Did you know that from 2007 to 2018, there were over 118 million tank-type toilets sold and installed in US homes? Of these, more than 80% had a flush rate of 1.6 GPF (gallons per flush) or less. Many of these water-conserving fixtures are pressure-assist toilets.
Also known as power flush toilets, these systems can use three to five times less water than old toilets. In fact, experts say these high-efficiency toilets (HETs) can lower toilet water usage by 20% to 60%! That translates to almost 13,000 gallons of water saved each year, cutting water bills by at least $100.
With all that said, consider going with a Flushmate® system-equipped toilet. Flushmate is a leading brand when it comes to pressure-assisted toilets. Some of the biggest names in the toilet industry, such as Sloan, rely on its technologies.
Still on the fence about these HETs? Read on then, so you can learn how a pressure-assist toilet benefits you and the environment.
What Are Pressure-Assist Toilets?
A pressure-assist toilet uses compressed air to enhance flushing power. The compressed air magnifies the force of standard gravity. This results in a more powerful flush that cleans and clears the bowl on the first flush.
By contrast, a traditional toilet relies only on the force of gravity. This is why many older toilets require double or even triple flushing.
How Do They Work?
Inside a pressure assist toilet tank is a sealed pressure tank that houses air and water. As the tank fills with water, the rising fluid level compresses the trapped air within the tank. When you flush the toilet, all that built-up pressure gets released with the water.
As a result, the extra pressure pushes the water out with more force. That’s why power flush toilets are capable of getting your toilet clean on the first try.
The Clear Benefits of Flushmate-Equipped Pressure-Assist Toilets
Reports found that Flushmate systems reduced daily water usage in apartments by 57%. This decrease then led to a 46% drop in the tenants’ water costs. What’s more, they reported a dramatic shrinkage in their need for maintenance calls.
Flushmate pressure-assist toilets aren’t just for multi-housing units, though. They are also capable of servicing facilities as large as the Sequoia National Park. Of course, even residential properties, such as single-family units, can reap their benefits.
On that note, let’s take a deeper look at their financial and environmental benefits.
Initial Water Savings
Flushmate systems have flow rates of 1.1 GPF, 1.28 GPF, or 1.6 GPF. That alone means they are far more efficient than older toilets, some of which flush at a rate of 3.5 to 7.0 GPF!
Now, keep in mind that the average US consumer flushes the toilet five times a day. So, it’s no wonder that almost a fourth of their daily water use goes toward flushing alone.
Doing the math, a toilet with a 3.5 GPF rate uses 17.5 gallons of water in total for five flushes a day. This sums up to a yearly 6,388 gallons of water for flushing per person.
If you go with a Flushmate-equipped toilet, your daily average can shrink to just 5 to 8 gallons. Within a year, you would have only used 1,825 to 2,920 gallons for flushing.
As you can see, there’s such a clear and stark difference that Flushmate systems make. This alone should be enough reason to go with its power flush system when getting a new toilet.
Outstanding Cleaning Efficiency
The vigorous flushing action created by the Flushmate system ensures efficient waste removal. This powerful flushing force generates a longer drain carry. In this way, they bring waste by up to 60 feet in drain pipes.
This is 33% higher than the American National Standards Institute recommendation. The current ANSI recommendation for drain line carry is only 40 feet.
The extra “punch” of Flushmate systems also gets rid of the need for double flushing. This results in even more savings in the long run.
More Powerful Flushes, Fewer Risks of Clogs
Between 23,000 to 75,000 sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) incidents occur in the US each year. While inclement weather plays a huge role in SSOs, incorrect waste disposal is just as big a culprit. A perfect example is pouring fats, oil, and grease (FOG) down your drains.
In toilets, flushing stuff outside of the “three Ps” (poop, pee, and tissue paper) can lead to drain clogs. Even a small blockage in your toilet drain lines can already result in water backups.
Not only is this disgusting, but it’s also a severe health risk, as wastewater is full of pathogens. Scientists say it can house 1,000 to 10 million viral particles. That’s on top of all the bacteria, parasites, and protozoans it also contains.
The thing is, the older your toilets are, the less efficient they are in dislodging waste in pipes. That’s why clogs and water backups are common in standard gravity toilets.
This is one of the issues that the best toilets with pressure-assist technologies can fix. Again, that’s because they deliver an extra punch when it comes to flushing power. The more powerful flush they bring helps to break up waste materials.
The smaller the waste particles, the lower their odds of getting trapped in narrow pipes. The higher pressure can also help dislodge existing minor clogs in drain lines.
Of course, you should still stick to flushing only the three Ps even once you have a Flushmate system. This way, you can keep your home’s entire plumbing system healthy and clog-free.
Ease of Maintenance and Part Replacement
Gravity toilets have many moving parts, such as float and tank balls, chains, and trip levers. For this reason, they require more maintenance and frequent part replacements. All those movable parts also raise their risks for developing leaks.
Indeed, standard toilet leaks can waste more than one gallon of water in an hour. It’s worse if the leak occurs due to a broken ballcock, which is the part that refills the tank after every flush.
Pressure assist toilets have fewer moving parts, so they need less servicing. This also makes the cost of ownership less over the life of the toilet.
Speaking of replacements, pressure-assist toilet components are widely available. This is especially true for Flushmate, seeing as top brands use its systems in their toilets. You can order Flushmate parts anytime online.
Found in Leading Toilet Brands
Mansfield sells over 40 different pressure-assist toilets that rely on Flushmate systems. Sloan also offers over 30 models of pressure-assist toilets with Flushmate. Dozens of models from Sloan, Kohler, Gerber, and ProFlo also come equipped with Flushmate.
Other brands that sell Flushmate inside their power flush toilets include:
- Lamosa
- Corona
- Seasons
- Western Pottery
The Sloan Pressure-assist toilet is available online at the Flushmate parts store.
All these prove that Flushmate is a trusted name in the pressure-assist toilet sector. This high utility rate further demonstrates the increasing demand for such water-conserving technology. It also debunks the myth that Flushmate parts and services are difficult to obtain.
Ideal for Both Older and New Homes
More than half of US homes occupied today are over 40 years old. Many of these properties still rely on their original plumbing systems. If your abode is one of these, you most likely need to flush twice (or even more) to get the cleanest bowl possible.
Power flush toilets with Flushmate can help you stop using so much water for flushing alone. Their pressurized flush can push more stubborn and bigger waste through old pipes.
Flushmate systems are also ideal for newer homes that prioritize green practices. In fact, you may qualify for government rebates if you swap out your old toilets with HETs! In SoCal, for instance, premium high-efficiency toilet rebates start at $40 per toilet.
No Condensation Issues
Condensation is one of the most common issues with traditional toilet tanks. This occurs when the humidity levels rise, so the outside of the tank ends up with a lot of water droplets. This may seem like a minor concern, but it’s not, as high indoor humidity can affect indoor air quality.
For starters, molds love environments with humidity levels of 70% or higher. In such conditions, they can take as little as 24 to 48 hours to proliferate. For this reason, bathrooms are always a prime breeding ground for molds and mildew.
Molds are disgusting as-is, but experts say that they also contribute to 40% of asthma attacks in US homes. At the very least, they can release their spores into the air and trigger allergies. They can also induce sneezing or wheezing in people who don’t have allergies or asthma.
Outside of molds, constant condensation from toilet tanks can lead to water damage. The water droplets can ruin your bathroom flooring and even cause rotting. Dampness also attracts pests and vermin, including dreaded rodents and cockroaches.
Flushmate-equipped pressure-assist toilets don’t have condensation problems. That’s because they keep the water trapped within their pressure tank. This tank-inside-tank design prevents warm, damp air from forming droplets outside the tank.
Largest Water Surface Area
According to studies, unhealthy fats constitute 12% of the average American’s daily calories. That’s 2% more than the recommended limit. Aside from being far from healthy, high-fat diets also causes sticky, hard-to-flush stools.
With that said, your goal should be to minimize your intake of unhealthy fats. However, know that your old toilet may also be making it easier for stools to stick to the bowl’s sides. That’s because traditional toilet bowls have limited water surface areas.
Flushmate-equipped toilets feature 50% more water surface area. That’s the largest in the industry. Since there’s more water in the bowl, there’s a lower chance for stools to cling to its sides.
This, plus the pressurized flush, makes it easier to keep your toilets clean. Even if some waste does stick to the bowl’s side, the powerful flush can quickly clear it out.
Affordability
Pressure-assisted toilets do come with a higher price tag than standard gravity ones. However, they only cost an average of $100 more than comparable gravity toilets. That may be high, but that’s only a fraction of what you can otherwise save in the long run.
Remember: you can save at least $100 each year on your water bills if you use a power flush toilet. This means you can already recoup that extra $100 you paid within a single year.
Moreover, Flushmate systems don’t experience flush volume reductions. That’s why they’re able to sustain their water-saving ability over their service life. For the same reason, you get to save more of your money in the long run.
Longer Warranties
Flushmate offers a five-year warranty on all its pressure-assisted technology. Other brands offer as little as one-year warranties on their residential offers. That should tell you how Flushmate is far more confident in the quality of its products.
Any Drawback at All?
One thing about Flushmate systems is that you can’t retrofit them to a non-pressure assist toilet. This means you can’t install them in a standard gravity toilet.
However, you can upgrade an existing pressure-assist toilet with a Flushmate system. This makes them ideal for bathroom renovations.
Note, too, that pressure-assist toilets produce a different sound than gravity toilets. You may hear a more distinctive “whoosh” when flushing a Flushmate-equipped toilet. If you think of all the water- and money-saving benefits they deliver, though, that sound is more than worth it.
Flushmate: The Green Way to Flush and Save More of Your Green
There you have it, your ultimate guide on Flushmate-equipped pressure-assist toilets. As you can see, they are among your best water-conserving toilet system options. With these in your home, you can reduce your water use, which means you also get to save more of your Benjamins.
Ready to invest in high-efficiency toilets that use Flushmate technology? Then be sure to check out this extensive list of Flushmate-using power flush toilets!
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