When the time comes to replace a toilet or multiple toilets in your home, take some time to consider the full breadth of your options. Many consumers focus exclusively on the aesthetics and the initial price. There are other important considerations, such as how much water a toilet uses. That can determine how environmentally and economically sound the toilet is.
Gallons Per Flush
The industry has long measured toilet efficiency in gallons per flush. That value indicates the total volume of water used each time you flush a toilet. While 2 gallons per flush may not seem like a lot, it can really add up. The average household flushes a toilet five times a day, which accounts for almost a quarter of its total daily water usage. If a toilet uses 2 gallons per flush, that means that it’s using about 3,650 gallons of water every year.
Modern Toilets
The earliest toilet designs used as much as 7 gallons per flush. By the 1980s, most toilets were using around 3.5 gallons per flush, which was still quite a lot. Recognizing the wastefulness, Congress passed a law that went into effect January 1, 1994 and limited flushes to 1.6 gallons. It has not updated that standard in the more than 30 years since. That means that your standard economy toilets available at your local store are using about 2,920 gallons a year.
WaterSense
WaterSense is an Environmental Protection Agency program similar to ENERGY STAR but with a focus on water conservation. Through WaterSense, the EPA sets higher standards for plumbing fixtures and appliances. These standards aren’t legal requirements, but products that meet them are able to earn certification and the WaterSense label.
Low-Flow Toilets
Low-flow is an industry term that refers to fixtures and appliances that use less water than what federal law allows or what is otherwise normal. The industry also refers to these products as high-efficiency toilets. Low-flow is not in and of itself a standard, so it’s important to evaluate the gallons per flush on a per-toilet-basis. This is where WaterSense is useful. In order to get the WaterSense label, a toilet can’t use more than 1.28 gallons per flush. By choosing a WaterSense toilet over a standard toilet, the EPA estimates that the average household can save about $2,000 over the life of the toilet.
Rebates
High-efficiency toilets do tend to cost more than standard toilets. The good news is that there are often rebates and other incentives available to help offset that initial investment. In fact, you can check for the offers available to you by zip code through the WaterSense website.
If you’d like to upgrade one or more toilets in your Charleston, SC home, contact Charleston Bath Experts today.