Gravity toilets?

[Edward S]

We are remodeling two bathrooms and will need new toilets.

One toilet leaks and the other does not flush well.

What is the best type of new water-saving toilet that flushes effectively?

[home improvement guy]

It isn’t difficult to repair a leaky toilet with a repair kit from any hardware store. Since you are remodeling and want the best décor, you might as well install a new water-saving model. Flushing old toilets accounts for the greatest water usage for a typical family.

Your older toilets probably use 5 or 3.5 gallons per flush. With ever-increasing water rates, a family can save more than $120 a year by installing new toilets. If you can find a low-cost two-piece (tank and bowl separate) toilet, the savings can pay back the cost in a year. Be sure to measure the setback from the wall so it matches the existing plumbing.

It has not been possible to buy a toilet with a gpf that’s less than 1.6 for many years. This is a federal standard. There are many toilets now that use 1.28 gpf, and some expensive ones use 1.1. They utilize newer designs of internal water flow passages to create an effective flushing action. The water flowing into the bowl cleans it but does not actually “flush” out the bowl. A suction action inside the internal passages sucks the wastes out and down the drain.

The most economical design is a 1.6- or 1.28-gpf gravity-type toilet. These provide an effective flush and are quiet, which is ideal for a master bathroom. Stylish one-piece designs are more expensive, but they don’t flush better than cheaper two-piece ones. Another advantage of a two-piece design is that it’s easier to carry and handle during installation.

Another water-saving option is a dual-flush toilet. It uses about 1 gpf for liquids and 1.6 gpf for solids. Since most flushes are for liquids, the savings can be substantial. Some designs use a dual-action flush handle on top of the tank. Others use a standard flush handle that you move up or down to select the type of flush.

If one of your bathrooms is not in a location where noise is a problem, install a pressure-assist model. These are often used in public restrooms and flush forcefully with low water usage. The incoming water compresses air in a small chamber hidden inside the tank. When flushed, this air creates a louder, rapid effective flush.

Also consider installing a urinal if there are men in your family. A urinal uses less than 1 gpf. Residential models aren’t as large as ones in public restrooms. Some residential urinals collapse and are hidden in the wall.

When adding a new bathroom or moving the plumbing in a house on a slab, installing the drain can be a problem. A macerating toilet will grind up the waste when flushed and then pump it up to an existing drain. This also is effective for basements.

The following companies offer water-saving toilets: American Standard, 1-800-442-1902, Americanstandard-us.com; Briggs Plumbing, 1-800-888-4458, Briggsplumbing.com; Kohler, 1-800-456-4537, Kohler.com; Saniflo, 1-800-571-8191, Saniflo.com; and Toto, 1-888-295-8134, Totousa.com.