TOTO CST744SL Review

[amazon_link asins=’B000KQ3ZLK’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’toiletgeek-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d8fd8492-aea5-11e8-b903-072465116448′]Some people say I have an unhealthy obsession with toilets. For example, did you know the average person goes to the toilet 2500 times a year, between six to eight visits a day. That means we spend almost three years on the toilet in an average lifetime!

Getting advice on the best toilet to choose isn’t always easy. It’s not something you really talk about at dinner parties–so my wife says, anyway! A plumber or builder may be able to recommend a new toilet but they’re not going to be the ones using it every day, six to eight times, are they?

Although you may have never personally heard of them, TOTO are one of the best-known manufacturers in the world for both low budget and high end bathroom equipment. In this review we have focused on the TOTO Drake cst744sl toilet which many customers agree is one of TOTO’s best models.

Features

The TOTO Drake has many features which makes it the best budget choice for your bathroom. Let’s take a look at a few now.

Design

The TOTO cst744sl#01 comes in a classic two piece design with a separate tank and bowl. The 12 inch rough in makes it easier to attach and having two pieces also makes it more lightweight for a single person to properly install. The other big advantage is cost; two piece toilets tend to be more affordable and you will only need to replace a single piece if something should go wrong.

This toilet is definitely a case of function over form. Although it’s not ugly, it’s not too pretty either–it just gets the job done!

IMPORTANT NOTE–the TOTO drake cst744sl doesn’t come with a seat provided, you will have to budget a few more dollars for that. You may also need to purchase some additional hardware for the mounting, but those parts are normally not too expensive either.

With a seat installed this model is a universal height which meets the required standards laid down by the American Disability Act. A chrome finished flush lever placed on the side of the tank, with a choice of left or right mounting, to prevent damage from your back as you sit down and again is fully ADA compliant.

Elongated Bowl

An elongated bowl gives the Drake more of a contemporary look and also has the advantage of a larger capacity. You can kiss goodbye to that plunger (well, maybe not quite kiss) with the extra capacity of the longer bowl making it less likely to overflow or clog.

As well as being more comfortable to use, a longer bowl is recommended by health care experts if you have elderly relatives, problems with your back or you suffer from a disability.

Advanced G-Max Flushing System

One of the things you will love about this toilet is the powerful flush which uses a 3-inch valve rather than the industry standard 2-inch. The Drake Toto gained a Maximum Performance (MaP) score of 1000 which translates to moving 1000 grams of waste with just one flush, enough for most movements and excess toilet paper.

Using 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF), the TOTO Drake is not WaterSense rated but you will only need one flush in nearly all cases which can save on your water bill. Despite the extra power, the flush is relatively quiet which is very handy if you live in a house with kids who want to go at all hours of the day and night.

Easy to Clean

Without wanting to sound too sexist, this is something my wife appreciates more than me. A fully glazed trapway means it is harder for stubborn stools to get trapped and leave stains. You’ll even find the toilet brush doesn’t need using as often with the more powerful flush and larger water surface area of the elongated bowl. The trapway is larger than most and prevents clogging.

The siphon jet feature in the rim of the bowl fires water down the sides of the bowl which does a decent job of cleaning the bowl with every flush. It’s very rare that you need a second flush to clean. In our house the toilet brush has been confined to the cabinet under the sink, I think so anyway as I have not seen it such a long time.

Specifications

• Easy to install two piece design.
• Elongated bowl with a wider computer designed 2 ⅛ inch fully glazed trap..
• Available in a choice of five colors: Bone, Colonial White, Cotton White, Ebony and Sedona Beige.
• ADA compliant with a seat height of 18 inches from the floor.
• Overall width of 19.5 inches, depth of 28 inches, total height 28.5 inches.
• Total product weight 19.5 pounds.
• Powerful yet quiet G-Max siphon jet Flushing System with wide 3-inch flush valve uses 1.6 GPF.

What makes the Toto Drake cst744sl Unique?

This toilet is all about the flush. For a budget priced toilet, the Toto Drake has an incredibly powerful flush which will move up to 1000 grams of waste. A siphon jet system rather than dual action cyclone tends to be quieter in operation, and the wide fully glazed trap ensures nothing gets stuck.

Potential Drawbacks

The Toto Drake is not WaterSense rated, it’s more concerned with the power of the flush rather than saving on water consumption. As it’s an older model, it doesn’t come with the Sanagloss surface of many newer Toto toilets (or the higher price either), so more water flow and a larger water surface area will assist in keeping the toilet clean.

At 92 pounds the Toto Drake cst744sl toilet is pretty lightweight for a fully functional model and it seems durable too. Although a very short one-year warranty doesn’t inspire too much confidence and parts can be difficult to find.

Should you Buy the Toto Drake cst744sl?

On paper this is one of the most affordable toilets available which for may be a key consideration for you when choosing a toilet. That doesn’t mean it lacks in any of usual TOTO quality. The powerful flush and elongated bowl makes this an ideal budget choice for your bathroom.

It’s designed to be easier to keep clean above the water line and the computer designed wide trap ensures nothing gets stuck going down either. This means it doesn’t meet the WaterSense rating of other higher end models–decide which is more important for you, a cleaner bowl or less water usage?

With an ADA compliant height, and side mounted chrome plated flush lever it’s the ideal choice if you have any mobility issues. Although the extra height can add comfort for most if you have smaller children in your house consider if they will be able to reach easily. The only downside with this toilet is the lack of a provided seat–remember to budget for that additional purchase but normally they are easy to find and not too expensive.