Would you be shocked to learn that the toilets in your home are the number one consumer of water in your household? Most people think that showering is the task that uses the most water. But numerous studies have found that toilets account for over 30% of the water usage in the average household. And if you live in an older home, that could mean that you are flushing a lot of money right down the drain. However, installing a low-flow model can take a significant bite out of the amount of water your commodes are wasting and your large water bill.
How Old Is Your Home/Toilet?
Replacing your home’s toilets does not sound like a very exciting or glamourous renovation project. As long as they are not leaking and continue to flush, most homeowners are happy to keep the same old toilet in place. But that all changes when they discover what that old toilet could be costing.
If your home was built before the early 80s, you could still be using the original toilet. Those models used an average of 6 gallons per flush. That comes to 60 gallons of water with only ten flushes per day, or nearly 22,000 gallons of water a year.
If your toilet was made between 1982 and 1994, it would likely use about 3 gallons per flush. And while it is excellent to cut the last number in half, you are still flushing over 10,000 gallons of water each year at ten flushes a day. Fortunately, you have a much better option now.
Today’s High-Efficiency Option
To qualify as a high-efficiency toilet today, the commode must use no more than 1.28 gallons of water per flush. Many models also offer a half flush option for liquids only that get you well below a gallon of water per flush. If you were using an older model, installing a new high-efficiency toilet could reduce your home’s water usage by as much as 60%.
Running The Numbers
Sure, saving water sounds great. But most homeowners want to get down to the actual dollars and cents. In a study by the Environmental Protection Agency, it was found that a high-efficiency toilet would save the average family about 13,000 gallons of water each year. That comes to about $110 a year or an estimated $2,200 over the two-decade life expectancy of the average toilet.
Another Reason To Go Green
If your home was built in 1980 and you are still using the original toilet, it is time for a replacement. At the age of 40, your toilet is less than reliable and trustworthy when it comes to leaking and other failures. Sure, things from back in the day lasted a long time. But you are risking a flood of dirty water and contamination on a toilet that was installed when Jimmy Carter was the President.
Even a tiny leak or crack in the tank or a water line could be allowing water to slowly destroy your bathroom floor and the structure below it. For a few hundred dollars, you can avoid the headache and mess associated with a leaking toilet and save a significant amount of water and money.
To learn more about your options for a low flow or high-efficiency toilet, call (701) 402-6643. The licensed plumbers at A-1 Plumbing will provide you with a complete price quote for a new toilet installation backed by a complete parts and labor warranty. And don’t forget to ask about other tips to save water and cash around your home.