Standard, were among the top performers).
The Strongest Flushing Toilet
- American Standard Cadet Pressure Assisted Toilet – the pressure assist makes this a fast flush toilet and ensures strong performance
- TOTO Ultramax Toilet – a siphon flushing action makes this the one with the strongest toilet flush
- Swiss Madison SM-1T112 – the Tornado flush assisted by powerful nozzles makes this a strong flush toilet worth considering
- Kohler Santa Rosa With Aquapiston Flush Technology – a toilet fully engineered to flush better
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Sometimes the design of a bathroom fixture outweighs its function but, when it comes to toilets it is performance that matters. Here we present some options for the strongest flushing toilet; check out our other articles to determine which is the best toilet to buy.
ABSOLUTE BEST: American Standard Cadet Pressure Assisted Toilet
American Standard Cadet Pressure Assisted Toilet
- Pressure Assisted Siphon Jet Flush Action
- Low Flow Flush (1.6 GPF)
- EverClean Glazed Surface
- Elongated bowl
- Comfort Height
Things to Like:
- Pressure assisted flush = a strong flush toilet
- Low water usage
- Comfort Height
- EverClean Glazing
This toilet combines the siphon jet action with pressure assisted flush to deliver superior flushing performance every time. It’s an industrial grade toilet that will fit into any residential setting; allowing for a toilet that looks good and performs while using less water than an average toilet.
EverClean glazing not only assists in flushing performance (reducing the resistance between waste and the toilet surface) but also helps to keep the toilet cleaner and fresher between bathroom cleanings.
Comfort height meets the ADA requirements for toilets for the elderly, those with disabilities, or with limited mobility. A higher seat height makes the toilet more accessible and comfortable.Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
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NAME BRAND: TOTO Ultramax Toilet
- Elegant design and Finish
- G-Max flushing system: Quiet, powerful, commercial grade flushing performance
- Fast Flush: Wide 3-Inch flush valve is 125 percent larger than conventional 2-Inch flush valves
- Wider, 2-1/8-Inch computer designed, fully glazed trapway
Things to Like:
- G-Max Siphon Flushing Action
- Wider, glazed, trapway
- Soft Close Seat
- Comfort Height
- Sleek, modern, design
Toto is one of the most trusted toilet manufacturers; a Japanese design to exacting standards manufactured in the United States. They create toilets that will update and modernize any bathroom with powerful performance that will eliminate clogging forever.
G-Max siphon flushing is an industry standard. Using a larger 3″ flush valve, and an extra large siphon jet hole, the released water creates a quicker, more powerful, flushing action that removes waste quickly and efficiently but also quietly.
The one-piece design of this toilet is a modern look compared to the standard two-piece models. Its comfort height dimensions elevate the seat to a height that assists those with mobility issues, and the soft close seats will put an end to the slamming of the toilet seat in the middle of the night (or anytime, really).Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
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BEST VALUE: Swiss Madison SM-1T112
- Dual Tornado flush with high-performance gravity 0.8 / 1.28 gallon per flush (gpf).
- Fully skirted design for sleek look and easy cleaning
- Environment Friendly WaterSense toilets, meet strict EPA flushing guidelines.
- Elongated & Comfort height bowl offers added room and comfort.
- Soft Seat to close slowly and quietly.
Things to Like:
- Dual Flush
- Tornado Flushing Action
- Soft Close Seat
- Low flow flush (0.8/1.28 GPF)
This is not only the ‘Best Value’ for the strongest flushing toilet, it’s also the best looking! The one-piece, fully skirted design features clean, modern lines that will look great in any bathroom; plus it makes for easy cleaning too!
Tornado flushing works by utilizing two powerful nozzles to release water into the toilet bowl instead of rim holes. This fast flush toilet creates a centrifugal force in the bowl that increases flushing power and results in a powerful, and efficient flushing action. A dual-flush button allows the user to select very low flush volume of 0.8 GPF for liquid waste or a larger volume (yet still below regulated standards) 1.28 GPF for solid waste. Powerful and water conserving!Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
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RUNNER UP: Kohler Santa Rosa With AquaPiston Technology
KOHLER Santa Rosa With Aqua Piston Technology
- One piece toilets integrate the tank and bowl into a seamless, easy to clean design
- Compact elongated bowl offers added comfort while occupying the same space as a round front bowl
- Comfort Height feature offers chair height seating that makes sitting down and standing up easier for most adults
- 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf)
- Single flush gravity uses the force of gravity and a precision engineered tank, bowl, and trapway to create a strong siphon during flushing
- AquaPiston canister allows water to flow into the bowl from all sides (360 degrees), increasing the power and effectiveness of the flush
- Flush valves 3:2 ratio harnesses the natural force of gravity and optimizes flush performance
Things to Like:
- AquaPiston Flushing Technology
- Powerful siphon jet flush action
- Low flow flush (1.28 GPF)
- Soft Close Seat
Kohler has precision engineered the tank, toilet bowl, and trapway to optimize the siphon action during flushing. Add to that the AquaPiston canister to push water even more forcefully from the bowl and the flushing action is indeed powerful.
The powerful flushing action is even more remarkable in that this toilet only uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush; 20% less than regulated by the EPA.
Its contemporary, one-piece design is modern looking and easy to clean.Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
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What’s The Best Toilet To Buy?
Performance is key but there are a number of other factors you should consider when looking to replace your existing toilet. What space does the toilet have to fit into? What’s your budget? Do you want a one-piece? Two-piece? Wall mounted? We cover all of these, and more, in our What’s the best toilet to buy article.