Operating principle

Such plumbing was first introduced by the Japanese company TOTO in 2002, which is logical – in the Land of the Rising Sun, household comfort is especially valued. By 2012-2014, rimless or rimfree systems (English “rimless”) conquered the European market. At that time, they were considered a novelty and cost significantly more than their predecessors.

Today, there is no significant gap between old and new models, the price is determined by materials, additional functionality and brand. And the design of rimless toilets cannot be called uniform, it is constantly being improved and differs among the world’s leading manufacturers.

The most common operating principle is triple, when water washes the back wall of the bowl, simultaneously capturing the sides with additional streams. Uniform irrigation and swirl of the flow is provided by a diffuser above the spout.

Types and their features

There are two types of rimless toilets:

  1. Floor-standing.
  2. Console.

Both modifications can be distinguished from the usual “compact” type device only by looking inside and discovering the absence of a rim. Rimless toilets, installed on the floor, are more bulky, but also more technologically advanced.

They are often equipped with useful and pleasant functions:

  • built-in bidet;
  • cleaner and fragrance;
  • heated seat;
  • motion sensor that lifts the lid when the light is turned on and a person approaches;
  • sound accompaniment (relaxing music, imitation of the sound of water for shy people);
  • microlift mechanism, which eliminates a sharp loud fall of the lid;
  • anti-splash system, which prevents splashing during flushing with the help of an improved water seal and reduced water pressure.

Suspended devices are compact and beautiful. Their practical value is that they take up a minimum of space, help to visually expand the area of the bathroom and make it easier to wash the floor. The flush tank is hidden in the wall, which reduces the noise level. The above-mentioned bonuses are also found in console models.

wall-hung rimless toilet

Pros

The main advantages of rimless toilets are dictated by their design:

  1. High hygiene is explained by the absence of hard-to-reach places where infection could accumulate.
  2. Efficiency is ensured by two factors at once – reduced water consumption (2-6 liters per cycle versus 10 liters for conventional devices) and no need for expensive household chemicals to ensure high-quality care.
  3. Durability is guaranteed by the manufacturer (up to 15 years). Premium sanitary ware is not made from waste materials and is not equipped with unreliable mechanisms.
  4. Stylish design, without which rimfree systems would not have attracted the attention of cautious buyers who are used to trusting only proven equipment.

woman wiping a rimless toilet

Cons

Rimless toilets do have their drawbacks, but with reservations:

  1. Specific installation requirements, which sometimes require hiring professionals and paying them impressive fees.
  2. Unusually low and shallow bowl of console toilets. Many people find them uncomfortable and scary to sit on (in vain, they can withstand weights of up to half a ton).
  3. Noisy, insufficiently thorough rinsing and splashing in lower-price models.

How is it different from a regular toilet?

The Rimless system was invented as a panacea for the imperfection of the rim design – a constant source of dirt, infections and unpleasant odor in the toilet. Why equip toilets with a rim at all? So that when flushing, the water “licks up” under it and washes the entire bowl (although this usually does not happen). So the engineers decided: it’s time to change something.

Rimless toilets are technically more advanced, comfortable to use and maintain, safe for health, so they are the future.

rimless toilet with bidet function

Recommendations for choosing

We will not raise the issue of trust in specific brands, we will list the general criteria:

  • decide which toilet is better for you – floor-standing or console;
  • if console, make sure that the wall into which it will be mounted can withstand the load of the steel frame and the flush tank;
  • keep in mind that porcelain devices, while more expensive, last up to 50 years without losing their dazzling whiteness, while an inexpensive earthenware analogue will last 25-30 years at best, turning yellow and becoming covered with a network of cracks during this time;
  • go shopping at a reputable hardware store, ask to see a certificate of conformity and check the operation of the flush (hypermarkets offer this option);
  • consult with the manager regarding the choice of a specific model, because all of them are better oriented towards a certain type of sewerage supply (upper, lower, side) – find out in advance and voice yours;
  • examine the complete set of the product to understand whether everything is enough, or you will have to buy additional fasteners.

Remember: a toilet of proper quality cannot be returned or exchanged if it has already been installed and used – choose carefully!

Installation Features

Installing floor rimless systems does not cause difficulties for “old school” plumbers, since there are no significant nuances there. But not every specialist will be able to hang a rimless console device correctly.

In this video, an experienced craftsman shares all the intricacies of choosing, installing and operating modern toilets: