Choosing an Eco-Friendly Toilet: What You Need to Know
Eco-friendly toilets, also known as sustainable toilets, are designed to conserve water. By reducing the amount of water per flush, environmentally friendly toilets help protect freshwater reserves, arguably our most important resource. If you’re in the market for an eco-toilet, you need to consider its design as well as its water-conserving features.
What Is an Eco-Friendly Toilet?
Eco-friendly toilets are fixtures that use as little water as possible per flush. Common types of eco-friendly toilets include low-flush, dual-flush, and vacuum toilets.
How Do Eco-Friendly Toilets Work?
How eco-friendly toilets work depends on the type of toilet you choose. Several sustainable toilets are on the market, including:
- Vacuum-assisted eco toilets utilize a vacuum system for a powerful flush with reduced water usage.
- Pressurized assisted flush toilets utilize air pressure from a special tank located within the toilet tank to assist with flushing.
- Dual-flush toilets have two buttons: one for liquid water with a low-volume flush and a second for solid waste with a standard flush.
- Composting toilets use natural processes to break down waste, require limited water, and are not connected to sewer systems.
- Smart toilets feature programmable settings and utilize sensors to determine the optimal amount of water to use with each flush.
Eco-friendly toilets aren’t the only way to conserve water. Check out How to Save Water in Your Bathroom.
How Much Water Does It Take to Flush a Toilet?
Standard toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush. Eco toilets use 1.28 gallons to as little as 0.8 gallons per flush. Advantages of eco-friendly toilets include:
- Reduced water consumption
- Long-term savings on water bills
- Conservation of water resources
- Support for local ecosystems
Low-flush toilets are slightly more susceptible to blocking than standard toilets. Here are Five Eco-Friendly Ways to Unblock a Toilet.
What is GPF for Toilets?
GPS stands for Gallons Per Flush. The lower the GPF, the more water-efficient a toilet is. An eco-friendly toilet with a GPF of 0.8 to 1.28 will probably be part of the EPA WaterSense program.
- Standard Toilet: 1.6 GPF
- High-Efficiency Toilet: 1.28 GPF or less
- Dual-Flush Toilet: 0.5 GPF for liquid, 0.95 GPF for solid waste
Key Considerations When Selecting an Eco-Friendly Toilet
- Low GPF: Check the toilet’s GPF rating to see how much water you’ll save per flush.
- Look for the WaterSense label: Toilets with the WaterSense label are certified by the EPA to be at least 20% more water-efficient than standard toilets.
- Dual-flush options: Dual-flush toilets allow you to conserve water for liquid waste while still providing a standard flush or low-flow flush for solid waste.
- Cost: Some types of eco-friendly toilets, such as composting toilets, have higher purchase prices and installation costs.
- Maintenance: Some very low-flush toilets require more frequent cleaning than standard toilets.
- Fit: Make sure the toilet fits your bathroom space.
- Shape: Some eco-friendly toilets have a flat base around the bottom of the fixture for easy cleaning.
- Additional features: Some eco toilets offer extra features such as bidets, soft-close lids, and heated seats.
Ready for a new toilet but not sure if you’re old one has some life left in it? Check out Signs You Need to Replace Your Toilet.
Let Roto-Rooter Install Your Eco-Friendly Plumbing!
An eco-friendly toilet can significantly improve your water conservation if it’s installed correctly. If you need help installing a sustainable toilet, call Roto-Rooter. We’re experts in eco-friendly plumbing solutions and have a deep commitment to sustainable water use.