Rimless Toilet Buying Guide for Modern Bathrooms

I remember the first time a client asked me about rimless toilets. I thought it was just another gimmick – one of those things that sounds brilliant in the showroom but falls flat when you actually use it. Boy was I wrong.
If you've ever had to thoroughly clean a conventional toilet bowl, or worse, clean one that hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in a while, you'll understand why rimless toilets have become so popular. Traditional toilets have a rim that water flows through to help flush. The problem? That rim is a breeding ground for bacteria, grime, and all sorts of nastiness you don't want to think about.
The rimless tornado toilet doesn't have this rim. Instead, the water flows into the bowl in a circular motion. This keeps the bowl clean longer and prevents the buildup of dirt and grime. Plus, you don't have to worry about water consumption – rimless toilets actually use less water than many conventional toilets. Win-win.
But here's the thing – some rimless toilets are absolute rubbish. There are truly terrible models out there, often coming from discount suppliers, that do little more than splash around when you try to flush them. In order to get the best rimless toilet for your home, you need to know what to look for.

How Rimless Toilets Actually Work

Look, it's straightforward. Instead of flowing through a rim and then falling into the bowl, the water is shot around the bowl in a powerful, circular motion. Most good rimless toilets use what's called a "tornado flush" or "rim wash" system.
What makes a rimless toilet work well is the way the water covers the entire bowl. A good rimless toilet will have nozzles positioned in such a way that they create a circular motion as the water flows around. The cheap ones? They'll have dead spots where the water doesn't reach. This defeats the purpose of having a rimless toilet in the first place.
I was skeptical the first time I installed one. It was a few years ago and my clients were willing to try something new. Not only did the toilet flush powerfully, but it also left the bowl much cleaner than most conventional models. When I returned to the house six months later to help with their bathroom renovation, they couldn't say enough good things about it. They especially appreciated how much easier it was to clean than their old toilet.

What to Look for When Buying a Rimless Toilet

Don't just run out to Bunnings or your local Reece plumbing showroom and purchase the first cistern toilet you find with a "rimless" label. A few things you need to know before you buy one.
Water efficiency matters. Pay attention to the WELS rating of any toilet you consider – that's the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards rating used throughout Australia. You want a toilet with a rating of at least four stars. Many of the better rimless toilets have ratings of 4.5 or even five stars, using around 3-4 litres for a half flush and 4.5 or six litres for a full flush. This will save you money on your water bill and do the environment a bit of good at the same time.
The toilet seat and cover. I know this sounds boring, but trust me on this one. I've known people who purchased a state-of-the-art toilet rimless pan only to cheap out when it comes to the toilet seat. Don't make that mistake. Invest in a soft-close seat. Yes, it will cost a bit more, but there's nothing worse than a toilet seat slamming shut in the middle of the night, waking up the rest of the house. Save yourself the aggravation and spend the extra fifty bucks or so.

Before You Buy

Which trap do you need? This will be either an S-trap or P-trap, depending on your waste pipe setup. If you're fitting a new toilet where one already exists, then the trap will be the same as the one that's already fitted, unless you want to pay a plumber to change it (and believe me, you don't want to go down that path). If you're fitting a new toilet in a new bathroom, then it's more than likely to be an S-trap. P-trap is common in some older houses, especially those lovely old Queenslanders.
The height of the pan. Most toilet pans are a standard height of around 400mm from the floor to the top of the pan. There's a trend to higher pans – comfort height – which is around 450mm. This is great for some people, especially the elderly or infirm. It's much like the height of a chair, which makes it easier to get on and off. If you're 30 years old, you probably won't care. When you're 60, you will.

Installation Considerations

Installation of a rimless toilet is not a DIY job, unless you're a licensed plumber. It's illegal for anyone other than a licensed plumber to carry out plumbing work in Australia, and quite rightly so. A poorly fitted toilet can leak sewage onto your floor, crack your tiles, and worse.
If your floor isn't level, you need to fix that before your plumber arrives. I've been on jobs where the floor was only out by half a degree, but when the toilet was fitted, it was wonky. That issue needs to be addressed before your plumber turns up to do the fitout.
When you're renovating a bathroom and choosing new tiles, be mindful of where the waste outlet on your toilet is. The plumber can make a little bit of adjustment, but not much. We once fitted a toilet into a renovation job, and the tiler had already laid the floor. The waste outlet was right in the middle of one of the tiles. We had to actually cut through the tile to make room for it, and it looked terrible. Measure twice, cut once, as they say.
The water inlet is usually a standard 15mm copper or flexi hose, but if you're fitting a rimless toilet, make sure that the water inlet is compatible with the tornado flushing system.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The best thing about rimless toilets? They're so much easier to clean. Because there's no rim, you can see the whole of the pan. You can just wipe around with a toilet brush and some toilet cleaner and that's it. There's no need to get your hand and the toilet brush into the crevices to make sure you get it all.
I always tell my clients that even though the rimless toilet stays clean for longer than a traditional toilet, you still need to clean it regularly. It's not a set and forget thing. Clean your rimless toilet at least once a week, with a non-abrasive toilet cleaner. I find those gel bleach cleaners to be excellent. And make sure you don't use any cleaners that have harsh chemicals, as they can damage the glaze on the ceramic.
The cistern doesn't really need much maintenance at all. But every so often – maybe once a year – it's a good idea to get a plumber to check the inlet valve and the flush mechanism. It only takes 2 minutes as part of a service call, and can save you a fortune.
Something I've found with rimless toilets over traditional toilets is they're more sensitive to water pressure. If you have low water pressure in your home, then the tornado flush may not work as well as it should. You may need a pressure pump or to have your water pressure checked by a plumber before you purchase. The majority of rimless toilets will work on Australian standard water pressure (around 500kPa), however, some older homes with galvanised pipes may have low pressure.

Water Efficiency

We've always lived with the threat of water restrictions in Australia (when we're not flooding). Rimless toilets are generally more water efficient than the alternative, which is great news for the environment and your bank balance.
Most rimless toilets have a dual flush system, which allows you to select a half flush – usually 3L – for urine and a full flush (4.5-6L) for faeces. Compared to the older style single flush toilet that uses 9-12L per flush, you'll be saving a significant amount of water.

Some councils offer rebates for water efficient appliance installation. It might be worth contacting your local council prior to purchasing to see if you're eligible for a rebate. You may be able to claim $50-$100 back, which would cover the difference in price between a standard and high efficiency toilet.

My Honest Take

Look, I've installed dozens of these things. They're hands down the best option for your bathroom. They're more hygienic, easier to clean and more water efficient. Who wants a toilet with spots where bacteria can hide?
However, you need to purchase a good one. Don't be tempted to go for the cheapest rimless toilet on the market. You'll be using it every day, multiple times a day.
Make sure you have it installed by a licensed plumber. Ensure your floor is level and waste pipe is in the correct position. Purchase a soft close seat and enjoy not having to scrub away at your toilet every week.