How Low-Flow Toilets and Dual Flush Toilets Benefit You

Over the last few decades, massive improvements have been made in the way toilets work. If the toilets in your home were installed in the 80s, early 90s, or before, they probably use at least twice as much water as modern ones do.

In 1992, the Federal Energy Policy Act announced that new toilets installed in the US could consume no more than 3.5 gallons of water per flush. Compared with the previous standard, which was 7 gallons per flush that was a massive leap forward in water conservation.

Thanks to the new law, Americans were introduced to low-flow toilets in the mid-90s. Originally, they met with some resistance when consumers complained that they frequently required a second flush. Through the years, design and engineering improvements have made low-flow toilets just as effective as their ancestors from decades before.

It’s clear that moving to low-flow toilets in your home is a great step for the environment. It’s also a great choice for your pocketbook. The EPA estimates that homeowners can save approximately $100 per year on their water bills by switching to a low-flow toilet.

There are other incentives for replacing your old toilets with more water-efficient ones. Modern toilets help keep countless gallons from unnecessarily entering water treatment plants. That’s why many water utilities across the country are now offering cash rebates to homeowners who install eco-friendly toilets.

Call your local water management corporation to find out if rebates or incentives are available for you.

In Europe and other parts of the world, dual flush toilets have been around for a while. They are now growing in popularity in the US as well. These toilets, often with two buttons on the top of the tank, feature different flush modes for liquid and solid waste. The larger button flushes 1.6 gallons of water to eliminate solids, and the smaller one uses only 0.8 gallons for liquids.

It’s estimated that the average amount of water flushed daily by people with low-flow toilets is approximately 2/3 greater than people with a dual flush toilet. That means the annual savings on water bills will be even greater, thus justifying their slightly higher price tag.

With the financial and environmental benefits that a high-efficiency toilet offers, it makes the decision to get rid of the old water guzzlers in your home much easier. Of course, we recommend entrusting the installation of your new toilet to an experienced professional like the friendly technicians at Plumb Works. To book an appointment with the best plumbers in the Atlanta area, call 404-524-1825 today.