The Emergence of Kohler
Kohler was a brainchild of David Kohler and Herbert Kohler Jr. who founded the company in 1873. The company began its humble journey by manufacturing plumbing fixtures, engines, cabinetry, and generators. Kohler gradually went on to become one of the brightest names in the world of plumbing attires. Their enamel-coated bathtub earned them worldwide popularity.
The new Kohler models have retained their good old classic designs, upgrading the function by incorporating the latest technologies. From the common one and two-piece equipment to the lesser-known touchless flush toilets, Kohler bath furnishings will match the ambiance and setting of your bathroom.
What Makes Kohler Toilets Better than the Rest?
Kohler toilets are available in medium and high price ranges. It has the best features to render comfortable flushing experiences and trouble-free installation. If you are well aware of the rough-in measurement of the area where the toilet is to be installed, choosing the right configuration will be a breeze for you.
The U.S regulation of allowing a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush was a step towards conserving the most valuable natural resource on Earth, water. All the Kohler products comply with these laws and mandates. The dual flush type models consume less than 1 gallon of water for effective flushing effect, aiding in higher water efficiency.
The top-rated products under their label could transform the way your bathroom looks, leaving your relatives, friends, and colleagues green with envy. Choosing the best Kohler toilet from a bunch of lucrative options becomes a lot less arduous when you are educated about the primary qualities to examine while shopping carefully.
Kohler Toilets – Keeps On Innovating
An average brand is satisfied when the sales of their products are high, but not big brands like Kohler. Despite having an overwhelming fan base all over the globe, Kohler continues to focus on turning better into the best.
Their toilets were the first of their kind to introduce the feature of manually increasing the water speed for different cleaning requirements. Their touchless flush commodes have created quite the buzz among their customers. The ease of installation is not comparable to any other brand. A plumber won’t charge you big money for setting up a Kohler toilet which requires only a couple of basic tools and techniques.
Kohler, a brand synonymous with class, makes some of the most elegant, artistically designed flushing toilets on the market today. The fusion of state-of-the-art flushing systems and exuberant construction by Kohler often gives industry-giants like TOTO and American Standard a good run for their money. If you’re planning to replace your existing toilet with a new one, the best Kohler Toilet model would be a solid choice.
Toilets are long-term investments. When you purchase a toilet, you expect it to last for at least 10-15 years. Kohler products, such as bathroom and kitchen fittings, are more than mere charming looks. They are made from the most robust ceramic, finished with chrome and glazed with catalyzed ion for bacteria resistance.
Have you ever been curious as to why there’s so much hype around this brand? Is it worth it, or is it just another overrated brand for wealthy buyers? This article dedicates itself to answer all your questions with proper explanations. If you’re planning to purchase a Kohler product and not sure whether it would be the right decision or not, keep on reading.
Comparison of the 7 Best Kohler Toilets in 2020
| Picture | Brand Name | Water Consumption | Price | Latest Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Kohler Cimarron | 1.28 GPF | $$ | Check Price |
 | Kohler Santa Rosa | 1.28 GPF | $$$ | Check Price |
 | Kohler San Raphael | 1.0 GPF | $$$$ | Check Price |
 | Kohler Memoir | 1.60 GPF | $$$ | Check Price |
 | 1.28 GPF | $$$ | Check Price | |
 | Kohler Gabrielle | 1.28 GPF | $$$ | Check Price |
 | 1.6 GPF | $$$ | Check Price |
Top 7 Kohler Toilets: Reviews
#1. Kohler Cimarron Height Elongated Toilet
Smart shopaholics who know a thing or two about Kohler, are sure to be acquainted with this model. The Kohler K-3609 Cimarron has inspired many budding manufacturers to try and copy this design.
It’s mostly a two-piece toilet with an elongated bowl, allowing enough room for your posterior to rest. This high-performance toilet, from Kohler, marries Class Five Flushing Technology with the best classic Kohler toilet designs, a combination very hard to resist.
The unique mechanism facilitates a massive water volume flow per unit to the bowl for siphonic cleaning action. One significant upside, it flushes very discreetly, so you don’t get embarrassed at your next dinner party!
The canister valve housed along with a broad trap way makes powerful flushing possible. The spacious trap way aids the elimination of large volumes of human waste in a quick time, leaving no leftovers to taint the toilet bowl.
Cimarron’s exclusive DryLock system helps maintain the sanitation of your bathroom at the finest levels. The toilet seat height is ideal for people of all ages to enjoy a satisfactory toilet experience.
#2. KOHLER Santa Rosa Toilet with AquaPiston Flush
The Kohler Santa Rosa series holds the most visually-stunning, artistic design made by Kohler. It removes feces marks from every nook and cranny of the bowl by generating tremendous flushing action.
Its Class Five Flushing System creates incredibly powerful water pressure to thrust any amount of waste deep down the sewage system in one go. The tank refills in less than a few seconds to prepare it for the second flush.
Construction-wise, it’s a one-piece toilet incorporating a seamless bowl and tank design for easy maintenance. As it’s a Comfort Height toilet, adults, elderly, and especially people with knee problems will find it extremely easy to sit and rise from the seat.
There are two minor glitches that we can’t overlook. One is the noise during flushing, which can be a bit uncomfortable during the night. Secondly, as a one-piece toilet, it is cumbersome. You’ll need at least two people to help you set it up.
#3. Kohler San Raphael Comfort Toilet
The Kohler San Raphael Comfort Toilet has one of the coolest features encapsulated in a modern-looking, compact toilet. What distinguishes San Raphael from other Kohler models is the application of the single twin touch flush actuator.
Dual flush and twin touch flush are almost similar. Both make use of a partial flush for liquid waste and full-flush mode for solid waste. The one-piece elongated design is suitable for most home bathrooms, large or small.
The delightful range of colors allows you the liberty to decorate your bathrooms just the way your heart wishes. The elongated bowl is a standard 12” in dimension.
On the brighter side, the flushing system meets EPA WaterSense guidelines, highlighting its ability to use 20% less water than a regular 1.6-gallon model. The installation process is relatively easy, but you will need a Class A GFCI outlet to get maximum flushing performance from it.
#4. Kohler Memoirs Two Piece Toilet
As the name suggests, it is a two-piece toilet, featuring a separate tank and bowl. The inspiration for the design came from the stunning architectural flamboyance of the Memoirs Suite with Stately design.
The traditional appearance is merged with Kohler’s high water efficiency system, requiring only 1.28 gallons of water to rinse waste residues from the toilet bowl. The round bowl shape, coupled with a convenient seat height is a relief for people with severe knee pain and the elderly.
The shipping weight of the product is around 80 pounds, which is fine for two people to set up. The flushing action might be a little noisy, due to the powerful sucking action during the flush.
#5. Kohler Devonshire
The Kohler Devonshire is a comfortable and high-efficiency toilet. In addition to that, manufacturers offer it in a variety of colors that complement the decors of different bathrooms.
For instance, you can choose from white, almond, biscuit, ice grey, sandbar, and black. The Kohler Devonshire is a two-piece toilet that features a chair-height elongated bowl that provides superior comfort to the users.
Additionally, this toilet has a significantly powerful flushing performance due to its canister flush valve that ensures a smooth and efficient flushing operation. Furthermore, the Devonshire’s flushing system consumes only 1.28 gallons per flush, which makes this toilet water-efficient and allows the users to get consumer rebates on their water bills.
This high-efficiency toilet has a traditional design that goes with all types of bathrooms, whether it has a modern or traditional look. In addition to that, the Kohler Devonshire toilet coordinates with all other products in the Devonshire collection. If you have used Kohler before, you have an idea of how durable their products are. Furthermore, the comfort-height feature of this toilet makes it better than its competitor. In addition to that, the comfort-height feature ensures a comfortable sitting experience and the elongated shape provides more space for your legs.
Lastly, on the purchase of the Kohler Devonshire, you get a one-year limited warranty that ensures that the company will replace or repair any damages of the toilet during this period.
#6. Kohler Gabrielle
The Kohler Gabrielle is another high-efficiency, one-piece toilet that has a beautiful design. This toilet greatly complements the décor of your modern bathroom. Additionally, the Kohler Gabrielle has a comfort-height seat with an elongated bowl design that ensures to provide superior comfort to the user.
The toilet seat is ADA compliant, which makes it ideal for older people or people with disabilities. Furthermore, the toilet has a high-glazed finish, and the company manufactures it in several colors, such as white, almond, biscuit, dune, sandbar, thunder grey, ice grey, cashmere, and black.
In addition to that, the Kohler Gabrielle also includes a quiet-close seat that prevents the loud slam noises as the toilet seat closes. This feature is excellent for people who have light-sleepers in the house.
Furthermore, the flushing system of this toilet uses Class Five technology and does its job efficiently in a single flush. It consumes only 1.28 gallons per flush, making this toilet water-efficient and EPA WaterSense certified. EPA WaterSense certification allows you to get rebates on your water bills, depending on your location. Additionally, the glazed trap-way of this toilet ensures that the flushing system does its job well.
Lastly, Gabrielle has an installation procedure similar to other traditional toilets as it requires a 12-inch rough-in. The setup procedure is pretty straightforward and quick. Furthermore, this toilet comes with a one-year limited warranty which means that the company is responsible for all replacements and repairs of the toilet.
7. Kohler Wellworth
The Kohler Wellworth is the ideal toilet for people who are looking for something affordable without compromising on quality. This toilet is a two-piece, round-front toilet that is suitable for smaller bathrooms.
Additionally, this high-efficiency toilet is available in a variety of beautiful colors that complement the décor of your bathroom, such as white, biscuit, almond, and black. However, this package doesn’t include a toilet seat which means that you will have to purchase that separately.
Furthermore, the Wellworth features a dual-flush system, which means you get two choose from two different levels of flushes, depending on your priority. The partial-flush consumes only 1.1 gallons per flush, and the full-flush consumes 1.6 gallons per flush. Additionally, partial-flush enables you to save 30% more water than a full flush. The Welllworth toilet also has a glazed trap-way that boosts the efficiency of the flushing system.
Lastly, the Wellworth toilet comes with a one-year limited warranty, and the company takes responsibility for all the damages, replacements, and repairs of the toilet.
Essential Features to Look for: When Buying a New Toilet
Flushing quality
The ability to flush the solid waste with a single flush, leaving a clean bowl is the first thing to research while checking out the product specs. The better the flushing mechanism, the faster the waste material will be jetted down the drain line.
If it takes more than one flush to get the system properly cleaned, it’s not worth your time or money. Another common issue with loos is clogging. Examine the width of the trap way and flush valve thoroughly. Anything from the standard 2-inch or above will inhibit the chances of clogging.
Low Water-Consumption
According to a survey, in an average U.S home, 30% of a family’s total water consumption per day is used for toilet flushing purposes. This figure is huge and alarming at the same time. In 1995, the U.S Department of Energy Standard limited the amount used by any toilet per flush to 1.6 gallons. The best toilet models in the market meet this standard, and they meet the California standard of 1.28 GPF. Look for a WaterSense label on the product, which is a clear indicator of the high water efficiency of the model.
Flushing Technology
Gravity flushing mechanisms are considered to be the most powerful and quickest flushing invented. At the standard household water pressure of 10 psi, the water spruced up from the tank washes a large volume of waste deep down the drain system, in a total silent model. Gravity-fed latrines will easily fit your budget and deliver top performance for years to come.
Pressure-assisted loos offer another option of power rinsing. The household water pressure needs to be as high as 25 psi to make the process work. Pressure-assisted toilets are ideal for large families but do cost quite a fortune. The best value flushing technology for any home would be a dual flush system.
The somewhat deceptive name might imply the need to flush twice, but that’s not the case. Dual flushing mechanisms employ low flushing force for liquid waste and the full-flush mode for solid waste. The partial-flush method helps save more water on the daily water intake of a family, delivering high water efficiency.
Trap ways and Flush Valves
Trap ways and flushing valves are like the heroes behind the scenes. It has to be wide enough to let a large number of feces pass through without jamming the trap way. As far as the ease of cleaning is concerned, skirted and concealed trap ways are the most convenient to clean.
The function of a flush valve is to release water from the tank to the bowl. While two inches is the standard width, some high-end models have opted for a 3-4 inch flush valve to activate cyclonic flushing action.
Apart from these major features, there are other aspects such as bowl shape and height, the rough-in dimension of your toilet, weight to dimension ratio of the toilet, flappers, noise-reduction ability, toilet seat design, etc. to name a few.
Conclusion
A beautiful clean toilet is one of the most often overlooked valuable assets for any household, office, or hotel room. From high end, luxurious toilets to affordable, compact models for homeowners, the technology-driven 21st century has a lot to offer for prospective toilet buyers.
The industry of plumbing fixtures is growing bigger and better with time. Top-notch companies are at a struggle with each other for the title of the best. Brands like Kohler prioritize customer satisfaction over gimmicks any day. They don’t consider consumers as brain-dead creatures who would buy anything that looks good on paper.
The makers at Kohler Toilets thrive on creating products suitable to the ever-changing toilet needs of internet-savvy folks, ensuring optimum seating comfort and flushing force. Some of the models I have reviewed above have left such a huge impact that new brands have started taking the lead from them.
Leave a Reply