Toilets account for more water usage than any other faucet or appliance in the house. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 30 percent of the water used in homes is flushed down the toilet. Thus, installing low-flow toilets, which use much less water than other toilets, is one of the best ways to reduce a household's water usage.
Saving Water Saves Money
Precisely how much water low-flow toilets could save your household depends on what type of toilets are currently in your home. Today's standard toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, while old toilets often use between 3 and 5 gallons per flush — and sometimes as many as 6 gallons. In contrast, low-flow toilets use as little as 1.28 gallons per flush.
Upgrading old toilets could provide a savings of 2, 3 or 4 gallons with each flush. Even if you already have modern standard toilets, though, getting low-flow models would still reduce how much water your household flushes by 20 percent.
Taking into account the different amount of water that various toilets use, the EPA reports that average households can expect to reduce their water used for flushing by 20 to 60 percent. This could provide a savings of over $110 annually on water costs — or $2,200 over the lifetime of a toilet.
WaterSense Models Still Flush Well
Despite using less water, low-flow toilets still have powerful, effective flushes. They're able to use less water because of advances that have been made in the industry recently, and they're guaranteed to work effectively thanks to the WaterSense seal.
WaterSense is a program developed by the EPA for water-efficient products. Toilets that bear the WaterSense label meet the EPA's criteria for low-flow toilets, and they've been quality tested by an independent third party.
Have a Low-Flow Toilet Installed
If you're interested in outfitting your home with low-flow toilets, contact a plumbing services provider in your area. In Pittsburgh, feel free to call us at Stahl Plumbing. We've installed many WaterSense toilets throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area, and we'd be happy to help you compare models and get new toilets in your home.