How to Choose a Low Flush Toilet

In today’s environmentally conscious society, conservation has had an impact on just about everything---including home improvement. Homeowners are building and remodeling their homes to conserve energy and save money; utilizing a slew of new products and methods to assist them in their endeavor. One such product is the advent of the low flush toilet.

Instructions

1. Do your research to understand the different between regular and low flush toilets. For example, both low-flow and ultra low-flow toilets look just like regular toilets and measure the same size; however, they use only half the amount of water, averaging about 1.6 gallons per flush instead of the traditional 3.5 gallons per flush. This means less overall flushing power but more water conservation. The main difference between the low flush and and regular toilets has less to do with cosmetic appeal and more to do with efficiency. In most cases, the tank still holds about 13 liters of water, but only six are flushed through at a time. Additionally, some low flush toilets don’t have traditional flappers on them and offer the option of a half flush for liquid waste and a full flush for heavier waste.

2. Decide on the type of low flush toilet you would like. Low flush and ultra low flush toilets both come in two main categories: gravity-fed and pressure-assisted. Gravity-fed is the same kind of design as a regular toilet that has a valve-siphon piece in the place where the ball cock is normally found. Pressure-assisted is noisier, but reduces water consumption over gravity-fed by up to 45 percent.

3. Understand that no matter which model you choose, you will likely pay more up front. Low flush and ultra low flush toilets are more expensive to purchase than a regular toilet; however, as a long term investment, they make more sense because you will shave money off of your water bill over time. The purchase should show a return for the homeowner as you save money well beyond the initial investment.

4. Obtain assistance from an expert. Usually an associate at your local home improvement store can help you decide what model of low flush toilet will be best for your home. When it comes to installation, many low flow fixtures can be installed by the do-it-yourselfer, as they often come with an easy to understand set of instructions. However, if you have any doubts it’s best to have a professional plumber install your low flow toilets.