Plumber: Looking for a hands-free home toilet

Dear Ed: We have a large family with many visitors. Our downstairs bathroom gets a lot of traffic and it’s time to install a new toilet. We want to keep the bathroom as clean as possible and were wondering if they make hands-free toilets for home use like they have in public bathrooms?

— Bruce, Indiana

Dear Bruce: First, I suggest you look into installing a high-efficiency toilet to help reduce your water bill.

Quality high-efficiency residential toilets also have some nice available features. One of the new options is a touchless flushing system. These toilets have a battery-operated no-touch sensor mounted inside the toilet tank. All you have to do is hold your hand over the top of the toilet lid to activate the flush.

Hands-free toilets are easy to operate, but you may have to remind new users you have a touchless toilet.

Finally, other features you may want on your new toilet include comfort height — the toilet is a little higher — and an anti-slam seat, giving your bathroom all the quiet comforts of home.

Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com.