topic Re: Touchless flush? in Community Chat

Touchless flush?

madzonie — Sat, 10 May 2014 01:17:15 GMT

Does anyone have any experience with toilets that use "touchless" flushing? You only have to pass your hand over a marked spot on top of the tank to flush. I have my eye on a Kohler touchless model, but I have to wonder how reliable they are.

Re: Touchless flush?

JaneMarple — Sat, 10 May 2014 01:19:21 GMT

I've only used them in a public setting and I like them very much. They even have a little black black button to use if everything doesn't go down.

Re: Touchless flush?

tansy — Sat, 10 May 2014 01:19:23 GMT

Sometimes I hold my hands under a sensor type faucet in a public restroom and the water won't come out, so I move to the next sink. I would not want one of those toilets.

Re: Touchless flush?

terrier3 — Sat, 10 May 2014 01:28:28 GMT

They have a button back-up.

I like the idea!

Re: Touchless flush?

tansy — Sat, 10 May 2014 01:29:47 GMT

On 5/9/2014 terrier3 said:
They have a button back-up.

I like the idea!

Okay I thought these were something newer than the sensor toilets that flush when you get up:/

Re: Touchless flush?

sylviahomeatlast — Sat, 10 May 2014 01:30:00 GMT

in airports. I like them.

Re: Touchless flush?

JustJules — Sat, 10 May 2014 02:00:09 GMT

Those things annoy me. While I appreciate the concept of not having to touch a public toilet, they never seem to work properly. I find myself waving my hand in front of the sensor, then end up pushing the stupid "back-up" button to get it to flush anyway, so what's the point? Those toilets aren't cheap, so I would have to be uber-rich to put up with that aggravation in my own home. I mean, if it's not really a "touchless flush"????? Think it would be cheaper to hire a maid to come flush a regular toilet for me.

Re: Touchless flush?

ennui1 — Sat, 10 May 2014 03:17:34 GMT

I think they waste water, because they flush when you walk into the stall, they flush when you turn around, they (don't) flush when you stand up ...

They need to be smarter.

Re: Touchless flush?

RainyDayGal — Sat, 10 May 2014 03:18:44 GMT

We have them at work. Sometimes they flush while you're sitting, sometimes they don't flush while you're standing. Finicky things. I have no problem pushing the little lever.

Re: Touchless flush?

occasionalrain — Sat, 10 May 2014 03:36:40 GMT

They are everywhere in the restrooms I've used and they have worked fine. Maybe the ones that don't haven't been properly programed. I like that I no longer open a stall door only to see that the previous occupant hadn't flushed, gross. I like the automatic faucets too, some you need to give a gentle bump to cause the water to flow. What I don't like are the hot air hand dryers.

Re: Touchless flush?

madzonie — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:11:27 GMT

The touchless toilet we are looking at doesn't flush when you get up or walk by. It flushes when you move your hand across the top of the tank. I don't think there is any "back up" button or handle. The model is water efficient...does not waste water: KOHLER Cimarron Touchless Comfort Height Complete Solution 2-piece 1.28 GPF Elongated Toilet with AquaPiston. It is newer technology. If anyone is interested, the model number is Model:# K-99249-0 and is at Home Depot.

Re: Touchless flush?

aubnwa01 — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:13:19 GMT

Do the ""brains"" need electricity or battery power to work?

Re: Touchless flush?

hckynut — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:26:02 GMT

Thumbs down from me. I have only used them in public places, mainly at my 2nd home, the hospital. Too many malfunctions to suit me, but maybe a home unit would not be flushed as much as those in a public facility and have fewer issues with it not flushing.

Re: Touchless flush?

cody2 — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:27:56 GMT

Here is my problem with the "water saver" toidies. We just moved into a newer house with the "water saver". If you have to flush it three times just to make the paper go down...well you know where I am going. How many times to you have to flush to make everything go down? How is that saving water?

And don't get me started with the "auto flush" in public places. By the time I carefully place 3 az gaskets on the seat and turn...it flushes. So I hurry quick and replace and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Forget the "hover". Knees no can do anymore. Soooooo, count me out. Give me the old ones. JMO ( as opposed to just YOUR opinion).

Re: Touchless flush?

madzonie — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:50:14 GMT

On 5/9/2014 aubnwa01 said:
Do the ""brains"" need electricity or battery power to work?

The touchless ""box"" which sits inside the the tank runs on 4 AA batteries.

Re: Touchless flush?

occasionalrain — Sat, 10 May 2014 05:49:32 GMT

On 5/9/2014 madzonie said: The touchless toilet we are looking at doesn't flush when you get up or walk by. It flushes when you move your hand across the top of the tank. I don't think there is any "back up" button or handle. The model is water efficient...does not waste water: KOHLER Cimarron Touchless Comfort Height Complete Solution 2-piece 1.28 GPF Elongated Toilet with AquaPiston. It is newer technology. If anyone is interested, the model number is Model:# K-99249-0 and is at Home Depot.

For a home, I would go with the pressure ones that use less water but use pressure to force what's in the bowl down. Regular toilets use the weight of water and gravity to empty the bowl, less water less incentive for what's in the bowl to disappear.

Re: Touchless flush?

cody2 — Sat, 10 May 2014 06:03:34 GMT

On 5/9/2014 occasional rain said:
On 5/9/2014 madzonie said: The touchless toilet we are looking at doesn't flush when you get up or walk by. It flushes when you move your hand across the top of the tank. I don't think there is any "back up" button or handle. The model is water efficient...does not waste water: KOHLER Cimarron Touchless Comfort Height Complete Solution 2-piece 1.28 GPF Elongated Toilet with AquaPiston. It is newer technology. If anyone is interested, the model number is Model:# K-99249-0 and is at Home Depot.

For a home, I would go with the pressure ones that use less water but use pressure to force what's in the bowl down. Regular toilets use the weight of water and gravity to empty the bowl, less water less incentive for what's in the bowl to disappear.

Oh, so THAT is what that thing in our guest room is. We have a detached guestroom and we never spend time out there. But when we first moved in I scrubbed all of the toilets and put the tablets in the tank for cleaning. So when I took the lid off of THAT one it had a big plastic thing inside with tubes and stuff in it and I couldn't put the tablet in. It DOES make big noise and I am sure that it is a pressure device, now that you mention it. Never saw or heard of that before. Thanks for the info. Now I get it.

Re: Touchless flush?

ennui1 — Sat, 10 May 2014 07:18:43 GMT

On 5/9/2014 madzonie said: The touchless toilet we are looking at doesn't flush when you get up or walk by. It flushes when you move your hand across the top of the tank. I don't think there is any "back up" button or handle.

So, will you leave instructions taped to the wall for your guests?

Re: Touchless flush?

Krimpette — Sat, 10 May 2014 14:32:54 GMT

I put them in the same category as push-button start on cars. Why mess with a good thing? I never had a problem pushing a flush lever and never had a problem putting a key in the ignition to start my car. Had a rental last week while my car was in the shop. Every time I got in the car I feared it wouldn't start. And then you have to repeat the process to turn off the engine (and I feared I'd forget and leave it running!). Ah, technology.

Re: Touchless flush?

Preds — Sat, 10 May 2014 14:42:07 GMT

We have them in my office and they annoy me. They ""flush"" themselves when no one is in there and they flush before you are ready and then you have to flush with the button. Just don't like them.