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Before we begin, you may want to familiarize yourself with the different rough in sizes, and how they are measured here. You can skip this if you're already certain toilets with a 14" rough fulfil your requirements.
While the more common measurement of twelve inches tends to be the standard in this industry, there comes a time where this won't quite fit the bill. Some people prefer to reduce the amount of space behind the tank, which is where something larger comes in to the equation.
This guide is designed to help you find a suitable match for your bathroom, taking into consideration brand, efficiency, flushing power, price, design, and much more. Read on to find in depth information that will ultimately help answer many of your queries.
| Image | Product | Rating |
|---|---|---|
  |
American Standard 215FC104.020 | 85% |
  |
KOHLER K-3947-0 Wellworth | 85% |
  |
Sterling 402079-96 Windham | 84% |
  |
KOHLER K-3949-0 Highline | 84% |
The 215FC104.020 from the American Standard brand is equipped with a more traditional tank that fits a 12 rough. However, the bowl itself will fit a 14 inch. The reasoning behind this comes down to the nature of its design. This is actually a reasonably compact option that will ultimately help you save space and leg room in an undersized bathroom.
It features one flush performance power through its Cadet mechanism, alongside a nice little feature which will help keep the harder to get to areas of its rims clean. A clean bowl is essential, especially if you want to minimize the amount of maintenance issues that can arise. This combination provides you with just that, and the Ever Clean surface will go hand in hand with this to create a hygienic environment.
But what about water consumption? Well you need not worry, even though you get plenty of power to remove waste from the bowl, it isn't going to be using too much water to do so. The 1.28 gallons consumption will help keep household bills down.
It's ADA compliant, thanks to its taller than average 16-1/2" rim height, which will ultimately make accessibility easier for many.
Overall, it's manufactured by a decent brand, can be found with a lower to mid range budget, and has the necessary specs to work well in a home environment.
Those of you not familiar with the KOHLER brand, can read more about them here. They are among what we believe to be the top brands the toilet market has to offer. But what of this particular model?
You actually have two key parts here considering it's two piece. The first being the tank (K-4841), and the bowl which is the K-4197 and comes with a round front toilet bowl.
It may lack some features which the 215FC104.020 offers, such as the taller bowl, but it makes up for this in other ways, such as the class five bulk flushing performance, whilst still using only 1.28 gallons in each flush, making it WaterSense compliant.
The design is clean and modern, finished in a nice and bright white color, and a rounded front providing people with additional leg room, which is always welcome.
Not ideal for those with budgets on the low end, but from our research, we've found several places in which it averages out to fall in the mid range category.
The 402079-96 from the Windham product range has a pretty basic external design, finished in a unique biscuit color. It's a two piece style, crafted in vitreous china, which is glossed over and designed to ensure cleaning is simple, and help it stand the test of time. Both of which can be of high importance in a family household.
It utilizes a siphonic style flushing mechanism to flush out waste from the bowl, but at the same time keep water usage levels at 1.28 gpf, which is something you want to keep an eye on if you want to do your bit for the environment and keep household bills low.
Something that stands out for me is the larger water surface area. It measures nine by eight inches, and is made that way to reduce odors, and help in the waste removal process.
Whilst it may be of a standard height, it does feature a deliberately extended rim for seated comfort. Couple this with the elongated bowl and you have the formula for a more comfortable bathroom experience.
It's not particularly expensive, and is relatively simple to install through a three bolt system. This is an option for those of you wanting to move away from the usual suspects in terms of brand names.
This model from the Highline collection could be ideal for people looking to spend a little extra for additional features aimed at improving comfort and performance.
You can expect a taller than average seated position that can make a lot of difference in terms of access. For some, standing up and bending down can prove quite difficult, so a higher seat helps resolve this issue for many.
What's more, you can expect a economically friendly flush that uses up to 1.28 gallons. However, it's still categorized as a class five flush performance, which will ensure bulk waste flushing performance is up to scratch.
It's floor mounted, and also comes with a three bolts installed and ready to go on its tank, that will help cut set up times.
It's not the cheapest of options available, but there is plenty of positives to be found within.
| American Standard 215FC104.020 | KOHLER K-3947-0 Wellworth | Sterling 402079-96 Windham | KOHLER K-3949-0 Highline | |
| Type | Two piece | Two piece | Two piece | Two piece |
| Flush | HET | HET | HET | HET |
| GPF | 1.28 | 1.28 | 1.28 | 1.28 |
| Bowl | Elongated | Round front | Elongated | Elongated |
| Comfort height | ||||
| Color | White | White | Biscuit | White |
| Dimensions | 30.4 x 17.4 x 30.1" | 29 x 29 x 18" | 31.2 x 16.9 x 28.6" | 39.8 x 35.4 x 31.9" |
| Weight | 59 lbs | 89.7 lbs | 97 lbs | 96.5 lbs |
| Rating | 85% | 85% | 84% | 84% |
Whilst our toilet reviews aim to uncover all the potential flaws and advantages of products, there are still ways in which you, the consumer, can arm yourself with knowledge to get yourself a good match for your bathroom. Run through the list below before you decide to part with your hard earned cash.
Flush mechanism - An essential part of your decision process should be looking into what type of flush it operates on. There are countless types to go with, including dual, hands free, and even ones designed to flush upwards. Whatever your own preferences are, think carefully first.
Budget - Like most things you purchase online, you generally set yourself a budget to work with. Picking a toilet should be no different. You have price ranges across the whole spectrum. Some will be perfect for those with limitations, others will work well for those with deeper pockets that want something a tad more luxurious and technologocally advanced.
Type and design - You will want to understand the differences between two and one piece products, as well as how design features such as a concealed trapway and color, can affect the look and them of the whole bathroom. So choose wisely.
Alternative brands - Despite there being three main manufacturers we typically recommend, there are also several others worth considering. For example Gerber has some excellent product ranges, so does Mansfield. You shouldn't overlook either, should you want to see the full picture.
The right product with a 14" rough will vary from person to person. Our advice above covers many of the basics and things to look out for when shopping online. These could become an ideal replacement to your current set up, with the majority offering decent flush performance, alongside contemporary styles that will work well in modern homes.