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How to Make Your Toilet More Efficient

papa0s0 | Mar 15, 2010 |

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With skyrocketing populations and growing droughts in many parts of the world, it should come as no surprise that water has become a vital resource that is rapidly dwindling. Your own home is likely no exception since the average American household uses nearly 70 gallons of water every single day (according to the American Water Works Association). One of the biggest culprits of water waste in the home, second only to the shower, is the toilet. Whether you are interested in doing your part to save the planet or simply save money on your utility bill, here are a few ways to make your toilet more efficient and lower your toilet's water usage.

Things You Will Need

* Low-flow Toilet
* Brick
* Energy-efficient mindset

Step 1

Reduce Water in the Tank

Every time a conventional toilet is flushed, water fills into the bowl from the tank. Then, the tank fills up with water again to be used for the next flush. Subsequently, a lot of water is wasted every time the toilet is flushed. To reduce the amount of water that fills the tank each time the toilet is flushed, place a brick or a sealable bag filled with sand in the tank. This will displace a lot of the water used to fill the tank and the water will shut off sooner.

Step 2

Think Low Flow

When your old toilet kicks the curb or it's simply time to upgrade, look for Toto toilets (such as the UltraMax model) that are low flow and high efficiency. While they may have incurred a bad rap early on (since they didn't flush waste very effectively in a single flush), these days low flow toilets are just as powerful and efficient as conventional ones. Plus, they only use 1.6 gallons of water per flush.

Step 3

Selective Flushing

This method to cut water waste via the toilet is certainly not for the faint of heart but it is one that is gaining momentum among the most dedicated eco-friendly enthusiasts out there. The method is quite simple but highly effective: avoid flushing the toilet when liquid waste is passed and only flush when there is solid waste. While sanitation concerns may certainly arise, there's no denying the selective flushing method can drastically reduce water waste.
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Tips & Warnings

Aside from trying to conserve water from toilet use, try reducing water waste in these other common household areas: baths/showers, washing machine, cleaning dishes, watering the lawn, etc.