Low-flow toilets have improved
Low-flow toilets save water, but they haven't always worked as well as homeowners would like.
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All right, I confess, I had to put that in because it made me LOL (which, like many people of my advanced age I used to think meant “lots of love” until I was informed by my nimble-thumbed nephew that it stands for “laugh out loud.” Somehow I think that says something about my comfort level with this topic.)
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Anyway, turns out, Mr. Barry’s complaints have been heard and heeded by industry and many of the issues that had been the bane of his bathroom have now been resolved. The Toiletology site notes:
…A recently published report by the Water Resources Research Center at The University of Arizona is supported by research. This report concludes that, despite the skepticism that greeted their introduction and a history of early problems, most low-consumption toilets are doing their job. Unfortunately, the research also shows that, over time, a significant fraction of the anticipated water savings is lost due to poor toilet design and performance modifications. Some of the modifications are inadvertent on the part of homeowners.
The plumbing site Terry Love is dedicated to helping consumers find which toilets are, in the site’s words, "Doing the job!" The site prides itself on its “in home testing”:
Consideration was given to plug resistance, completeness of flush, perception of sound levels, and price. Some testers use baby wipes, sponges, plastic balls and tubes to simulate how "we" use them. You can forget about those limitations here. This takes into account "miso paste" testing and homeowner testing.
Personally, I have no interest in understanding the” miso-paste” test, but Mr. Love’s list of toilets and their attributes is quite helpful. Here’s an example:
| Kohler K-3458 EL Kohler K-3544 ADA | Does the job! powerful flush, some bowl wash, noise may startle, but less than before. Commercial Grade |
Now this brings me back to my choice of a toilet for Sheep Dog Hollow. Of course, my first instinct led me to the elegant johns of St. Thomas Creations because of their design. But my plumber, Tony Silverio, who is also putting in our geothermal heating system, is a Toto fan precisely because of its ecologically sound low-flow flushing prowess.
Next: What wins, design or ecology, or both?
Editor’s note: Alexandra Marks blogs twice a week about her green and budget-friendly restoration of a 1902 farmhouse in Connecticut. Click here to find all her blog posts and articles.
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