Since we've got two bathrooms to outfit, it's time I started researching the essentials. I started with the most essential of essentials: the toilet! I learned that toilets are responsible for the largest share of home water use (30%). The average family of 4 flushes their toilet 5840 times per year. Given that, every savings of a 1/10th of a gallon per flush saves 584 gallons per year! That's a lot of water. Of course, because water is currently so cheap (we pay, at most, about a penny a gallon for water here in Manhattan, KS) that this doesn't make a big financial difference. But, imagining 584 gallons of pure, drinkable water flushed down the toilet each year--that is something to think about. So, I'd say our goal is to buy an efficient toilet without sacrificing much on flushability (a term that I just created.)
Currently, the standard for toilets is 1.6 gallons. Efficient toilets, single flush toilets are commonly 1.28 gallons per flush (GPF). Dual flush toilets are often 1.6/.8 GPF. The EPA has a "Watersense" label that marks more efficient toilets.
Other details: It's good to have a "glazed trapway" as this helps waste exit. Standard height is 14-15". Adults, particularly the elderly, like a higher toilet. Of course, we have young boys for whom a taller toilet would mean more accidents. So, standard is probably fine for us!
Pressure assisted toilets are often more efficient, but they are usually more expensive ($400 and up). And, I don't know if they are harder to install or repair.
Reviews about toilets tend to complain about cheap plastic seats and plastic handles.
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