We once inspected the rural home of a gentleman who was determined to not have any pipes under his floor slab because of a previous bad experience with under-slab plumbing leaks, and built his house with wall-hung toilets and all the plumbing fixtures on outside walls. While that is a somewhat unusual reason for installing a wall-hung toilet, there are also plenty of other good ones:

•  Sleek, modern look - The toilet shown above is an older type with the tank mounted on the wall behind the bowl, but most of the newer designs hide the tank in the wall framing behind them, creating an elegant profile.
• Height is adjustable - Can be installed at a height to suit the homeowner, which is a plus for seniors or people with mobility problems that need a higher toilet seat.
• Saves space - The front-to-back length is about one foot shorter than a standard toilet, making it an good choice for tight spaces.
• Easy to clean underneath - Because the toilet bowl floats over the floor, cleaning around and behind it is much easier.

    So, why doesn’t everybody have a wall-mounted toilet? Actually, they are the standard in much of Europe, but have not yet caught on in a big way on this side of the Atlantic. There are several reasons:

•  Cost - The toilet is significantly more expensive than a floor-mount and installation is also more complex. It is important that the wall framing be sturdy enough to support the cantilever of the bowl. 
•  More complicated for remodeling - Changing to wall-mount in a bathroom remodel is even more expensive than installation in new construction. 
•  Access for repairs - The toilet tank in the wall needs access, which is usually provided by a removable panel on the other side of the wall.

    A wall-hung toilet is an interesting alternative if you love the look or just want more space in a tight bathroom layout. Either way, it will definitely be noticed and remembered by any visitors to your bathroom.

    Also, see our blog post Can I install a commercial (wall-mounted flushometer) toilet in my home?

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about “TOILETS”: 

• Why is there sand in the bottom of my toilet tank?   

• Why is there mold inside my toilet tank?    

• What are the minimum clearances around a toilet? 

• What is the little tank on top of the water heater for?  

• What is that big thing in the toilet tank? 

• What is the white plastic tank inside my toilet tank?

• Can I install a commercial (wall-mounted flushometer) toilet in my home? 

• Does a home inspector check toilets?

• What is the code required minimum height above a toilet? 

    Visit our PLUMBING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.