Many people might not know but the toilet is not just one type of design and they all don’t work the same way. Just like cars, there are a variety of engineering designs and internal components to distinct whether one is more efficient, reliable and even high-tech.  The history of the toilet goes back to the earliest civilizations of man and we’ve come a long away, iteration after iteration all after the improvement of the restroom experience and management of waste and water.

Table of Contents

  1. Upflush Toilet
  2. Flushing Toilets
  3. Gravity Fed Toilets
  4. Pressure Assisted Toilets
  5. Composting Toilets
  6. Tankless Toilets
  7. Waterless Toilets

Upflush Toilet

This type of toilet, the upflush toilet sends your waste upwards using water pressure. Quite a bit different than the standard gravity-fed toilet, since instead of just flushing waste down to a sewer it first goes through a garbage disposal type of device called a macerator.

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Flushing Toilets

The standard model of the toilet, flushing toilets come in a variety of designs but have a fundamental relationship with each other. Typically, there is a bowl attached to trapway and this is in combination with or without a tank.

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Gravity Fed Toilets

Simple yet amazing when you really think about it. Flush after flush this is a reliable design using basic components that leverages gravity for power. It’s very likely you have one in your home right now, as its the most commonly used toilet in homes.

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Pressure Assisted Toilets

A bit newer in the toilet world, pressure-assisted toilets introduce a powerful flush created by compressed air. Long gone are the days of the “double flush”, these toilets are designed to use a small amount of water and remove all waste in one flush.

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Composting Toilets

The composting toilet is very different than a standard toilet, they are meant to be as eco-friendly as possible. Using composting material such as sawdust to organically break down waste.

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Tankless Toilets

Tankless toilets do not rely on a water-filled tank for flushing. They use water siphoning in order to flush, using a direct connection to the supply line to create a high pressured flush.

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Waterless Toilets

No water means the waste stays in place, using the restroom is more of a manual process for waterless toilets. You must dispose of waste by using a composting system such as throwing carbon-rich organic material inside with the waste.

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