MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
I’ve specified a bunch of these for projects, and honestly, the double-flushing thing depends a lot on the model. Some of the cheaper ones just don’t have the right flush power, and yeah, you end up flushing twice—kind of defeats the point. But with the better brands, I haven’t had many complaints from clients. Curious if anyone’s actually tracked their water bill before and after? I’ve seen savings, but it’s not always dramatic unless you’ve got a big household.
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
- You’re spot on about the double-flush issue. I’ve seen that too—if you go cheap, you end up using more water anyway. The higher-end models with better engineering really do make a difference.
- I’ve tracked water bills for a couple of multifamily retrofits. Savings were noticeable, but yeah, not mind-blowing unless there’s heavy usage. In single-family homes, it’s more subtle, but still adds up over a year.
- Maintenance is another thing to watch. Some of the ultra-low flow toilets can be pickier about what they’ll handle, so clogs are a bit more common if folks aren’t careful.
- That said, I’d still say it’s worth it for most projects—especially when you factor in rebates or incentives from local utilities. Plus, less water down the drain is always a win in my book.
- If you’re specifying for clients, steering them toward reputable brands is key. The upfront cost is higher, but the long-term headaches are way less.
It’s not a silver bullet for water savings, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Maintenance is another thing to watch. Some of the ultra-low flow toilets can be pickier about what they’ll handle, so clogs are a bit more common if folks aren’t careful.
That’s exactly what’s made me hesitate on some projects. If you’re dealing with higher tenant turnover or properties where people aren’t as careful, do the maintenance headaches ever outweigh the water savings? I’ve seen a few cases where constant calls about clogs ended up costing more than the water bill reduction. Curious if anyone’s actually run the numbers on that tradeoff.
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
You’re not wrong—maintenance can sneak up on you, especially in multi-unit buildings. I’ve run the numbers a few times, and honestly, the savings look great on paper, but if you’re getting regular calls for clogs, it eats into that fast. Some newer models are better, but it really depends on the tenant mix and how much you trust folks to use them right. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront for a higher-quality low-flow unit pays off in fewer headaches down the line.
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
I get where you’re coming from about maintenance. When we built our place last year, I was all in on the eco-friendly stuff—low-flow everything, rain barrels, the whole shebang. The water-saving toilets were a bit of a leap of faith, honestly. My partner was skeptical, kept picturing us with plungers in hand every other week.
Fast forward—first couple months were smooth. Then, out of nowhere, my sister comes to visit for a week with her two little kids and suddenly…clogs. I’m talking three times in five days. It was like the universe wanted to test my commitment to saving water. We figured out pretty quick that these toilets are not fans of “excessive” toilet paper (thanks, nephews). After they left and we went back to our regular habits, the problems basically disappeared.
What I’ve noticed is it’s so much about how people use them. If you’ve got folks who treat the toilet like a trash can or just love their TP, you might be in for some trouble. But for us, once we adjusted and learned their quirks, it’s been fine. Honestly, I kind of like the challenge of making little changes for sustainability—even if it means having that awkward “please flush twice if needed” sign when guests come over.
I do agree though—some brands are way better than others. We cheaped out on one bathroom and spent more in time and frustration than we saved upfront. If I had to do it again, I’d splurge on the higher-end model everywhere just to avoid that hassle.
At the end of the day, I think it’s worth it if you’re up for a tiny bit of adaptation... but yeah, maybe not if you’re running an apartment building with lots of tenants who don’t care how things work. It’s one of those “know your crowd” situations for sure.
