MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
That’s my main concern—older plumbing and borderline pipe sizes. I’ve read pressure-assist models can be rough on fragile pipes over time. Has anyone actually seen long-term issues, or is that just overblown? I’m weighing cost of possible repairs vs. water savings...
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
I get where you’re coming from—my house was built in the late 70s and the pipes aren’t exactly “modern.” But honestly, I think the pressure-assist thing gets a bit overhyped. We went with a gravity-fed dual flush model instead of pressure-assist, mostly because I was nervous about the same stuff (plus, those pressure ones are LOUD). Haven’t had any issues with clogs or leaks, and it’s been almost three years now.
The water savings are real, though. Our bill dropped noticeably after swapping out the old toilet. If you’re worried about your pipes, maybe skip the pressure-assist and look at some of the newer gravity models—they’re way more efficient than they used to be. I’d say unless your plumbing is super fragile or you’ve got tree roots in your lines or something, it’s probably not as risky as people make it sound... but yeah, I wouldn’t go for the most aggressive flush system either.
MAKING THE SWITCH TO WATER-SAVING TOILETS: WORTH IT?
The water savings are real, though. Our bill dropped noticeably after swapping out the old toilet.
That’s encouraging to hear, especially about the gravity-fed dual flush models. I’ve been researching options, but I keep circling back to cost—some of these newer toilets aren’t exactly cheap upfront. I’m all for saving on the water bill, but I wonder how long it actually takes to break even when you factor in the purchase and installation costs. Did you notice a payback within the first year or did it take a bit longer?
Also, I’m curious if anyone’s run into issues with finding replacement parts for these newer models. I’ve heard some brands make it tricky, which could add to long-term costs. Anyone had to do repairs or maintenance yet? Sometimes I worry that the savings get eaten up by unexpected fixes down the road...
I wonder how long it actually takes to break even when you factor in the purchase and installation costs.
That’s been my hang-up too. I did the math for my place and, honestly, it looked like it’d take at least a couple years before I’d actually see the savings outweigh what I spent upfront. Maybe longer if you count installation. Has anyone else noticed that the cheaper models are more prone to weird flushing issues? I’m all for efficiency, but I don’t want to be dealing with clogs every other week.
Has anyone else noticed that the cheaper models are more prone to weird flushing issues?
I ran into this exact problem with a budget model in my last apartment—constant clogs, super frustrating. Ended up spending more on a plumber than I saved. For my new place, I went mid-range and haven’t had a single issue. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more upfront just for peace of mind.
