When the first flush toilets were designed, there was no thought given to water conservation. The main goal was to make sure the contents of the bowl were fully rinsed away with one flush. The very first patent in America for the toilet was given in 1857. It was referred to as a “plunger closet”. This idea was perfected sixty years afterwards with the introduction of the vortex flushing bowl in 1907 which brought water in underneath the rim and created a circular motion that cleared the sides while cleaning the bowl. This is basically the same style we use today. All was great in the Kingdom of Commodes.
In the early nineties, however, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 1992 requiring that manufacturers produce toilets that use less water. By 1994, any new toilet installed in a residence or business could only use 1.6 gallons per flush. Formerly, toilets used about 3.5 gallons. Although this was a great move for conserving water, the reality was that shoppers didn’t want the newly redesigned toilets since they just didn’t flush effectively. In fact, some models took 2-3 flushes to clear the bowl, effectively using as much or more water than a traditional flush toilet and negating the reason they were made to start with.
It didn’t take the industry long to determine that they needed a better product. Manufacturers worked on the design and made what we currently call HETs or High Efficiency Toilets. These new toilets use even less water per flush (1.28 gallons or less) and work much better. Some are pressure assisted and the Duoset model even features two buttons to give you the option of using two flush levels. If it is just liquid being flushed, the smallest quantity can be utilized to further conserve water.
There are many designs to choose from and as is the case with any product or service, some are superior to others. Most are readily available through home improvement stores but several brands are strictly sold by plumbing companies. Check with your local plumber to ask them which model they advocate. They can tell you which ones are loud, which flush the best, clog the least, etc. There is a rating system for flush toilets based on a MaP score (Maximum Performance). The EPA says a minimal score of 350 is the lowest score acceptable for HETs. The top score is 1,000. Naturally, prices vary greatly, so compare, do your homework and you’ll locate the correct toilet in the right price range for you.
