Benefits of upgrading old toilets in any home
Q. We have one old toilet that leaks, and the other one requires double flushes too often. Are there newer designs of toilets that flush better and use less water?
A. The flushing of older high-volume toilets can use more water than any other activity for a family of four. Unless the toilet is cracked, there are many inexpensive repair kits available to fix your old leaking toilet. The problem is, it will still be a water-waster by design.
Your older toilets probably use either 5.0 or 3.5 gpf (gallons per flush). With everincreasing water rates, a family can save more than $120 per year by installing new toilets. If you can find a low-cost two-piece (tank and bowl separate) toilet, the savings can pay back its cost in one year. Be sure to measure the setback from the wall so the toilet matches the existing plumbing.
It has not been possible to buy a toilet with a gpf above 1.6 for many years. This is a federal standard. There are many toilets now that use 1.28 gpf, and some expensive ones use only 1.1 gpf. They utilize newer designs of internal water-flow passages to create an effective flushing action. The water flowing into the bowl cleans it but does not actually “flush” out the bowl. A suction action inside the internal passages sucks the wastes out and down the drain.
The most economical design is a 1.6- or 1.28-gpf gravity-type toilet. These provide an effective flush and are quiet, which is ideal for a master bathroom. Stylish one-piece designs are more expensive, but they do not flush better than cheaper two-piece ones. Another advantage of a two-piece design is it is easier to carry and handle during installation.
Another water-saving option is a dual-flush toilet. It uses about 1.0 gpf for liquids and 1.6 gpf for solids. Since most flushes are for liquids, the savings can be substantial. Some designs use a dual-action flush handle on top of the tank. Others use a standard flush handle and you move it either up or down to select the type of flush.
If one of your bathrooms is not in a location where noise is a problem, install a pressureassist model. These are often used in public restrooms and flush forcefully with low water usage. The incoming water compresses air in a small chamber hidden inside the tank. When flushed, this air creates a louder, very rapid effective flush.
Also consider installing a urinal if there are men in your family. A urinal uses less than 1.0 gpf. Residential models are not as large as ones in public restrooms. Some residential urinals collapse and are hidden in the wall.
When adding a new bathroom or moving the plumbing in a house on a slab, installing the drain can be a problem. A macerating toilet will grind up the waste when flushed, then pump it up to an existing drain. This method is also effective for basements.
The following companies offer water-saving toilets:
• American Standard, (800) 442-1902, americanstandard-us.com
• Briggs Plumbing, (800) 888-4458, briggsplumbing.com
• Kohler, (800) 456-4537, kohler.com
• Saniflo, (800) 571-8191, saniflo.com
• Toto, (888) 295-8134, totousa.com.
Q. I might put mirror tiles on an outside wall to reflect and keep heat indoors. We did this as Boy Scouts with aluminum foil to reflect the fire’s heat into the tent. Is this effective?
A. Mirrors will not function the same as aluminum foil by the fire. Mirrors reflect visible light, but not heat energy. Bright aluminum foil reflects both heat and light.
If you want mirrors and more wall insulation, try stapling aluminum foil loosely to the wall. Place shallow furring strips over it and attach the mirror tiles to the strips. This creates the necessary air space to make the foil’s heat-reflective properties effective.