There are many new water-saving plumbing fixtures that you can purchase for your home. One of the most talked about is the low-flow toilet, also known as a high-efficiency toilet. Below, we’ll discuss more about what this plumbing fixture is and how it can be beneficial to your home.
What’s a Low-Flow Toilet?
Low-flow toilets are specifically designed to use significantly less water than older toilets. It was pretty standard for toilets made just a couple of decades ago to use anywhere between three and a half to five gallons of water per flush. Modern-day low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. There are even some very high efficiency toilets that only use 0.8 gallons per flush. The fewer gallons the toilet uses per flush leads to reduced water usage and lower bills.
How Do They Work?
Low-flow toilets use one of three different types of technologies to work. The first is simply a gravity-fed toilet that relies on natural water pressure and the bowl’s unique design to flush. Pressure-assisted toilets use compressed air to force water more powerfully down their drain. Dual-flush toilets give users the option of using more or less water depending on their needs. You can use a liquid flush that only uses about 0.8 gallons or you can use a solid flush that uses about 1.6 gallons.
The Various Benefits of Low-Flow Toilets
Before you invest your money in integrating any new plumbing fixtures into your home, it’s vitally important that you understand the benefits they can bring to you. This will allow you to weigh the pros and cons and ultimately make your purchasing decision. Below are some of the best benefits of adding low-flow toilets to your household.
Lower Water Bills
One of the biggest benefits of adding a low-flow toilet to your home is that it can lower your water bills. You’ll be using less water throughout the year with one simple switch. When you think about the minimum of three gallons that an outdated toilet can use and compare that to the 1.6 gallons that newer toilets can use, you can cut the usage for your toilets nearly in half simply by upgrading to a newer model.
Rebates
Another upside of investing in low-flow toilets for your household is that you can take advantage of local rebates. It’s fairly common for local water companies to offer their customers a rebate on their water bill when they invest in WaterSense-certified toilet models. This can help you recoup some of the upfront cost of upgrading.
Eco-Friendly Choice
There’s no doubt that using low-flow toilets can significantly reduce your household’s water usage throughout an entire year. By using less water, you’re putting less of a strain on your municipal water supply and local resources in your area. This is a very easy step you can take towards a more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
It’s very important to address the fact that when initial low-flow toilets hit the marketplace more than a decade ago, many of those early models didn’t have powerful enough flushing. This resulted in the user having to flush the toilet multiple times to remove all the waste from the toilet bowl. Modern-day low-flow toilet models don’t have this problem, however.
One other notable downside of these newer toilets is that they’re costlier to purchase. However, their long-term water savings usually outweigh the initial expenditure.
Is It Time for You to Upgrade?
There are many different indications that it may be time to consider upgrading to a low-flow toilet for your home. One is if your existing toilet is over 20 years old. If your existing water bills seem to be getting worse, a low-flow toilet can be a great tactic to bring them down. Furthermore, if you’re doing any home remodeling or upgrading, installing a low-flow toilet could be a useful and cost-effective upgrade.
Features to Look For
You don’t just want to purchase the first low-flow toilet you come across. Rather, there are some other useful features that you may want to ensure your new toilet has. This will make it more functional for your household among many other benefits.
Rimless Design
One thing you might not think about when buying a new toilet is how easy it will be to clean. Opting to go with a rimless skirted model can be highly beneficial when it comes to cleaning. Because they don’t have the traditional rim, they not only look sleeker and more modern but they also don’t have tough corners and crevices to clean out.
Comfort Height
One of the newest crazes that homeowners are investing in when it comes to household toilets is the comfort height toilet. The standard toilet has a height of around 14 to 16 inches. Comfort toilets have a height of between 17 and 19 inches. Just adding a few extra inches helps to make them easier to reach when you’re sitting down so that you don’t have to overexert yourself. This is an ideal option for seniors and those with mobility problems.
Soft-Close Toilet Seat
Another must-have upgrade is the soft-close toilet seat. These have built-in hinges that slow down the closing process, to ensure there’s no slamming noise. Many even come with quick-release hinges that help to make thorough cleaning of your toilet even easier.
Self-Cleaning
When shopping for a low-flow toilet, you might want to consider one that is self-cleaning. These are specifically designed with bowls that minimize debris accumulation and maximize water flow. They allow you to put in specialized cleaning tablets in the toilet tank that will release a steady stream of detergent for every flush.
Contrary to what their name may suggest, self-cleaning toilets do still require routine cleanings. However, they don’t have to be cleaned as often as normal toilets due to the feature described above.
Shapes and Colors
Low-flow toilets are typically available in two different shapes – elongated and round. Round toilets are best for efficient bathrooms where you’re looking to save space. Elongated-shaped toilets are designed for optimal comfort. Additionally, low-flow toilets come in a wide array of colors to best accommodate your home’s interior aesthetics. You’re no longer stuck with a traditional white or off-white. You can purchase a black, gold, red, or whatever color toilet you would like.
Glazed Trapway
One must-have feature that’s really easy to overlook is a glazed trapway. It may not seem like a big deal to begin with. However, having that smooth glazed finish on the internal surface of your toilet will help it to more effectively remove wastewater. This will minimize your risk of experiencing an internal clog as compared to using a toilet without this upgraded feature.
Reliable Plumbing Fixture Replacement Service
Bryant Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric offers reliable plumbing fixture replacement service for the Louisville, KY area. We can also help with all your plumbing inspection, repair, and maintenance needs. Give us a call today!
