5 Tips to Make the Upgrade to More Efficient Low-Flow Toilets Easier
Are you looking to make an environmentally friendly move that can save you money and help you meet building codes? Replacing old commodes with low-flow toilets is an easy home upgrade with plenty of benefits. For example, by upgrading from a 3.5 gallons-per-flush (gpf) toilet to a low-flow 1.6 gpf model, you can conserve thousands of gallons per year and decrease your water bill significantly.
Here are five tips for making the upgrade to low-flow toilets easier:
- Look for high performance: While “behind-the-seat” features vary, the most important thing is that the low-flow toilets you select can move waste with a single flush. Compare test results of the toilets you’re considering before making a final purchase.
- Understand flush technology: Talk to retailers about the difference between the siphonic method (common in North America) and the wash-down method (common in Europe). Each offers its own benefits in terms of preventing clogging and providing more water surface area to hold waste before flushing it away.
- Look for High Efficiency Toilets (HET): Most low-flow toilets flush at a maximum of 1.6 gpf. HET fixtures use 20 percent less, or 1.3 gpf maximum, to save even more water.
- Compare prices: A higher price tag does not guarantee better performance. However, if you want add-ons such as dual-flush and pressure-assist features, be prepared to pay a little more. The most important thing to remember is to compare prices alongside performance to help you make your selection.
- Ensure comfort: Try out a variety of toilets with different seat shapes, rim designs and heights. If you have a small bathroom and you want an elongated bowl, make sure the style fits with plenty of room to move around before you make your purchase. Do this by bringing bathroom measurements along on your shopping trip.
For help choosing the perfect, affordable low-flow toilets for your home, please contact the professionals at Sobieski Services. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).
Image Credit: Darwin Bell
