Complete Guide to High Efficiency Toilets

Sustainable Flush: A Homeowner’s Guide to High-Efficiency Toilets

When you buy or build a new home, sustainability is more than just a buzzword, you might want to invest in a high efficiency toilets sooner rather than later. To make sure that you’re making good decisions that will last for years to come, there are a few things you might want to consider- especially when buying a new – or replacing an old toilet.

Making smart purchases can save energy, water and repair costs. Choosing fixtures and appliances that lessen your overall footprint is not only smart for the environment, but financially sound as well.  

Is a high efficiency toilet will be the right decision for your household? There are more than a few considerations, so let’s get into it!

Pros to High Efficiency Toilets:

1. Water conservation:  High-efficiency toilets significantly reduce water consumption. What that means is that your home will use less water, thereby reducing your bill. Not only is it less expensive over time, you feel good knowing that you are doing your part to be environmentally responsible.

2.Your septic system likes it:  When you use high-efficiency toilets, less waste water is being dumped into your tank, so septic maintenance is reduced as well! Typically you need tank maintenance about every 10 years, but if you’re not careful, you could end up doing it sooner due to the tank getting full faster than anticipated.

3.Better toilet technology:  High-efficiency toilets often feature advanced flushing mechanisms that provide better performance and reduce the likelihood of clogs. This reduces the likelihood of having constant repairs and visits from your local plumber.

Cons to High Efficiency Toilets:

1. Higher upfront cost:  High-efficiency toilets may have a higher initial purchase price compared to standard toilets, which can be a little bit of a deterrent especially if you are outfitting more than one bathroom. It‘s important to look at the long-term savings and balance them against the purchase price.

2. Variable flushing performance:  Some models of high-efficiency toilets may struggle to effectively clear waste, requiring multiple flushes. This was probably more of a concern when they first came out, but many models have improved designs. Check with your plumber to see which models perform the best for your situation and budget. 

3. Limited water capacity: High-efficiency toilets often have smaller water tanks or bowls, which may not be suitable for households with higher demand. This can be especially important to larger households with many people sharing the same bathroom. This can be tricky, because septic maintenance is also an issue with high volume households. Make sure you get a consultation from your plumber if you have a multi-person household.

Final thoughts on High Efficiency Toilets:

High-efficiency toilets are not a slam dunk, one-size-fits-all solution for every household. We would say as far as toilets go that getting an HET has just as many considerations as getting a luxury toilet. This can range from making sure your plumbing doesn’t’ need to be redone to support the installation, to making sure that the number of people in your household vs. the number of toilets is appropriate for a well functioning HET. 

As a preferred plumbing company in Sanford Fl, we are always available to discuss this with you and look forward to helping you make a great decision for your home. Not only are we familiar with many different brands of toilets, we can also assess your plumbing to see if there are adjustments that need to be made.