Toilets that have a three-inch flush valve get a lot of water from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl quickly. Since most toilets are now limited to 1.6 gallons per flush in order to conserve water, it is a must to get as much water, as quickly as possible, from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl for a good flush. A three-inch flush valve accomplishes this. A good trap system (the plumbing "path" the water follows upon exiting the toilet bowl) also aids in the flushing process and helps to prevent clogs.

A pressure balanced valve senses if there is a water draw from another source and adjusts the temperature so it remains constant. An example would be if you were taking a shower and someone starts washing dishes — the valve senses the change and adjusts for the difference in pressure. Pressure balanced values are required by most building departments.

A vanity is a bathroom cabinet which usually houses one or two sinks and faucets. It also may be a cabinet which has only a solid top on it and is used as a dressing table or make-up area. The size of the vanity depends on the sinks it houses as well as the room available in your bathroom for the vanity cabinet. There are several different styles of vanities. North American Style bathroom vanities are commonly referred to as having a "face frame" type of construction. There is Euro Style (also known as "frameless") and the popular Furniture Style vanity. Bathroom vanities vary in construction quality just as they do in colors, styles and material. A high quality bathroom vanity will provide many years of reliable service and is worth the investment.

An undermount sink sits below the surface of the vanity top or cabinet. A surface mount sink sits on top of a finished surface of a vanity or cabinet. Though the style of the sink is strictly a matter of personal preference, an undermount sink is advantageous when it comes to cleaning (see Sample Undermount Sink Photos from the Bay Area Bathrooms Gallery). There are endless styles and designs of both undermount and surface mount sinks.

An air tub is a form of a hydrotherapy bathtub that has air jets built into it. These tubs have motors that blow air into the water, with optional heating elements, creating a whirlpool effect. Many physicians and physical therapists recommend water therapy or water massage (hydrotherapy) for its rehabilitative effects. Depending on the model of air bathtub and the positioning of the jets, the massage effect of the whirlpool jets are designed to relieve muscle tensions in multiple areas of the body including neck and shoulders, lower and mid back, upper legs and feet as well.

The capacity and efficiency of your hot water heater is key to whether you have enough hot water to fill your bathtub and have an enjoyable bath. You need to verify that you have a big enough hot water heater to meet the needs of the tub. Figure that 65% of the bathtub's capacity will be hot water (140°F). If you have a bathtub with a 60 gallon capacity, you will need at least 40 gallons of hot water. This could leave you very little hot water for the rest of the house if you have a small hot water heater. Options range from downsizing your bathtub to upgrading your hot water heater and/or going to a tankless water heater, which can provide you with unlimited hot water.

There are many choices of when it comes to bathroom flooring. The two most common floor materials are tile and vinyl. A tile floor can definitely enhance the beauty of your bathroom. There is a wide range of ceramic (or porcelain) tile as well as natural stone flooring products to choose from. Tile floors are by far the most popular.

Vinyl floors can be very nice too. Some vinyl floors look remarkably like tile — you have to feel it to tell if it is vinyl or tile. A vinyl floor is warmer to the touch than a tile or stone floor. In many cases, a vinyl floor will be less expensive than a tile floor when it comes to initial material and installation costs.

A tip on tile floors — radiant floor heating systems can be installed under your tile floor. Under floor heating is becoming very popular, for both tile and natural stone floors. Not only does it heat the floor itself, but it also provides a modest amount of heat to the bathroom. These systems have a thermostat so you can set the temperture to your comfort level. On cold winter mornings, stepping onto a warm tile floor is a nice thing, especially if your house is built on a concrete slab foundation. In the summertime you can use the thermostat to keep from heating the floor unless it gets unexpectedly cold or just turn the radiant floor heating system off altogether.

Lighting is a key element in any bathroom remodel. There is a wide variety of lighting types to choose from. First, you should consider what your lighting needs are — accent lighting, make-up lighting, and mood lighting are just a few to consider. Recessed lights are quite popular and offer excellent overall bathroom lighting. When considering lighting keep in mind the Title 24 Laws in your area (energy compliance), which may restrict your bathroom lighting choices.