Many homeowners these days are looking for unique ways to cut back and save money. Plenty choose to focus on their plumbing. After all, you receive a bill every month for your water usage. A lot of that usage comes from showering and flushing the toilet. You, of course, need to do both. However, you can cut down on the gallons flushed down the drain by investing in a low-flow toilet. These high-efficiency models are an investment that may be worth every penny. Let’s dive in and see how a low-flow toilet could save you money and conserve water at the same time.
How Low-Flow Toilets Work
You’ve likely heard the term “low-flow” toilet in the past. A lot of homeowners are unclear on what that actually means, though. Essentially, low-flow toilets come in two forms: gravity or pressure-assisted methods.
A gravity-driven low-flow toilet clears the waste and water as the flapper moves and water is released. The water flows from the tank into the bowl, flushing away the contents, while gravity helps carry the waste through the pipes. It’s the standard model.
Then, a pressure-assisted low-flow toilet will have a pressure tank, similar to a water balloon, that fills up with water and is held under pressure until you flush. When the flush valve opens up, the pressure and gravity combine for one strong, powerful flush to remove the waste.
Low-Flow Toilet Water Usage
Along with how such a system works, most homeowners want to know how much water a low-flow toilet uses and whether it conserves enough to warrant the investment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toilets account for nearly 30 percent of water usage in the home. An old toilet will use up to seven gallons of water in a single flush. That’s a lot of wasted water.
- In comparison, a low-flow toilet will use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. There are even new, high-efficiency models using 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
- [H2] The Benefits of a Low-Flow Toilet
- A low-flow toilet is designed to save your home a lot of water, both per flush and over time.
- You’ll start saving money immediately, as the EPA estimates around $110 per year in water bill savings.
- You can recoup your investment the longer you use a low-flow toilet in your home. Today’s models last up to 30 years.
- Low-flow toilets are readily available at most home improvement stores or plumbing outlets, both for new construction and existing homes.
If you want the best plumbing service around, including low-flow toilet installation, contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain for top-rated assistance around the clock. You can schedule efficient plumbing services by calling your local branch!
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