If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your bathroom, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the Toto Nexus. And if you live in Ballard, you’re in luck — this is exactly the kind of upgrade that fits the neighborhood’s vibe: clean, modern, and built to last.
At 5 Corners Plumbing, we just completed a Toto Nexus installation Ballard homeowners have been asking about, and we wanted to walk you through what that looks like from start to finish. Whether you’re a busy homeowner who just wants it done right, or you’re thinking ahead about retirement comfort and accessibility, the Toto Nexus paired with the S7A Washlet is hard to beat.
This post covers everything — the toilet itself, the Washlet technology, how to pick the right model for your space, and why so many Ballard residents are making this upgrade right now.
Create Effortless Comfort with Toto Nexus Toilet Installation
The Toto Nexus actually comes in both one-piece and two-piece configurations, which gives homeowners some flexibility depending on their bathroom layout and personal preference. For this particular Ballard installation, the customer went with the one-piece — and it’s easy to see why that’s a popular choice. One-piece toilets are cast as a single piece of vitreous china, meaning the tank and bowl are formed together from the ground up. The result is a cleaner silhouette, fewer crevices to clean around, and a more finished look overall.
It comes in cotton white, which is Toto’s signature finish — and if you haven’t seen it in person, it’s worth knowing that cotton white is slightly warmer than a standard bright white. It pairs really well with neutral bathroom palettes, fresh linens, and the kind of clean, understated look that a lot of Ballard homes already have going on.
One thing worth knowing — the Nexus doesn’t come with a seat. You’ll need to select one separately, which is actually a good thing. It means you can pair it with exactly the right seat for your needs, and in this case the customer chose the S7A Washlet, which we’ll get into shortly. When you factor in the Washlet, you’ve got a complete, high-performing system that’s ready to go from day one.
The Nexus also uses Toto’s Tornado Flush technology. Instead of a standard flush that just pushes water straight down, Tornado Flush uses two nozzles to create a centrifugal rinsing action around the bowl. The bowl stays cleaner longer, and you’re using less water doing it.
Streamlined Installation for Busy Ballard Homeowners
One of the biggest things we hear from homeowners in Ballard is that they just want it handled. They don’t want to spend their weekend coordinating deliveries, figuring out what fits, or second-guessing whether they bought the right parts. That’s exactly what 5 Corners Plumbing takes off your plate.
Before we show up, we ask customers to send us three things:
- A photo of the existing toilet
- A photo of the shut-off valve
- The rough-in measurement — that’s the distance from the finished wall to the center of the rear floor bolt
That last one is important. Most homes have a 12-inch rough-in, but some older homes run 10 inches or 14 inches — so don’t assume, measure it. The Nexus uses a Unifit flange, and the right size Unifit is selected based on your rough-in measurement. The Unifit still uses a wax ring, it just determines which size flange adapter gets used to make everything fit correctly. That’s one of those details that’s easy to overlook if you’re not familiar with Toto’s system, and it’s exactly the kind of thing we handle so you don’t have to think about it.
We supply the toilet, the Washlet, and the supply lines. The old toilet gets removed and hauled away, the new Nexus goes in, the S7A gets connected — including the electrical hookup for the Washlet — and we test everything before we leave. You can learn more about our Toto installation service and what’s included when you book with us.
For busy homeowners and retirees who just want a clean, modern bathroom without the hassle of managing it themselves, this is exactly the kind of service that makes the whole experience worth it.
Discover the Benefits of Toto Washlet and S7A Autoflush Technology
The S7A is Toto’s top-of-the-line Washlet, and once you understand what it does, it’s hard to go back to a standard toilet seat.
Here’s what you’re getting with the S7A:
- Heated seat — no more cold seat on a winter morning
- Warm water cleansing — front and rear wash with adjustable water temperature and pressure
- Warm air dryer — adjustable temperature
- Auto open and close lid — the lid opens as you approach and closes when you walk away
- Autoflush — the toilet flushes automatically when you stand up
- Deodorizer — built-in air filter that runs during use
- EWATER+ — Toto’s electrolyzed water technology that mists the bowl before and after each use, keeping the bowl cleaner between cleanings
That last one is worth pausing on. EWATER+ is one of those features that sounds like a marketing gimmick until you actually live with it. The bowl genuinely stays cleaner longer, which means less scrubbing and less time thinking about bathroom maintenance altogether.
The S7A also has a wireless remote control that mounts on the wall, so everything is easy to adjust without having to reach around or fumble with buttons on the side of the seat.
For Ballard homeowners who want a bathroom that basically takes care of itself, the Nexus and S7A combination is about as close as you can get to that right now.
Why Advanced Hygiene Features Matter for Stress-Free Living
This is where the Toto Nexus and S7A combination really separates itself from a standard bathroom upgrade.
Think about what a typical bathroom routine looks like. You’re cleaning the toilet regularly, dealing with a cold seat in the winter, going through toilet paper, and spending time on maintenance that nobody actually enjoys. The S7A quietly eliminates most of that friction.
The Autoflush means you never have to touch the handle. The EWATER+ misting keeps the bowl cleaner between cleanings. The warm water cleansing reduces toilet paper use significantly. And the auto open and close lid means one less surface you’re touching on a daily basis.
For busy homeowners, that adds up to real time savings and a bathroom that feels cleaner with less effort. For retirees, there’s an added layer of benefit — the bidet functionality reduces the physical demands of personal hygiene, which is something a lot of people don’t think about until they need it. Having that built in from the start is just smart planning.
There’s also a hygiene argument that’s hard to ignore. Warm water cleansing is simply more effective than toilet paper alone. A lot of people who make the switch wonder why they waited so long.
None of this requires a complicated learning curve either. The wireless remote is straightforward, and most people have the basics figured out within a day or two of living with it.
It’s a bathroom upgrade that actually changes your daily routine — and that’s a pretty rare thing.
Choosing Between One-Piece and Two-Piece Designs
Since the Toto Nexus comes in both one-piece and two-piece options, it’s worth understanding what actually separates them so you can make the right call for your bathroom.
One-Piece The one-piece Nexus is cast as a single piece of vitreous china. The profile is lower and sleeker, there are fewer crevices to clean around, and it tends to look more modern overall. It’s also a bit heavier to handle during installation, but that’s our problem, not yours. This is what the Ballard customer chose, and it looks sharp in the space.
Two-Piece The two-piece has the tank and bowl as separate components that bolt together during installation. It’s a more traditional look, and in some cases it’s easier to get into tighter spaces during delivery and installation. It also tends to come in at a slightly lower price point than the one-piece version.
Both versions of the Nexus are available in elongated bowl shape, which is the right call for most adults. Elongated bowls are longer front to back and just more comfortable for everyday use compared to a round bowl.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| One-Piece | Two-Piece | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Sleek, modern | Traditional |
| Cleaning | Easier, fewer seams | More crevices around tank |
| Weight | Heavier | Easier to handle in pieces |
| Price | Slightly higher | Slightly lower |
| Bowl shape | Elongated | Elongated |
Both are solid choices — it really comes down to your budget and the aesthetic you’re going for in the space.
How to Select the Best Toto Option for Your Bathroom Space
Picking the right Toto setup comes down to a few practical considerations. It’s not complicated, but getting these details right upfront saves a lot of headaches later.
Rough-In Measurement This is the first thing to nail down. Measure from the finished wall surface to the center of the rear floor bolt. Most Ballard homes are going to be 12 inches, but some older homes run 10 inches or 14 inches — so don’t assume, measure it. This determines which Unifit flange size you need, and it’s one of the first things we ask about before scheduling an installation.
Budget The Nexus is a premium toilet, and the S7A is Toto’s top-tier Washlet. If the full combination is stretching the budget, Toto makes other Washlet models that pair well with the Nexus at a lower price point. The S7 is a step down from the S7A and still delivers most of the same features. It’s worth having that conversation before you commit.
Existing Electrical The S7A needs a dedicated GFCI outlet near the toilet. A lot of older Ballard bathrooms don’t have one in the right spot. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to check ahead of time so there are no surprises on installation day.
Color The Nexus comes in four finishes — Cotton White, Bone, Sedona Beige, and Ebony. The S7A Washlet, however, only comes in Cotton White or Sedona Beige, so that’s the starting point for your color decision. If you’ve got your heart set on Bone or Ebony for the toilet, you’ll need to factor in how that pairs with the available Washlet finishes. For this Ballard installation, the customer went with Cotton White throughout, and it looks great in the space.
The Importance of Universal Height for Modern Bathroom Upgrades
The Toto Nexus comes in universal height, which is one of those features that sounds minor until you actually experience the difference.
Standard toilets sit at around 15 inches from floor to seat. Universal height toilets sit at 17 to 19 inches — closer to the height of a standard chair. That extra couple of inches makes a real difference in how easy it is to sit down and stand back up, especially first thing in the morning or after a long day.
For most adults, universal height just feels more natural and comfortable. For older homeowners and retirees, it’s genuinely important. Getting up and down from a low toilet puts strain on the knees and hips, and over time that adds up. Universal height reduces that strain significantly.
It’s also worth thinking about long-term. A lot of Ballard homeowners are doing bathroom upgrades now with the next 10 to 20 years in mind. Choosing universal height from the start means the bathroom is already set up for comfort and accessibility down the road, without needing another remodel later.
The S7A Washlet adds a bit of height on top of the toilet itself, so the combined sitting height ends up being very comfortable for most people. It’s something we always mention to customers before installation so there are no surprises.
If you’ve been living with a standard height toilet your whole life, the switch to universal height is one of those upgrades you notice every single day — in a good way.
Enhancing Accessibility and Leisure in Retirement-Friendly Spaces
Ballard has a strong retiree community, and bathroom accessibility is something that comes up a lot in conversations with homeowners who are thinking ahead. The Toto Nexus and S7A combination checks a lot of boxes for retirement-friendly living without feeling clinical or institutional.
Universal height is the foundation. But when you layer the S7A Washlet features on top of that, the accessibility benefits go a lot further than just seat height.
The bidet functionality is a big one. As mobility changes with age, personal hygiene can become more physically demanding. The warm water cleansing and air dryer built into the S7A handle most of that independently, which supports a level of independence that a lot of retirees genuinely value. It’s not something people always talk about upfront, but it comes up once homeowners start thinking through the practical realities of aging in place.
The auto open and close lid means no bending down to lift or lower a seat. The Autoflush means no reaching for a handle. The heated seat means no jarring cold contact first thing in the morning. These are small things individually, but together they add up to a bathroom experience that’s genuinely easier to live with day to day.
For homeowners who plan to stay in their Ballard home long term, this kind of upgrade isn’t just about comfort today — it’s about setting the bathroom up so it works well for years to come without needing to revisit it again.
That’s a pretty compelling return on a single bathroom upgrade.
Maintenance-Free Living: The Lasting Value of a Toto Washlet Upgrade
One of the best things about the Toto Nexus and S7A combination is how little attention it needs once it’s installed.
Toto builds these products to last. The vitreous china on the Nexus has a glaze that resists staining and is easy to wipe down. The EWATER+ misting system on the S7A keeps the bowl cleaner between cleanings, which means less scrubbing and less time thinking about bathroom maintenance altogether. For busy homeowners and retirees who want a bathroom that basically takes care of itself, that’s a meaningful benefit.
The Tornado Flush is also doing a lot of work behind the scenes. Because of the centrifugal rinsing action, the bowl stays cleaner with every flush compared to a standard toilet. Less buildup means less cleaning effort over time.
From a longevity standpoint, Toto has been manufacturing toilets and Washlets for decades and their reputation for reliability is well earned. When you invest in a Toto system, you’re not thinking about replacing it anytime soon. That’s the kind of value that’s hard to put a number on but easy to appreciate over years of daily use.
At 5 Corners Plumbing, we price match most online retailers on the toilet itself, so you’re getting a competitive price along with professional installation and the peace of mind that everything is set up correctly from day one.
If you’re in Ballard or anywhere in the greater Seattle area and you’re thinking about a Toto Nexus installation, give us a call. We’ll walk you through the options, handle all the details, and leave you with a bathroom you’ll enjoy for years to come.