High Efficiency Toilets

Welcome to the High Efficiency Toilets web page. Water efficiency is at the forefront of media attention these days, and it makes good sense to consider a high efficiency toilet in your home.

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Did you know that the home toilet is responsible for around 30% of all residential water usage, and leaking toilet pipes are a major source of water loss. This massive usage of water prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States to sponsor a program called WaterSense to assist those making purchases of toilets to locate high-performance toilets that are highly water-efficient to help the country save water by reducing its water and wastewater use in the home.

High Efficiency Toilets

The definition of high efficiency toilets is specified under federal law in the US, but will likely be different around the world. Check your own country's specifications to see. In the US ANY new toilet is not allowed to use more that 1.6 gallons of water per single flush. High efficiency toilets (HETs) have to improve on that by using no more than 1.26 gallons per flush (gpf). This saves around 20% over standard new toilets, a large saving if these are rolled out country wide. An independent laboratory has to certify these toilets to allow them to receive the WaterSense label. The certification process is strict and the toilets have to meet stringent efficiency and performance standards.

But Do They Work ?

One of the major concerns of consumers regarding low-flow toilets is whether they provide the same bowl clearing and cleaning standards as the non HETs. The good news is that Water Sense high-efficiency toilets actually combine high performance with power and efficiency, unlike the other non HETs. There have been huge advances in flushing technology which makes these toilets often much better at clearing the bowl that standard toilets.

What Savings Can be Made?

If you were to install high efficiency toilets in your home, replacing your old 3.5 gpf loo with a WaterSense label toilet you could save water at a rate of 4000 gals per year. Over the lifetime of that new toilet, you could save around $2000 in water use and wastewater costs, certainly a lot more than the purchase cost of the toilet. If you are replacing a much older toilet, the savings could be a lot more. And if you, as many other do, have two toilets in your home, replacing both could be a great saver, both financially, and in terms of water conservation.

High Efficiency Toilet Manufacturers

Virtually all of the major toilet producers are now offering high efficiency low-flow and dual flush toilets for sale to the market. American Standard, Toto Toilets, Kohler, Eljer and Gerber all offer the HET alternative. Caroma, Mansfield and Niagara are some of the lesser know brands also offering these low consumption toilet designs. Amazon are a great source of high efficiency toilets, with free shipping on many models.

It makes sense, in these times of drought, uncertainty about climate changes, financial turbulence and escalating costs of services like waste water disposal, to consider ways to reduce your water usage. The costs of HET toilets are not high, rebates may be avaialble on certain areas and their efficiency makes it a very good time to consider installing high efficiency toilets in your home.