Q: Dear Ed: I am a handy guy around the house and plan on replacing our old toilet. While searching for our perfect toilet I came across one-piece and two-piece toilets that my wife and I like. My question is, are there advantages to choosing one toilet style over another?
— Bobby, Kansas
A: One-piece toilets are a single component plumbing fixture, while two-piece toilets have a separate tank and bowl. The good news is in most cases both a one-piece and a two-piece toilet should fit existing plumbing connections.
If you’re looking to choose one type over another, there are a few factors to consider.
First, the price for a two-piece toilet is usually less money.
Second, a one-piece toilet has no gap between the tank and the bowl, so cleaning can be easier.
Finally, if you’re installing the toilet yourself, it may be less stressful to carry and work with a two-piece toilet’s two smaller components, rather than a larger and heavier one-piece unit.
I hope I helped you flush out differences between one- and two-piece toilets.
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Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com
