Old Toilets Being Replaced By High Efficiency Toilets

Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for more than 30 percent of residential indoor water consumption. Toilets also happen to be a major source of wasted water, due to leaks and/or inefficiency. WaterSense, a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is helping consumers identify high-performance, water-efficient toilets that can reduce water use in the home and help preserve the nation’s water resources.

Under federal law, toilets must not exceed 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). High-efficiency toilets (HETs) go beyond the standard and use less than 1.3 gpf. WaterSense will label HETs that are verified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only HETs that complete the third-party verification process can earn the WaterSense label. On average, a family of four will use about 26,000 gallons of water per year with a 3.5 gpf toilet made between 1980 and 1994. By replacing the older toilet with an HET, the family could reduce that by more than 60 percent and save $55 or more annually, depending on local water and sewer costs. Savings could be three or four times that amount if replacing a leaky toilet or a pre-1980 model that uses 5.0 gpf or more. With these savings, a new WaterSense labeled HET can pay for itself in only a few years. Additionally, many local utilities from California to Florida offer substantial rebates (ranging from $25 to $175) for replacing old toilets with HETs.

Unlike first generation “low-flow” toilets, WaterSense labeled HETs will combine high efficiency with high performance. Design advances enable WaterSense labeled HETs to save water with no trade-off in flushing power. In fact, many perform better than standard toilets in consumer testing. Whether remodeling a bathroom, starting construction of a new home, or simply replacing an old, leaky toilet that is wasting money and resources, a WaterSense labeled HET is a high-performing, water-efficient option worth considering. In the future, you will be able to look for the WaterSense label on toilets.