Think about your toilet for a minute — the Can, the John, the Porcelain Throne.
Call it what you like, you’re fond of the old fella. In fact, for either “number one” or “number two,” there is no toilet in this world that you prefer.
Now, want to hear a secret about your favorite commode?
Your toilet is costing you between $100 and $500 per year!
Yeah, you read that right.
Unless you specifically upgraded to a water saving toilet, you’re wasting water. Wasting water means wasting money — AND LOTS OF IT!
Ready for some more toilet talk? Read on to learn about how much fresh water (and cash) old toilets waste and some efficient, money saving toilets
WASTEFUL OLD TOILETS: A HISTORY LESSON
Thanks to 1992 government legislation, toilets can only use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
Before that, toilet water use was like the Wild West: lawless and unregulated.
Massive 7 gallon tanks were a common enough sight.
And 3.5 or 5 gallon tanks were the standard. Imagine using five gallons for a single flush, outrageous!
What Does That Mean to You?
Well, it means that if you have an older house, you probably have a wasteful old toilet — one that rips you off with every flush.
THE COST OF A WASTEFUL TOILET
You might not think about the cost, but tap/sewage water isn’t free. Little by little, you end up paying a big price.
Based on Environmental Protection Agency estimates, for a family who flush the toilet 35 times per day:
- Using a 3.5 gallon toilet costs approximately $200 extra per year.
- Using a 5 gallon toilet costs approximately $350 extra per year.
Oftentimes, the water-bill discount of a new money saving toilet pays for the base price and installation in a year or two.
MEET TWO MONEY-SAVING TOILETS!
So you learned that toilet you trust has its hands in your pockets.
If you decide to do away with your antique lavatory, you have options. Let’s take a look.
Efficient 1.6 Gallon Toilet
Now the standard type of toilet in ALL new homes, this commode uses less than half as much water as a 3.5 gallon. Installing an efficient 1.6 gallon toilet can translate to savings on your water bill.
Since it is the standard, this simple but effective fixture can be often bought for an inexpensive price.
Dual Flush Toilet
This type of toilet represents a step forward.
A dual flush toilet uses different amounts of water for the different “type” of waste you’re trying to flush. That way you only use the water you need.
For solid waste: the dual flush toilet uses a gush of 1.6 gallons.
For liquid waste: the dual flush toilet uses a mere .8 gallons.
On its own, a 1.6 gallon flush represents serious savings, but when you use a dual flush toilet, the vast majority of your flushes come in at .8 gallons. Think about the huge potential for savings.
Should I Worry about Clogs?
Compared to a 5 gallon flush, a paltry 1.6 gallons can’t stand a chance right?
Wrong. Newer, efficient toilets employ superior design. They are even less likely to clog than the wasteful toilets of the past. For example, dual-flush toilets often have larger drains, and they propel water through the bowl with more force.
HELP! MY TOILET IS RIPPING ME OFF.
Do you feel a little sick?
Unless this toilet talk is making you need to visit the bathroom, you probably feel a little stressed about how much money you’re flushing down the drain.
Don’t worry though, because you’re in the right place. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Ocean County can help you find the right money-saving toilet and make the switch for you!
CONCLUSION
If you learn that your toilet has turned traitor, you need to do something about it.
That toilet can cost you anywhere between $100-$500 extra per year.
However, this is the 21st century and there are tons of high-power, money-saving toilets available.
Save money and get the best flush of your life.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Ocean County to discuss your new toilet and all of your plumbing needs.