Everybody wants to do their part in conserving water, but joining the good fight hasn’t always been easy. Toilets are a major water user in the home, with older toilets using about 3.5 gallons per flush. In 1992, the Energy Policy Act was signed into law in the United States; it required new buildings to be outfitted with toilets that used only 1.6 gallons per flush. If your home was built or remodeled soon after the passing of this law, then chances are you have a low-flush toilet in your home. If your toilet struggles to handle waste or gets clogged easily, and you’re looking for answers , you’re not alone. Thankfully, there are ways to meet the new codes, conserve water, and still have a toilet that flushes with real power.
The low-flush toilets weren’t very popular before the Energy Policy Act was signed. Suddenly the makers of toilets were forced to alter their designs to use less water, so they built the first generation of low-flush toilets exactly like traditional flush toilets, but with less water. A valve would open, and the water would flow unassisted into the bowl, but because there was only half as much water, waste wouldn’t be completely dealt with. Many homeowners quickly became frustrated with the clogs that were a result of these new toilets.
Just like any product, low-flush toilets improved over time. The biggest improvement was the use of water pressure to charge a pressure vessel with air. When the toilet is flushed, the air is released, which propels the water with greater force. Though there is still less water than a traditional toilet, the added pressure makes up for the lack of water. The newest models are able to flush just as adequately, or even better than traditional models.
If you have a low-flush toilet that is constantly clogging or if you have a traditional water-guzzling toilet and want to start conserving water, there are a couple of options available to you. One option is to install a new, and improved, low-flush toilet that use added pressure to clear away waste. The other option, which is a bit more affordable, is to alter one of your existing toilets with a dual or duo-flush kit. These kits alter your toilet so it can do a large, powerful flush for solid waste, and a much smaller flush for liquid waste. Water conservation is getting more convenient and affordable all the time.
For more information, call your local Roto-Rooter today.
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