Eager to flush $8,628 down the drain? Then buy a Kohler Numi 2.0 smart toilet (2024)

I make it a policy not to buy a new toilet that has a monthly installment payment that is more than what I paid for my first car.

The toilet isn’t just a toilet.

It’s a smart toilet.

And it just isn’t any smart toilet.

It is the top-of-the-line Kohler Numi 2.0 smart toilet.

In Kohler’s own Madison Avenue gibberish:

“The art of the smart toilet.

“Beyond the science and engineering.

“Beyond the personalized bidet setting.

“Beyond the comfort and cleanliness.

“There is, simply, the pure artistry of the Numi 2.0 smart toilet.”

The baby is only $8,628.

It can be yours for only 12 easy payments of $779.

For the record, I paid $750 in 1974 for my aunt’s 1967 Mercury Cougar with 120,000 miles on it.

So what, do you ask, do you get for your 8,629 Benjamins?

—It’s a compact, streamlined one-piece toilet with integrated personal cleansing.

—It has a comfort height feature that offers chair height seating that makes sitting down and standing for most adults.

—Dual flush offers a choice of 0.8 or 1.0 gallons of waste per flush.

—Stainless steel wand offers adjustable spray shape, position, water pressure, temperature, pulsate, and oscillate functions.

—Front and rear wash modules provide warm water for cleansing.

—Self-cleaning function used UV light and electrolyzed water systems to automatically clean the wand surface.

—Motion-activated hands-free opening/closing of seat and cover.

—A trademark Quiet-Close lid and seat prevents slamming.

—Bowl is automatically misted prior to use for more effective rinsing while flushing.

—Heated seat with adjustable temperature setting.

—Warm-air drying system.

—Automatic deodorization system.

—LED lighting illuminates the bowl to serve as a nightlight.

—Power save mode monitors usage and adjusts heated seat and settings to save energy.

—Ambient lighting that doubles as night lighting.

And now for the clinchers.

It has an emergency flush system that supports up to 100 flushes during power outage with simple touch-button activation.

And — are ready for this — a remote control to flush the toilet.

I honestly don’t know where to begin.

Normal toilets don’t need an emergency power supply to flush when the power goes out.

As for the remote control, how hard is it just to remember to flush before you leave the vicinity of the toilet?

The bidet aside, at the end of the day what really does the $8,628 Kohler Numi 2.0 do better than the $99 Glacier Bay model at Home Depot in terms of practical function?

There are light years from an outhouse to indoor plumbing in terms of sanity and comfort.

But from riding a basic porcelain bowl to a smart toilet, the difference is how much money Kohler can convince people with too much of it to give up.

Think about it.

Making things “smart” today means very little increase in function or practicality.

It also means built in obsolescence.

It might surprise you to now that less smart Kohler toilets costing $2,000 to $4,000 don’t have a backup power supply.

Of course, non-smart toilets flush when the power is out.

And when it breaks down, you need a plumber with a masters in electronic engineering.

As for ambivalent lighting and the nightlight, you can save yourself $8,500 and buy a basic Glacier Bay model with a classic cow jumping over the moon night light.

If you think about it, the smart toilet is symbolic of what is wrong with America today.

It’s not overindulgence as much as it is plain laziness and an absurd fascination with gadgets that supposedly simplify your life.

You may not have a $8,628 smart toilet in every bathroom but more than a few households in Manteca and elsewhere have smart refrigerators .

You know the ones. The higher end ones require connection to the cloud via WiFi to make Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg et al even filthier than filthy rich.

They let you use a video screen on the door to see what is inside without opening the door.

You can use the screen to watch TV, call up recipes, or devise virtual replacements for calendars and photos.

There is also an app to connect with the in-fridge camera so you can use your smartphone to see what is inside.

And there are even smartphone alerts if your smart refrigerator isn’t smart enough to be able to close the door after someone forgets to do so.

Perhaps the most decadent appliance is the smart toaster.

For $349 you can buy a smart toaster to do the same thing to your toast that a $12.99 toaster does.

The big difference is it has a computer chip that allows it do all sort of superfluous things with little, if any, improvement on its basic function except to burn through $330 or so extra dollars.

Most smart appliances — and now smart plumbing — do not improve the process they are designed for beyond what basic electronics brought to the table in terms of energy efficiency, more variable settings and such.

As far as bathroom fixtures, outside of motion detectors to turn on or off water or to flush urinals in public restrooms to conserve water and improve basic sanitary concerns, how does anything get smarter?

And we wonder why it seems we never have money.

That applies to all of us.

We easily spend $500 on a personal computer that includes capabilities many of us don’t utilize such as using it as a phone per se and costs another $50 a month to operate.

And most of the functions aren’t essential.

These are not the ramblings of a

Luddite.

It’s just an observation of what ails us is us.

We moan and groan about how bad we have it.

But in reality, we’re not as a smart as the “smart” appliances or the high tech disciples of the quote attributed to P.T. Barnum that “there’s a sucker born every minute.”

That said, Home Depot will sell you a Numi 2.0 smart toilet from their online store for $8,628.

And my guess at that price, there is probably no delivery charge.

Eager to flush $8,628 down the drain? Then buy a Kohler Numi 2.0 smart toilet (2024)

FAQs

How do you flush a smart toilet? ›

Use the FLUSHING key to flush the toiler at any time. A manual FLUSH BUTTON is also available, located on the right of the toilet. The smart toilet will clean the bowl with water automatically after user leaves. Long pressing this key of the remote will turn ON/OFF this AUTOMATIC FLUSHING function.

What is the most advanced toilet? ›

The Kohler Numi 2.0 is the most advanced smart toilet of 2023 -- and it's on sale. CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

What is the price of Numi 2.0 smart toilet in India? ›

The Numi 2.0 smart toilet comes in two variants and is priced at Rs 16 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.

How do you manually flush an automatic toilet? ›

Lift the tank lid, which is usually detachable, and carefully place it aside. Find the flush valve at the bottom of the tank and manually lift it to release the water into the bowl. Allow the tank to empty fully to ensure a complete flush. Replace the tank lid and turn the water supply valve back on to refill the tank.

Why is my smart toilet not flushing properly? ›

If your Smart Toilet has weak or irregular water stream coming from the wash spout, check to ensure all of the these points are operational: The cleaning water pressure switch is not set to low. The inlet filter is clear of debris or blockages.

What brand of toilet has the strongest flush? ›

TOTO Ultramax II ( Strongest flush) : This toilet features TOTO's proprietary Double Cyclone flushing system that uses two powerful nozzles to create a centrifugal, cyclonic rinsing action, resulting in a strong and efficient flush.

Are Toto toilets better than Kohler? ›

Who is better TOTO or Kohler? TOTO surpasses Kohler in several aspects, making it the superior choice for bathroom fixtures. TOTO products are known for their cutting-edge technology, offering innovative features like water-saving mechanisms and advanced bidet functionality.

What do plumbers use for toilets? ›

Often referred to as a drain snake, a plumbing auger is a tool that consists of a long, flexible cable with a spiral shaped head that is used to clear blockages in pipes or drains. To clear a toilet clog, the auger is inserted into toilet and twisted by hand, or by machine, to help break up the obstruction.

Which toilet gets used the most? ›

Out of three toilet cubicles in a public toilet, which gets used the least, first, middle, or last? Most people think the first is used most so would be dirtiest, so avoid that one, so actually it is the least used. Generally the second is most used.

Which toilet is mostly used nowadays? ›

A gravity flush toilet is the most common type of toilet. This type of toilet relies on gravity to flush the waste down the drain. This type of toilet is best for those who have a septic system. However, gravity flush toilets are not as efficient as other toilets and can use more water.

What is a Numi toilet? ›

Kohler, WI

Numi 2.0 offers exceptional water efficiency, personalized cleansing and dryer functions, a heated seat and high-quality built-in speakers. Kohler's flagship smart toilet has Amazon Alexa built into the product which provides simple voice control of Numi's features and access to tens of thousands of skills.

Is smart toilet worth the money? ›

Are smart toilets worth the money? Whether or not a smart toilet is worth the investment depends on your personal preferences and needs. If you value comfort, hygiene, and convenience in your bathroom experience, then a smart toilet may be a worthwhile investment for you.

What is the most expensive toilet? ›

Keep reading to learn more about some of the craziest and most expensive toilets available, according to Money Inc.
  1. 1. “ ...
  2. Swarovski-Studded Toilet – $75,000. ...
  3. Moon River Art Park Toilet – $750,000. ...
  4. Hang Fung Golden Toilet – $5 million. ...
  5. International Space Station Toilet – $19 million.

Do you use toilet paper with a smart toilet? ›

Yes, you can use toilet paper with a smart toilet. Smart toilets typically include bidet functions for cleaning, which can help reduce the need for excessive toilet paper. However, many people still use a small amount of toilet paper to dry themselves after using the bidet function.

How does smart flush work? ›

How does Springwell Smartflush Work? Springwell Smartflush stands by until movement is detected, then waits before filling and flushing the cistern.

How does a smart toilet work? ›

Today's smart toilets are outfitted with sensors that activate the flushing mechanism. When you move away from the toilet, it senses the distance of your body and flushes automatically. Alternately, you can wave a hand in front of the toilet to get it to flush. While this is a fun tech feature, it's also functional.

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