Water-Saving Toilets – How Much Will You Save?
Exploring Water-Efficient Toilets
A shopper checks out a water-saving toilet at the store. Modern water-efficient toilets have replaced our old traditional toilets with improved technology and more modern features. But, do these water-saving toilets really make a difference?
Water-saving, or low-flow toilets, conserve water by using less water each time you flush compared to regular toilets. By upgrading or changing your old toilet, you can save about $140.00 every year or a whopping 13,000 gallons of water per toilet.
In this article, I'll discuss if water-saving toilets are a smart investment. Do they genuinely help you save money in the long term? We'll discover if a smart toilet is a cost-effective replacement for your old throne! Afterward, I'll share my top choices for water-saving toilets.
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Are Water-Saving Toilets a Good Investment?
When it comes to whether a toilet can put money back in your wallet, the answer is yes, water-saving toilets can help you save on your utility bills. They are a valuable addition to your home.
New technology has revamped the traditional toilet, replacing our old water-wasting models with sleek, water-efficient options.
New vs. Old Toilet Technology
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all toilets in American homes account for 30% of total water usage, with older toilets consuming a staggering 6 gallons per flush (GPF)!
Modern technology has made water-efficient toilets use only 1.28 GPF or even less. This translates to saving about $140 per year, or a total of $2,900 over the lifespan of a single toilet. If you have multiple toilets in your home, the savings double!
Explore Rebates
By installing a water-saving toilet in your home, you may qualify for a rebate on your utility bill. It's a fantastic incentive and another way to keep your money in your pocket!
Consider Retrofitting
A more budget-friendly option is to keep your existing toilet, especially if it's still in good working condition, and simply retrofit it by adding a tank insert. This can reduce your water usage by approximately 0.5 to 1 gallon per flush!
What's the Cost of a Single Toilet Flush?
Replacing your old regular toilet with a modern low-flush toilet can save you money right from the moment you install it. Water-saving toilets use significantly less water per flush than regular ones.
Let's do some math to see how much you could save in a year by installing a water-saving toilet.
Regular toilets cost about 2.8 cents per flush if your toilet uses 3.5 GPF. In contrast, older water-saving toilets cost only 1.3 cents per flush, using 1.6 GPF.
We can use this data to calculate the annual cost per person in your household based on an average of 5 flushes per day per person.
| COST PER FLUSH | FLUSHES PER DAY | COST PER DAY PER PERSON | COST PER YEAR PER PERSON |
|---|---|---|---|
| REGULAR TOILET | 2.8 cents | 5 cents | $51.10 |
| WATER-SAVING TOILET | 1.3 cents | 6.5 cents | $23.72 |
From this quick calculation, we can see that a water-saving toilet can significantly reduce your toilet water bill by half! If you have multiple people using the toilet, your savings multiply.
And remember, the chart shown above is based on a water-saving toilet that uses 1.6 GPF. However, if you get a brand new water-saving toilet, you'll save even more with 1.28 GPF, resulting in greater annual savings on your water bill.
Did you know? Approximately 22 gallons of water are wasted daily in many homes due to leaks from faulty faucets, toilets, washing machines, and plumbing. This adds up to an average cost of around $80 per year.
Regular home maintenance is crucial to keep costs down while conserving water that might otherwise go down the drain!
Are Water-Saving Toilets Costly?
Replacing your old toilet with a modern water-saving model can be costly, depending on the type of toilet and its features.
If you don't need extras like a heated seat or other fancy features, you can find a WaterSense labeled water-saving toilet starting at approximately $120.00 per unit, excluding installation. But what about installation costs?
Considering Installation
If you're handy, installing a new water-saving toilet should take about 2 hours. Removing your old toilet and replacing it with a new water-saving toilet in the same spot is relatively straightforward.
The average cost of toilet installation in Canada is around $372.00, with prices ranging between $224.00 and $531.00 on average.
Of course, this cost doesn't include any bathroom remodeling. To save money, always measure the available space before purchasing your toilet, ensuring it fits the space.
Also, be sure to install the new toilet against the same plumbing wall as the old one.
Lastly, if you're installing a wall-mounted toilet, check that the existing wall can support it. If not, you might need to upgrade the wall, incurring additional costs.
What About Smart Toilets?
High-end smart toilets start at around $1,000.00, excluding installation.
Smart toilets conserve water by sensing the appropriate amount needed for each flush, minimizing water use for cleaning the toilet bowl. However, they require power, either through electricity or batteries, to operate features like touch-free toilet seats and flushing!
Check out my post, "Why Buying a Smart Toilet is a Smart Move & Top Picks," for more reasons why a smart toilet is a great option for your bathroom.
How Much Water Can You Save With a Water-Saving Toilet?
According to the EPA, replacing your old regular toilet with a new water-saving toilet can reduce your household water usage by 20% to 60%, equivalent to 13,000 gallons of water per year per toilet!
Modern water-saving toilets must adhere to strict EPA standards and should all bear the WaterSense label as an endorsement. If your new toilet lacks this label, it's not a valid water-saving toilet.
Try the WaterSense calculator to determine how much water (and money) you'll save by choosing bathroom appliances with the WaterSense label.
While extra dollars every month would be welcome for most of us, a water-saving toilet offers numerous benefits, not just for your household but also for the environment.
The Advantages of a Water-Saving Toilet
While water-saving toilets may have a higher initial cost compared to regular toilets, their long-term benefits are both economical and environmentally friendly!
A water-saving toilet will save you money and prevent unnecessary water use. Regular toilets have only one setting – a full flush. They use the same amount of water to remove waste from the bowl.
In contrast, water-saving toilets offer a dual-flush option, using less water for liquid waste and more for solid waste. This prevents unnecessary bowl cleaning and water wastage.
Regular toilet bowls contain between 5 and 7 gallons of water. Modern water-saving toilets hold about 1.28 to 1.6 gallons. By upgrading to a water-saving toilet, you can significantly reduce your household water costs!
Consider a tankless toilet for even greater water savings.
Regular Toilets vs. Water-Saving Toilets
Water-saving toilets are more sustainable and eco-friendly than regular toilets. They are designed to use less water to remove contents from the bowl compared to regular toilets.
Here's a quick overview of the two toilet types:
| REGULAR TOILET | WATER-SAVING TOILET |
|---|---|
| Lower initial costs per unit but higher long-term cost | Higher initial costs per unit but lower long-term costs |
| $100.00 – $200.00 per unit | $120.00 – $13,000.00 per unit |
| $120.00 – $230.00 basic labor costs excluding remodeling costs | $200.00 – $350.00 basic installation excluding remodeling costs |
| 6.0 per flush | 1.28 or less per flush |
| None | 13,000 gallons annually per toilet |
| None | $140 per year per toilet |
In conclusion, water-saving toilets offer both financial savings and environmental benefits. While they may have a slightly higher upfront cost, the long-term advantages make them a wise choice for your home and our planet.