According to EPA estimates, toilets use almost 30 percent of the water consumed in a typical residential household. Homeowners can save a lot of water and a lot of money by replacing older, inefficient toilets with new high efficiency toilets. There are several different options when it comes to modern high efficiency toilets.
Since 1992, all toilets manufactured for sale in the United States use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush which is about half the amount used by older toilets. These low flow toilets got a bad reputation for flushing ability, but in recent years advances in toilet design have greatly improved the performance of standard 1.6 gallon per flush toilets. These make a very good, economical toilet choice.
In fact, in just the past few years most residential toilets have been designed to meet WaterSense certification standards which require that the toilet use no more than 1.28 gallons per flush and perform as well as or better than a standard low flow toilet. Choosing a WaterSense certified toilet makes a lot of sense since they use even less water than a standard low flow toilet and have been specifically designed to perform well while using only 1.28 gallons of water. These are an excellent cost-effective solution.
Dual flush toilets are another alternative. These toilets have two flush modes: a full 1.6 gallon flush for flushing solid waste and a partial flush (usually about .8 gallon) for flushing liquid waste. When used properly, these toilets average less than 1.28 gallons of water and most of them qualify for WaterSense certification. These are a little more expensive than single flush toilets.
Finally, pressure assist toilets use compressed air to assist with flushing performance. These toilets work well and use the least amount of water, but they can be noisy and are much more expensive than gravity-flow toilets.
Whether you are doing a full bathroom remodel or just replacing a toilet, your plumbing professional can help you choose the right high efficiency toilet for your home.
