Water-saving toilets can reduce bill by $120 a year
Q. We are remodeling both bathrooms and will need new toilets. One old toilet leaks and the other does not flush well. What is the best type of new water-saving toilet that flushes effectively?
A. It is not difficult to repair a leaky toilet with a repair kit from any hardware store. Since you are remodeling and want the best decor, you might as well install a new water-saving model. Flushing old standard toilets accounts for the greatest water usage for a typical family.
Your older toilets probably use either 5 or 3.5 gpf (gallons per flush). With ever increasing water rates, a family can save more than $120 per year by installing new toilets. If you can find a low-cost, two-piece (tank and bowl separate) toilet, the savings can pay back its cost in one year. Be sure to measure the setback from the wall so it matches the existing plumbing.
It has not been possible to buy a toilet with a gpf above 1.6 for many years. This is a federal standard. There are many toilets now that use 1.28 gpf and some expensive ones use only 1.1 gpf. They utilize newer designs of internal water flow passages to create an effective flushing action. The water flowing into the bowl cleans it, but does not actually "flush" out the bowl. A suction action inside the internal passages sucks the wastes out and down the drain.
The most economical design is a 1.6- or 1.28-gpf gravity-type toilet. These provide an effective flush and are quiet, which is ideal for a master bathroom. Stylish one-piece designs are more expensive, but they do not flush better than cheaper two-piece ones. Another advantage of a two-piece design is it's easier to carry and handle during installation.
Another water-saving option is a dual-flush toilet. It uses about 1 gpf for liquids and 1.6 gpf for solids. Since most flushes are for liquids, the savings can be substantial. Some designs use a dual-action flush handle on top of the tank. Others use a standard flush handle and you move it either up or down to select the type of flush.
If one of your bathrooms is not in a location where noise is a problem, install a pressure-assist model. These are often used in public restrooms and flush forcefully with low water usage. The incoming water compresses air in a small chamber hidden inside the tank. When flushed, this air creates a louder, very rapid effective flush.
Also consider installing a urinal if there are men in your family. A urinal uses less than 1 gpf. Residential models are not as large as ones in public restrooms. Some residential urinals collapse and are hidden in the wall.
When adding a new bathroom or moving the plumbing in a house on a slab, installing the drain can be a problem. A macerating toilet will grind up the waste when flushed and then pump it up to an existing drain. This also is effective for basements.
The following companies offer water-saving toilets: American Standard, (800) 442-1902, www.americanstandard-us.com; Briggs Plumbing, (800) 888-4458, www.briggsplumbing.com; Kohler, (800) 456-4537, www.kohler.com; Saniflo, (800) 571-8191, www.saniflo.com; and Toto, (888) 295-8134, www.totousa.com.
Q. I might put mirror tiles on an outside wall to reflect and keep heat indoors. We did this as Boy Scouts with aluminum foil to reflect the fire's heat into the tent. Is this effective?
A. Mirrors will not function the same as aluminum foil by the fire. Mirrors reflect visible light, but not heat energy. Bright aluminum foil reflects both heat and light.
If you want mirrors and more wall insulation, try stapling aluminum foil loosely to the wall. Place shallow furring strips over it and attach the mirror tiles to the strips. This creates the necessary air space to make the foil's heat reflective properties effective.
• Write to James Dulley at 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit dulley.com.