Old Toilet vs. American Standard CHair Height Elongated | Modern Plumbing

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Is it time to replace your old toilet? Old standard toilet vs. American Standard Colony 3 chair height toilet

By Modern Plumbing Services · Serving Citrus County since 1978 · License #CFC1431599

Your toilet probably is not something you think about upgrading until it starts leaking, running, clogging, or simply becomes uncomfortable to use. But if your home still has an older standard-height toilet, replacing it can be one of the simplest and most affordable bathroom upgrades you can make.

A new American Standard Colony 3 chair height elongated toilet installed by Modern Plumbing gives you a more comfortable seat height, dramatically lower water usage, a fresh heavy-duty toilet seat, dependable American Standard quality, and professional installation for one simple flat rate. So how different is a new toilet from the one that may have been sitting in your bathroom for decades?

Old toilet vs. American Standard Colony 3

Feature	Older standard toilet	American Standard Colony 3
Height	Around 15" bowl height	16.5" bowl, about 17" with seat
Bowl	Often round-front	Elongated
Water usage	As much as 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush on older models	1.28 gallons per flush
Water efficiency	Older technology	WaterSense certified
Seat	Often lightweight plastic or aging seat	Bemis EZ Clean white wood seat
Comfort	Lower sitting position	Chair-height comfort
Installation	Existing aging components	New wax ring, bolts, and braided supply
Old toilet disposal	Your problem	We haul it away
Price	Repairs can add up	$529 flat rate installed

1. Chair height: a small difference you can actually feel

One of the biggest differences is not something you see. It is something you feel every time you sit down. Traditional standard-height toilets are generally around 15 inches high at the bowl. The American Standard Colony 3 installed by Modern Plumbing has a 16.5-inch bowl height and sits around 17 inches high with the seat installed.

Two inches may not sound dramatic. Sit on one and you will understand. Chair-height toilets put you closer to the height of a normal dining chair, making it noticeably easier to sit down and stand back up. That can be especially helpful for:

• Seniors
• Taller adults
• People with knee or hip discomfort
• Homeowners planning to age in place
• Guests or family members with limited mobility

Even for younger homeowners, many people simply find chair-height toilets more comfortable. Once you get used to one, an older low toilet can feel surprisingly low.

2. Your old toilet may be using a lot more water

Here is where upgrading can make an even bigger difference. Some older toilets use approximately 5 gallons of water every time you flush. The American Standard Colony 3 installed by Modern Plumbing uses only 1.28 gallons per flush. That means replacing a 5-gallon toilet can reduce the water used for each flush by roughly 74%.

Think about how many times your toilet gets flushed every day. If one person flushes about five times a day, replacing a 5 gpf toilet with a 1.28 gpf toilet could theoretically save around 6,700 gallons of water per person, per year. For a family of four, that could approach 27,000 gallons of water saved per year. Actual savings depend on your current toilet and household usage, but the difference can be significant.

On Citrus County metered water? That matters even more.

If you are connected to Citrus County Utilities or another metered water system, every gallon that goes through your water meter counts toward your usage. An old toilet does not just send extra water down the drain. You are paying for that water. Replacing a high-volume older toilet with a 1.28 gpf WaterSense toilet is one of the easiest ways to permanently reduce household water use without changing your daily routine. No shorter showers. No remembering to turn something off. You simply flush the toilet like you always have. It just uses a lot less water when you do.

You may qualify for a Citrus County toilet rebate

Citrus County Utilities has offered Water Savers rebates for replacing qualifying older toilets with WaterSense-certified models. Recent program terms have offered up to $100 for the first qualifying toilet when replacing a pre-1995 toilet, for customers connected to the county potable water supply. The American Standard Colony 3 is WaterSense certified at 1.28 gallons per flush, so it is the type of high-efficiency toilet these programs are built around.

Important: Rebate programs, amounts, and funding can change, and pre-approval is usually required before the old toilet is removed. Sewer-only accounts are generally not eligible. If you plan to apply, check the current Citrus County Utilities Water Savers requirements first, or call the county water conservation office at (352) 527-7669, before scheduling installation.

3. Industry-leading American Standard quality without buying a luxury toilet

There are toilets that cost $150. There are toilets that cost $1,500. Our goal was to find something in the middle that we would actually feel good about installing in our customers' homes. That is why Modern Plumbing uses the American Standard Colony 3 for our flat-rate toilet replacement package.

American Standard has been manufacturing plumbing fixtures for generations, and the Colony line gives homeowners what we look for in a service replacement toilet: good quality, good flushing performance, readily available replacement parts, efficient water usage, and a reasonable price. You do not need a touchscreen attached to your toilet. You need it to flush. You need it to be comfortable. And you need it to still be working years from now. That is exactly what we are looking for.

4. Do not overlook the toilet seat

This sounds like a small detail, until you sit on a cheap toilet seat. Many inexpensive toilet packages come with lightweight plastic seats that flex, move, loosen, or simply feel cheap. Modern Plumbing includes a Bemis EZ Clean white wood toilet seat with our installation package.

It is heavier. It is sturdier. And you can feel the difference. A solid wood seat gives the finished toilet a more substantial feel than the thin plastic seats included with budget toilet packages. The EZ Clean design also makes removing and cleaning around the seat easier. It is one of those little upgrades that does not look dramatic in a photograph but makes the toilet feel noticeably better every day.

5. Elongated bowl vs. older round toilet

Many older Citrus County homes still have traditional round-front toilets. The Colony 3 we install uses an elongated bowl, which gives you additional room and generally provides a more comfortable seating position. For most bathrooms, it is another small upgrade that makes the new toilet feel considerably different from the one it replaced. If you have a very tight bathroom, we will verify that an elongated toilet will fit properly before installation.

6. Do not compare just the price of the toilet

This is important when shopping online. You may see a toilet advertised at a home improvement store for a couple hundred dollars. But that is not the finished price of replacing a toilet. You still need the toilet, the seat, a wax ring, closet bolts, and a supply line. Then someone has to remove the old toilet, install the new one, level and secure it, connect the water, and test it for leaks. And someone has to figure out what to do with the old toilet sitting in the driveway.

That is why Modern Plumbing created an all-inclusive flat-rate toilet replacement package.

$529 flat rate. Installed.

For a standard replacement, our package includes:

• American Standard Colony 3 chair height elongated toilet
• Bemis EZ Clean white wood toilet seat
• New braided stainless-steel supply line
• New wax ring
• New closet bolts and installation hardware
• Removal of your existing toilet
• Professional installation by a licensed Modern Plumbing plumber
• Leveling and securing the toilet
• Connection to the existing water supply
• Multiple flush tests
• Leak inspection
• Cleanup
• Removal and disposal of your old toilet

One price before we start: $529. No wondering what the final installation bill is going to look like.

Is replacing an old toilet worth it?

If your current toilet works perfectly, is comfortable, does not run or leak, and already uses 1.28 gallons per flush, there may not be a compelling reason to replace it. But if you are looking at an older standard-height toilet that has been sitting in the bathroom for 20, 30, or even 40 years, the difference can be substantial. You are upgrading comfort, from standard height to chair height. Space, from a traditional round bowl to an elongated bowl. Water efficiency, from potentially 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush down to just 1.28 gallons. Quality, to an American Standard Colony 3. And the seat, to a sturdy Bemis EZ Clean white wood seat you can actually feel.

You are getting all of it professionally installed without having to piece together the toilet, parts, labor, and disposal separately.

An affordable bathroom upgrade you will use every day

People spend thousands of dollars changing countertops, tile, paint, and cabinets. But one of the most-used fixtures in your entire house is the toilet. If yours is old, low, inefficient, stained, running, rocking, constantly being repaired, or simply uncomfortable, replacing it does not have to turn into a major bathroom project. Modern Plumbing can remove the old toilet and replace it with a new American Standard Colony 3 chair height elongated toilet for one simple flat rate. As a family-owned business with three generations of plumbing experience, we give you honest recommendations and itemized invoices, with no high pressure sales and no commission-based technicians.

Toilet replacement in Citrus County, Florida

Modern Plumbing proudly installs toilets throughout Inverness, Crystal River, Lecanto, Hernando, Beverly Hills, Homosassa, Floral City, Citrus Springs, and surrounding Citrus County communities.

American Standard Colony 3 installed, $529

Purchase your complete, all-inclusive installation online, or call us with any questions.

Buy your toilet installed online Call (352) 726-5601

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace a toilet in Citrus County?

Modern Plumbing installs a new American Standard Colony 3 chair height elongated toilet for a flat rate of $529. That price includes the toilet, a Bemis EZ Clean wood seat, all new installation parts, removal and disposal of your old toilet, professional installation, leak testing, and cleanup.

What is chair height on the American Standard Colony 3?

The Colony 3 has a 16.5-inch bowl height and sits around 17 inches high with the seat installed, compared to about 15 inches on a traditional standard-height toilet. That extra height puts you closer to the height of a dining chair, making it easier to sit down and stand up.

How much water does the American Standard Colony 3 use?

It uses 1.28 gallons per flush and is WaterSense certified. Replacing an older 5 gallon per flush toilet can reduce the water used per flush by roughly 74%, which adds up quickly on a metered water account.

Can I get a rebate for replacing my old toilet in Citrus County?

Possibly. Citrus County Utilities has offered Water Savers rebates for replacing qualifying older toilets with WaterSense-certified models, recently up to $100 for the first qualifying toilet when replacing a pre-1995 unit, for potable-water customers. Programs and amounts change and pre-approval is usually required before the old toilet is removed, so check current requirements or call (352) 527-7669 before scheduling.

What is included in the flat-rate toilet installation?

The $529 package includes the American Standard Colony 3 toilet, a Bemis EZ Clean wood seat, a new braided stainless-steel supply line, a new wax ring, new closet bolts and hardware, removal of the old toilet, professional installation, leveling and securing, water connection, multiple flush tests, a leak inspection, cleanup, and disposal of your old toilet.

Is an elongated toilet better than a round one?

Most people find an elongated bowl more comfortable because it offers additional room. If your bathroom is very tight, Modern Plumbing will verify that an elongated toilet fits properly before installing it.

Modern Plumbing Services
Serving Citrus County since 1978
Your grandma's favorite plumber since 1978
License #CFC1431599
(352) 726-5601
www.citruscountyplumbers.com