Water Closets
09 January 2024
Water closets is a room in the house that has toilets and sinks. It is also called a WC, lavatory or bathroom. A WC can be found in homes as well as public places such as schools, restaurants, hotels and hospitals. The term "water closet" came from the old English language meaning "toilet." Today people usually refer to it simply as a toilet or restroom (American). Below We will discuss more about what they are used for, their types and how to maintain them effectively etc.
Why do they call it a water closet?
The term water closet gets its name from the English translation of a French phrase, “lavabo et pot de chambre” meaning wash basin with chamber pot. The first flushing toilets used at home were based on an existing design that required two basins and plumbing connections for washing liquid waste into a storage container below ground level.
The phrase water closet is now used to describe a toilet room, often with two doors. One door leads into the bedroom or dressing room for privacy and the other opens onto a hallway where there are no windows. The term has also come to replace terms like privy, lavatory, powder room and bathroom because of its more private connotation. Water closets are also called toilet rooms or WCs.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Water Closets
Advantages:
- Water closets are designed to be more comfortable and easier on your body than a standard toilet.
- They also have the added benefit of not producing any odors, as they do not use water or electricity for flushing.
- The installation of water closets is much easier than a standard toilet, and the cost of replacement parts is significantly lower.
Disadvantages:
- Water closets have to be installed at certain heights due to their design. This can make each individual’s height adjustment more difficult than with other toilets.
- They also typically require a larger space to accommodate the size of the bowl and trap, which may be a problem with those living in small homes or apartments.
- Traditional toilets have been designed for centuries without much impact from technology, whereas water closets are still relatively new on the market.
- The design of many standard bathrooms makes it difficult to install a water closet comfortably within the space available.
What Is the Difference Between Water Closet And Toilet?
A toilet is a plumbing fixture that straddles the drain pipe and sits on top of the ground or floor. The water closet, also known as WC, W.C., rest room, lavatory or bathroom in some cultures (especially North America), is a fixed personal hygiene station that includes not only a toilet but also an indoor basin with a water closet (sink) and one or more other items such as toilet paper, soap, towels etc.
Water closets usually have rough floors that are made of ceramic tiles which is easier to clean than the carpeting on most toilets in homes. Water closet basins also typically include two faucet handles: hot and cold.
Water closets are often found in public lavatories, such as those located aboard ships or at airports. They can also be found in the private homes of people who have large families with more than one person per room and want to save space by consolidating their toilet needs into a single area that is not shared.
Different Types of Water Closets:
1. One Piece Water Closet:
One-piece water closet is a toilet that covers the entire bowl and tank in one piece. It is typically more expensive than two-piece units, but they also tend to be taller. This type of fixture can often replace traditional three or four hole toilets with only minor modifications required for venting and drain connections on some models.
2. Two Piece Water Closet:
One of the most common types is a two-piece water closet. The tank and toilet are in separate pieces, with pipes connecting them together. Two-piece toilets can be more affordable than one-piece units, but they also tend to be shorter as well. These fixtures require minor modifications for venting and drain connections on some models.
3. Wall Mounted Water Closet:
Wall-mounted water closet is a toilet with its tank and bowl mounted on the wall. These are often used in small spaces or where floor space is limited, such as commercial buildings. Wall-mount units have smaller tanks that may require more frequent emptying than other types of toilets, but they also tend to be less expensive.
4. Floor Standing Water Closet:
Floor standing water closet is a toilet with its tank and bowl on the floor. These are often used in commercial buildings, as they allow for more room for storage underneath than wall-mounted units do. Floor standing fixtures have larger tanks that typically don't need to be emptied or filled quite so frequently, but they also tend to be more expensive.
5. Extended Wall Mounted Water Closet:
The Extended Wall Mounted Water Closet, is not just a water closet. It's so much more! With this type of toilet you'll never have to worry about emptying the bowl with every flush again because it has an extra large capacity that will allow for up to 12 flushes before needing to be emptied. And when it's time to empty the bowl, just lift up the seat and remove – no need for a bucket or plunger.
6. Close Coupled Water Closet:
Coupled water closets are a one piece fixture. This means both the bowl and tank are all in one unit, connected by supply lines that go through the wall of the toilet room to a place for waste disposal or venting.
7. Pedestal Water Closet:
The pedestal water closet has its tank mounted on top of an elevated support base. The idea behind this design is to provide more space underneath the bowl and allow for easier cleaning than with other types of toilets. Some pedestal-type water closet models have a small wall between the seat and the tank to help contain any splashback.
How To Install Water Closet?
The fitting process for a water closet is similar to that of the toilet, with one notable exception: the trapway. The trapway consists of two pieces and connects at a pivot point in an L-shape. One side, called the "wye" or "bell," has connections on both ends which attach it to the floor drain and the other side, called the "spigot," has a connection that attaches to sewer piping.
The wye and spigot are assembled before being lowered into place on top of the floor drain opening in the concrete slab. They can then be connected together by joining them at their pivot point with an elbow connector or using bolts if the spigot is too high to reach.
The height of the wye and the distance from your floor drain opening to your sewer connection will determine how long you need for a water closet fitting process.
All of our water closets are easy to install with either bolts or screws and come in two different styles: Extended Wall Mounted Water Closet (shown above) or Standard Floor Standing Water Closet. We also have an Advanced Wall Mounted Water Closet with a dual-flush system that saves water and reduces your plumbing bill while also featuring our innovative ventilation technology.