The next time you’re in the market for a new toilet, it is to your advantage to shop for a new high-efficiency toilet (HET), because it requires so much less water to do its job. While toilets manufactured before 1990 typically required 22 to 27 liters of water when flushed, modern low-flush models require a little more than three liters, and sometimes even less. Since the flushing of toilets consumes by far the most water annually in households, it makes sense to include the utility bill savings achievable with a water conserving toilet.
What to Look For
When shopping for one of these high-efficiency toilets look for the WaterSense label. This is an indication that the model has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. as exceeding federal standards for low-flush capability. WaterSense products are widely sold in Canada.
You should see a MaP (Maximum Performance) rating on this label as well, which relates to the model’s ability to remove waste with a single flush. The rating represents the volume in grams that the toilet can flush, and will range from 250 to 1,000. While the EPA requires 350 as its minimum threshold for efficiency, 500 or above is a good score to look for.
The flushing mechanism of low-efficiency toilets accounts for the main difference in performance and price, but even the higher priced water conserving toilet is worth the extra money because of the water it’ll save you over the course of its lifetime.
The gravity-flush model is the most straightforward, simply relying on the water’s weight to remove waste. Pressure-assisted models use compressed air to help with flushing, and some low-flush models even use an electric pump to create a powerful flush, although these also require electricity.
For expert advice on any home comfort solutions you may need, please contact us through our website or give us a call. Arpi’s Industries LTD has been providing the best customer service to homes and businesses in Calgary for more than 50 years, and we still stick to our original philosophy of doing the job right.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water conservation and other HVAC topics, downloadour free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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