What is the Difference Between Low Flush and High Efficiency Toilets?

Posted By The Eco Plumbers 17 Jun. 2015
Maybe you’ve been putting off investing in a high efficiency toilet because you’ve experienced the low flow toilets in some public restrooms. They just don’t seem to have the power needed to get everything down at once. As a result, you’re hitting the handle more than once or walking into a bathroom where toilets have been half flushed. It’s a frustrating experience! Luckily, the technology has come a long way from those low-power days, and there’s actually a difference between low flush toilets and energy-saving, high efficiency toilets.

If you’re looking for the best of both worlds (environmentally friendly without a changed experience), then a high efficiency toilet is a great retrofit investment. A WaterSense rated high efficiency toilet has been certified by the EPA to provide the highest standard in efficiency, water conservation, and performance. They use roughly 1.28 gallons per flush, but provide the same experience you expect when you need to flush. Low flow, low flush, and ultra-low flow toilets, on the other hand, are not rated by the EPA and they actually use more water in a less efficient way.

When you choose to retrofit your bathrooms with a high efficiency toilets today, you will not have the disappointing experience that you had in early LEED certified buildings in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The EPAs standards and new technology have allowed the high efficiency toilets of today to surpass even traditional toilets in terms of efficiency, lifespan, and power. You will not have to suffer multiple flushes and low-flow cleaning issues if you make the switch to a high efficiency design today.

Talk with your plumber about the different options available in modern, high efficiency toilets. There are still dual-flush toilets that offer two levels of flushing power for optimal savings, and there are pressure-assisted toilets that use under a gallon of water each time you flush while providing the powerful flush that you expect from your toilet.

Did you know that by switching to a high efficiency toilet, a family of four can save $2000 during the life of the toilet according to the EPA? That’s 4,000 gallons of water per year that you’re saving without any difference in a bathroom experience. The blue and green WaterSense label indicates which toilets have met the new criteria for performance and efficiency. This greener alternative has become so much more common today that most homeowners are considering it the only way to replace a current toilet.

Whether you’re renovating your home, your current toilet is having problems, or you’re looking for a way to make your home greener, consider using a WaterSense rated, high efficiency toilet. You won’t have the low-flow experience that you’ve been afraid of, and you’ll be able to save money on your water bill every month by switching out this one fixture. For some toilets, you may even be able to pay off the cost of a high efficiency investment in a little over a year with the savings. Green options are becoming more affordable than ever, making them the best option for your next toilet replacement, and The Eco Plumbers are the professionals you can trust with all of your plumbing efforts.

Categories: Eco-Friendly Tips, Toilets