I too have an older American Standard toilet with a 14" rough install. The problem is that the newer bowls have a 16" from bolt hole to front rim of toilet dimension. My current toilet has only abound a 13 3/4" measurement and that is critical for my application. Without tearing out the floor and doing expensive remodeling, any suggestions? Can't find any toilet with the older dimensions and American Standard can't seem to help.

Dadsedot:

A 14" rough toilet is still quite common today. Here, the bowl may have holes that will allow for the 14" rough and certainly could be that your toilet has additional holes at 16" to center...but it also has the holes at 14", too... right?

If not, then something's up 'cause 14" rough in bowls are swapped out and installed everywhere!! They DO NOT make 16" rough in toilets... holes may be there but are only to act for a place to add extra screw in type bolts.

Let me know what you think...

MARK

Mark is very correct in his response. I would like to add that most places carry 12" rough-in bowls . That may be confusing. Most of the well know toilet models can be purchased in 14" rough-in too. You just have to ask at Service Desk in Home Depot or go to more professional store that caters to the trade.

Thanks guys... I guess I wasn't clear... The present toilet, a Cadet, circa 1974, has a measurement from bolt hole in the base to the rim of the toilet is 13 1/2". The Cadet 3 that I looked at (both new and old with 14" rough) has a measurement of 16" from bolt hole to rim of toilet. I checked at Home Depot and in their catalogs and others on line, and that 16" measurement is just about standard now. My problems is I don't have the extra inches in front of the toilet... I have a door that swings past the front of the toilet with less than 1 1/12 inches and I can't re-hinge the door so that it closes and other way than the way it closes now. A older house, circa 1920's. Any clearer?

Hi Dadsedot...

Crystal clear now! Just so used to people not understanding how to measure the toilet rough in correctly... threw me off a bit!~!

I am more than familiar with your situation. Here, the old toilet is a round bowl (right?) and you are having trouble finding a 14" rough in toilet that is round or that fits the footprint you have... right?

No names come to me off the top of my head. Have you contacted a local plumbing supply company and asked them to help you with this problem? A plumbing salesperson should be able to find you something that will work. At the least, give them a call or even better, drop by a plumbing supply house with a showroom and spend a few minutes making your problem clear.

Give Milo a chance to respond here.. could be that he may know a brand off the top of his head and can help here. Whatever you do, don't do what this guy did... (see image below)... ;)

Keep us posted OK?

MARK

Your right, Mark. One plumber suggested the "notch." Suffice it to say, didn't ask for a quote. I considered installing a smaller door... the one I have is a 30", to a 28", but it would be cockeyed because I need the added two inches on the knob side, and would have to re-frame that side to gain the space I need. So far, the best bet is to leave things as they are and hope for the best and keep looking. I think the problem came about with the new water saving features that were mandated. The bowl shape has been altered to get the flush needed. Ah, progress is great, isn't it?

Take some time and drop by the local plumbing supply house. Take a few minutes to talk to the counter guys... you shouldn't be the first guy in the area to have this issue. See what they think.

Otherwise, as mentioned, give Milo and Tom (senior man around here) a chance to respond. I'll also check with my counter guys in the morning... in my opinion, the most knowledgeable plumbing design/supply company in Massachusetts (am I allowed to say that? ).

http://www.republicsupplyco.com/Active/VShrm/vshrm.htm

Let's keep in touch the next couple of days... O.K.

MARK

That notched door is funny ! :D:D:D

Hey, guys... I just watched the local news and there was a home improvement type showing a toilet conversion kit for my type of older toilet. Supposedly turns my "old fashioned" unit into a dual flush type unit. Any experience with these type of kits and suggestions on brands, etc.

Nope.. sorry. If you decide to use this, please keep us posted on the result... could be interesting for sure.

I did not check with my supplier today... check back tomorrow night around 8:00 eastern time and I'll let you know what they thought here... O.K.?

MARK

Mark... went to www.one2flush.com and looked at the video... if you get a chance take a look and let me know what you think. Thanks.

I looked at the video... neat stuff. The price concerns me a bit here... just $29.95.. seems like a steal... doesn't it? If you do try this, buy 2 or 3 at that price as I am confident that you will need replacement parts at some point down the road... AND I'll bet they won't be easy to find in the future... ;)

Now, to back up a bit... why are you investigating this? Is your toilet broken, ugly, leaking..? What?

Let me know.

MARK

Here's the thing... we are couple of a "certain age," read, over 70. We would like to reduce our water usage as our town charges more for a sewer charge than the actual water. Also, every now and then, the toilet likes to run continually, if we forget to listen for the flapper to drop down... it can run for quite a while before we hear it. I have replaced the flapper, and I replaced a broken chain from the flush lever to the flapper and I would think that it probably has to do with the flapper not opening fully if the handle isn't depressed fully? That's about the extent of my plumbing epertise.

It's a bit of a job, but changing the entire flush valve assembly, or changing the flush valve over to that "one2flush" assembly would fix the continually running toilet. The one2flush may also save on water usage... looked good on the video... may be worth investigating for the $29.95, but by your own admission, you're not exactly a plumbing guru... ;)

How many gallons of water is that toilet using per flush? 3.5 gallons? 5 gallons? or 7.5 gallons... let me know as there are other water saving solutions. If unknown, shut off the water to the toilet tank, flush the toilet and then take a 5 gallon bucket and fill the toilet tank... how much did you use?

Let me know...

MARK

Thanks for taking the time, Mark. I measured the water flow and it came out to 3.5 per flush. I have tired putting in a plastic jug filled with water to decrease water flow, but had trouble with "solids." My brother in law has lots of experience with plumbing and has said he would help if I went the 2 way. Again, I appreciate your help.