Looking At A Low Price High Efficiency Toilets

Within the last 2 years, more and more toilet manufacturers have been coming up with models called “high efficiency toilets , which means they use 1.28 gallons of water per flush or less. While many manufacturers now make that claim about their toilets, that doesn’t prove that the toilets works properly, or that they are comfortable to sit on, or that they won’t cause clogs. So wary consumers are checking closely on consumer review sites; and are checking with their plumber, before going out to buy one of these high efficiency toilet models.

In addition to the leading competitors such as Toto, American Stand and Gerber, the market is now seeing lower priced generic “high efficiency toilets,” being pushed by large chains such as Home Depot. To give an example of the price reduction, A High Efficiency Toto model might sell in the $300 dollar range. The Pegasus at Home Depot sells for $150.00. Unfortunately, reviews on consumer sites indicate that these cheap generic “high efficiency toilets,” don’t work.

I read through reviews on a consumer review site looking at what people think about the Pegasus flapperless toilet. Most of the consumers felt that the design of this inexpensive toilet was marred. So much so that water was seeping out the back of the tank on every flush.

Many people were able to fix that problem, but then other consumers were complaining about the seat design. Because of the method of fixing the seat to the throne of the toilet, the seat was loose. Skilled DYIs were able to fix the seat problem, however then they had to face the real problem.

The reviewers’ experience points out that we must be wary of inexpensive high efficiency toilets. The story should not, however, dissuade people form shopping around for high efficiency toilets. Reviews about the Toto and the American Standard and several other HET models, have, on the whole been good. However, these toilets cost more, and will begin in the $200-$300 hundred dollar range.

The more expensive HETS work because of the sophisticated technology they are using to flush with less water. This point is illustrated by the following description of a Toto flush, taken off a consumer website:

” The primary nozzle, located at the back of the bowl, fires a high-speed stream of water that scours the rim and initiates the water’s cyclone movement. A second nozzle, located behind the first, fires a second high-speed water jet around the redesigned bowl’s concave rim, providing a 360-degree rim and bowl cleansing. At the same time, the siphon jet harnesses the accelerating power of this rapidly rotating column of water for speedy waste removal. But this enhanced technology comes at a higher price, of course.”

This is a much more complex technology than earlier toilets had. Obviously purchasing one is going to cost more money. So while recognizing that any product which has been on the market for a while, may eventually come out in a cost saving form, consumer reviews do not yet indicate this is the case with the High Efficiency Toilets. Consumers shopping for a HET that really works, should be prepared to shell out more money.