Should Your Home Have a Low Flow Toilet?

Going “green” is a trendy phrase that has been thrown around a lot.  We all know it is good to be more energy efficient and use less water.  And, not only is it good for the environment, it can also mean a significant monthly savings. Our sinks, washing machines, showers and toilets use a lot of water every month.  The amount of water used each time we flush has improved significantly over time. Toilets installed in the 1960’s could use as much as 7 gallons of water per flush.  Over time, with improvements and the invention of low flow toilets, we have reduced the amount of water we use each time we flush to 1.6 gallons. Plumbing.org discusses how toilets and water usage effect our utility payments, “The EPA estimates that toilets account for approximately 27% of the water usage inside your home. They also estimate that, for a family of 4, if you replace your older toilets with newer, water-saving models, you can save more than $90 a year on your water bill.” If your home does not currently have low flow toilets and you are looking for a way to go green and save money each month on utilities, consider changing to a low flow toilet.  While the first few designs of low flow toilets had their drawbacks, modern designs are significantly improved. Realtor.com  discusses why low flow toilets should be used, “Modern low flush toilets work using one of two technologies: either a gravity feed or a pressure assisted flush process to clear waste. Similar in basic concept to older toilet designs, gravity feeds use the force of the water coming out of the toilet tank to flush the bowl. However, the new gravity flush toilets now work because the toilet bowls themselves have been redesigned to make better use of the pressure generated by the water flow. Air pressure flush systems compress a pocket of air in a cavity in the bowl to help clear the waste. When the toilet is flushed, the air is released and in combination with the 1.6 gallons of water, flushes the bowl clean.” Many complained that old low flow toilets did not do an adequate job when flushing and that sometimes they required two flushes.  Modern low flow toilets combine the technology of powerful flushing with water conservation to find the perfect balance.  Also, when you go to sell your house, a buyer will be more interested in a home that has modern, energy efficient toilets than one that does not.  By taking the small measure to switch to a low flow toilet you can save money on your monthly utilities while also doing something great for the planet.]]>