Is it Time to Upgrade Your Toilet?

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Posted on 08/12/2020 by Gabriel Halimi

Toilets, when they’re not working correctly, are proven to be the biggest water wasters in your home. Toilets contribute to over 24% of the water usage in the average American household. And when they’re inconspicuously leaking, they can waste up to 200 gallons per day! If your water bill seems suspiciously high, it’s hard to point your finger at the culprit (unless you’ve wisely installed a Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff in your home).

Here are a few telltale signs it’s time to upgrade your toilet to a newer, water-efficient model.

It uses too much water per flush

Older toilet models from 1990 or earlier can use up to 6 gallons per flush. Think about that. At 6-12 flushes per day, you’re losing 72 gallons per day down the toilet. And the numbers could be greater if your toilet is leaking which is common in older toilets. This excess water loss is undoubtedly causing a costly spike in your water bill.

If you’re unsure how much water is used per flush, check behind the seat on the bowl. It will be labeled as “gpf” (gallons per flush). The latest federal standards call for no greater than 1.6 gpf, but there are even more water-efficient toilets that work at 1.28 gpf which are more powerful and save an additional 20% per flush.

If your toilet regularly clogs and breaks down

When your toilet is in constant need of repair and unclogging, this is a sign it’s time to upgrade. Oftentimes when toilets have minor leaks, you may just need to replace the flapper valve, chain, or other hardware in the tank. But even after these repairs have been made, if your toilet is still plagued with recurring clogs, you probably need to upgrade to a toilet with better flush performance. If you’re considering replacing your toilet check out EPA-certified toilets and WaterSense models which start as low as $200.

Get a leak detection system

Installing a water monitoring and leak detection system like Flo by Moen in your home will help you save significant money in the long-run. Not only will it detect water-guzzling toilets and tank leaks, it will alert you to all leaks in your home, from the indetectable to the catastrophic.

You’ll also know the impact of every fixture and appliance in your home, with options to set water conservation goals and track your progress. And if there is a huge leak or plumbing failure that threatens the safety of your home, Flo will automatically turn off the water supply for you.

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