WC with vertical or horizontal outlet: what are the differences?

Most often, a classic toilet, wall-hung or free-standing, is directly connected to the water supply (via a stopcock) and to the wastewater network via a drain provided for this purpose. The evacuation can be of several types: WC with horizontal outlet or WC with vertical outlet. When you want to change your toilet, it is essential to take into account your current drainage. Depending on this, you will opt for: a WC with horizontal drainage on the wall (the most common) or a WC with vertical drainage, on the floor. Furthermore, certain models designed for a particular evacuation are adaptable with accessories (pipe/sleeve) or small plumbing work. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about toilets with vertical or horizontal outlet.

Vertical outlet toilet

Explanation

The vertical outlet toilet model is the standard model for older installations. Today it is rarely used in homes. The principle of this model is to connect the WC from below, with the conduit buried in the ground. The connection with the exhaust pipe is made via a plastic connecting element called a pipe, which can be straight, elbowed, extendable and adjustable. When installing a toilet with a vertical outlet, it It is essential to make the connection before fixing the bowl to the ground, because once in place, the bowl covers the drain. Furthermore, the joints to the bowl, the pipe and the pipe must be made carefully so as not to have leakage problems later.

Advantages of a vertical outlet toilet

A toilet with a vertical outlet has a drain located under the bowl, which makes it less visible and therefore more aesthetic. Added to this is a saving of space for your WC because the drainage is hidden and thus frees the back of the wall and the perimeter of the bowl, ideal for certain narrow spaces or small rooms, unlike a WC with horizontal drainage .

Disadvantages of a vertical outlet toilet

Despite its advantages, it is impractical in terms of its installation and maintenance. This is why manufacturers are gradually turning away and the models available on the market are increasingly rare. The pipe is a large tube used to connect the toilet bowl to the wastewater evacuation system. Rigid or flexible, it must be solid and perfectly waterproof. The standard size of a drainage pipe is 100 mm diameter.

Horizontal outlet toilet

Explanation

The horizontal outlet toilet is becoming more and more widespread, unlike the vertical outlet toilet. A toilet with a horizontal outlet has a drain at the back of the bowl and is thus connected to the wall. The connection with the exhaust duct is made via a plastic connection element called a pipe/sleeve. In the case of horizontal drainage, the tank fits right onto the wastewater drain with a pipe/sleeve.

Advantages of a horizontal outlet toilet

The horizontal outlet toilet has several advantages. First of all, horizontal outlet toilets are easier to install as opposed to vertical outlet toilets. They are also much more widespread, you will have no difficulty finding them!

Disadvantages of a horizontal outlet toilet

Horizontal outlet toilets have few disadvantages. They sometimes have a very visible and bulky wall drain, which makes the toilet less aesthetic. Cleaning, in this type of special case, at the back of the toilet may also prove more complicated than with a toilet with a vertical outlet.

A possibility of adaptation

It is possible to install a toilet with a horizontal outlet even if you initially have an evacuation with a vertical outlet and vice versa. However, it will be necessary to make significant modifications to the sewage network to install toilets which do not have the same type of drainage. This involves diverting old drains.

Necessary elements

For the installation of your toilet with vertical or horizontal outlet, a certain number of elements are essential: a freestanding toilet, an evacuation pipe or PVC pipe, a flexible connection, a quick connector for the inlet of water and PVC glue. The pipe is a large tube used to connect the toilet bowl to the wastewater evacuation system. Rigid or flexible, it must be solid and perfectly waterproof. The standard size of a drainage pipe is 100 mm diameter.