Should You Install A Low-Flow Toilet?
Is Your Toilet Saving Water or Clogging Your Pipes? While modern plumbing fixtures often outperform their older counterparts, the decision of a low-flow toilet isn’t always straightforward due to potential low-flow toilet problems. This article explores the scenarios in which replacing an outdated bathroom with a water-efficient model is the best choice. If your home was constructed before the mid-1980s, your existing toilet is likely worth refurb particularly if it’s connected to a cast iron drainage system. However, if your house is more modern, you may want to consider replacing your toilet with a newer, more water-efficient model. To gain insight into this topic, let’s explore some key aspects of plumbing in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area. How Much Water Does Your Toilet Flush? Suburban areas surrounding Dallas, such as Plano, and Carrollton, are home to numerous residences constructed during the mid-to-late 20th century. Due to the lack of time, many homes in these areas feature toilets that consume a significant amount of water with each flush, often exceeding 3 gallons per use. Familiar with conserving water and reducing utility bills, homeowners often addressed low-flow toilet problems by inserting a brick into the toilet tank. In older models, the tank was spacious enough to accommodate a brick without disrupting its function, allowing it to operate with reduced water usage. The Energy Policy Act was passed by Congress with significant changes. One key provision of this legislation required the phase-out of toilets using more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Following this mandate, all residential toilets sold in the United States had to meet the standard 1.6 gpf requirement. For two decades, this was the prevailing situation in Texas. Notably, for residents of the North D Specifically, in Collin and Denton counties, nearly 60% of the existing housing stock the 20 years spanning 1990 to 2010. Residents of cities such as Frisco, or Lewisville probably have a 1.6 gallon per flush toilet in their home, unless it has been upgraded or replaced with a newer model. A significant shift occurred in 2009, but this time it was at the state level rather than nationwide. Texas enacted a new law, House Bill 2667, which made it the second state to mandate the use of high-efficiency toilets or those that meet the EPA’s WaterSense criteria, addressing concerns related to low flow toilet problems. By 2014, the sale of toilets that used more than 1.28 gallons was prohibited. If your home is relatively new, and constructed within the past decade or so, all the toilets in your home are likely high-efficiency models. This probability increases in rapidly growing cities like Prosper and Melissa, where new development is more prevalent. The Pros and Cons of Water-Saving Toilets The shift to water-efficient toilets has largely achieved its desired outcome. The widespread adoption of low-flow toilets and fixtures has led to a significant reduction in per capita over the past three decades. This trend has alleviated pressure on the water infrastructure in rapidly growing regions like North Texas, while also yielding cost savings on utility bills for the typical homeowner. However, as is often the case, unforeseen problems arose. From our perspective as plumbers specializing in residential services, we’ve observed that many toilets installed in the aftermath of the legislative update were flaws. While manufacturers managed to comply with the new regulations, the toilets frequently lacked sufficient flushing force and were prone to clogging. Toilets may appear straightforward at first glance, but the design of an effective, quiet, water-efficient, and hygienic toilet involves intricate engineering considerations. Various toilet models exist, and the testing processes, like the MaP protocol, can be highly thorough. With advances in technology and manufacturing, modern toilets are designed to efficiently flush more than 1,000 grams of waste using only 1.28 gallons of water. Regrettably, many homes constructed in DFW over the past three decades have been equipped with low-cost, mass-produced toilets that met “builder grade” in this context extends beyond mere appearance, as it can also imply a higher likelihood of maintenance issues, including regular c-present risk of sewage backups. In addition to the negative effects of inefficient toilet design, another unexpected outcome-saving, low-flow toilets is the presence of an aging cast iron piping system beneath many houses that was not previously considered. How Do WaterSense Toilets Affect the Drain Pipes? Water-efficient toilets labeled with the WaterSense certification impact the drain pipes in a specific way. In homes constructed before the mid-1980s, the drain pipes were predominantly composed of cast iron material. These cast iron sewer lines degrade gradually over time as a result of the corrosion caused by water and chemical substances that are flushed down the drain. Ultimately, the deterioration of these pipes will necessitate their replacement. However, many toilets that are still in good condition may have an interior coating of rust and rough residue. This buildup significantly raises the risk of blockages. Luckily, the older toilets in these houses did not have water usage limits. The traditional 3-gallon toilets flushed a large amount of water, assisting in clearing solid waste from the rough cast iron surfaces and sending it to the city sewer system. As time passes, the toilets deteriorate or become damaged. A lot of the older 3-gallon toilets are now being replaced with new 1.28 gpf toilets. Although these new toilets may offer various advantages and a stronger flush, they use less than half the amount of water to dispose of waste. Despite effectively clearing the toilet bowl, the reduced water flow can lead to waste becoming stuck in the pipes and causing blockages. We suggest that individuals refurbish their existing toilets instead of getting new ones if their home has cast iron piping beneath the foundation. Homes built after the mid-1980s or those that have had their cast iron piping replaced typically have newer PVC (plastic) pipes. PVC, unlike cast iron, is resistant to rust and corrosion. Although there may still be a buildup of grease and waste, it is more likely to
