WHY BUY A HIGH EFFICIENCY TOILET?

Whether you’re operating at home or business, installing high-efficiency toilets make sense. These fixtures are necessary for hygiene can do a better than average flushing job while using the minimal amount of water necessary. You just need to know what to look for when you are shopping to make sure you are getting the performance you need.

MaP and WaterSense Ratings

Why do you need a high-efficiency toilet? A toilet can use as much as 40% of your homeowner bill even when it’s operating correctly. Older toilets use more water in routine flushes and may have frequent clogs that need multiple flushes to clean the bowl or tend to overflow. Extra flushes plus overflows and leaks, will cause you to use more water. Installing a high-efficiency model commode can save you water and cut your bill by 25% or more when  you factor in water waste.

In the US, the federal government has had regulations in place since 1994 that toilets can use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) in comparison to 4.5 GPF that was the norm before 1980 or the 3.5 GPF for those made between 1980-1994. Consumers complained that early models did not do the job in one flush, but manufacturers have improved their design so that the lower amount of water is enough.

To aid consumers in finding effective toilets, a research team from the US and Canada developed the Maximum Performance Test (MaP) that tests water usage and the amount of solid material removed by one flush. Models of toilets capable of removing 350 grams of waste using only 1.28 GPF earn a WaterSenseMark. Today, virtually all toilets on the market meet this standard, but some do a better job than others;  some models whisk away up to 1,000 grams or two pounds of waste with a single flush. There are over 1,600 models that are MaP-rated so that residential or commercial users can find the best value for their needs. Since models change often, the models available in stores may not match the list, but consumers can choose a product that bears the EPA WaterSense mark.

OTHER FEATURES TO CONSIDER FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY TOILETS

Aside from this mark, there are some other features that high-efficiency toilets offer to improve their functionality. These include:

• An enlarged water spot: The more surface water available, the easier it is to keep the bowl free of solids and paper that cling to the sides. An 8 to 9 inch water spot is desirable.
• Larger trap way outlet size: The passageway for solid waste is usually two inches, but higher efficiency models have bigger openings that measure 2-3/8” or more to reduce clog potential,
• Larger flush valve or flapper opening:  The larger the opening for the flush valve located between the tank and the bowl, the better. Having a three-inch opening instead of this standard two-inch is 80% faster, while a four-inch opening is 200% faster.
• Super-charged rim wash: Water flows into the toilet through holes in the rim during flushing: the cleaning action or rim wash is more powerful with high-efficiency toilets.
• Pressure assist: While most residential toilets work by gravity, high-efficiency pressure assisted models have water stored in a canister in the toilet tank at the same pressure as the water that comes into the toilet. During flushing, the pressurized water forces a more powerful flush action.

SHOPPING TIPS

Buying a high-efficiency toilet with many of these features requires making yourself knowledgeable about modern toilet technology. Even if you walk into a big box store, you should be able to find a variety of products with WaterSense label that will also have the other features noted here to meet your needs. A professional plumber can also help you select the best model that will work with your existing drains.

 

Credits: Ezine.com / Ezine Articles – Jillynn Stevens, Ph. D. MSW

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