Bath Products Review: ToiletsThe latest toilets don't sacrifice performance to save water.

Ed Del Grande, master plumber and host of Ed the Plumber on the DIY Network, has been working with toilets for 25 years. He remembers the days when commodes used as much as 5 gallons per flush, and he survived the Dark Ages when 1.6-gpf units didn't work.

These days, he is delighted by the variety of new models that deliver better-than-ever water savings while providing customers with the clean bowls, bulk flushing, and plug-free performance they demand. "I never thought I would see toilets with such a powerful flush using so little water," Del Grande says.

Peter DeMarco, director of compliance engineering for American Standard, says the technology has changed so much that the term "low-flow" is a misnomer; new toilets work so quickly and at such a high flow rate that they're more efficient at using less water. "It's replacing the energy lost [by using less water] by accelerating the velocity and making sure we're not losing any of that power," he says.

With American Standard's Champion flushing system, for example, the direct flow of water from the tank impacts the bowl harder, DeMarco says. The system uses a 3-inch flush valve that creates 40 percent more power than a 2-inch valve, and a channel that directs water to sweep under the rim without losing energy.

Some manufacturers have other ways to add power. Sterling's Dual Force technology, for example, combines the siphon technology common in U.S. toilets with the wash-down method typically utilized in European models, in which water from the tank effectively pushes the contents of the bowl into the trapway. The "siphonic washdown" system allows the company to use a larger 2-1/2-inch trapway to prevent plugs, says John Brown, associate product manager for Sterling toilets. "It's the best characteristics of all technologies married together," he says.

Adding additional pressure or power inside the tank also can improve performance. Kohler's Pressure Assist technology uses compressed air inside the reservoir to push water faster and evacuate the tank quickly and efficiently, says Rob Zimmerman, senior staff engineer for water conservation initiatives at Kohler. The Power Lite flushing system uses a .2-hp motor and pump to provide a strong and uniform flush regardless of incoming water pressure.

For bulk flushing performance, Kohler's pressure-assist and gravity-flush toilets are the best, Zimmerman says, but if noise is a concern, the standard flush system is the quietest.

The Power of Choice
Despite the enhancements, the 1.6-gpf standard is becoming outmoded in the face of high-efficiency toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, and dual-flush toilets, which give users the option of a full flush for solid waste or a liquid flush that uses as little as .6 gallon.

Awareness of dual-flush toilets is picking up, especially in Western, Mountain, and Southern states where water use is an important concern. "It's more popular in areas where there is a drought or areas where water and sanitation is more expensive," Sterling's Brown says. "Customers who are interested in high-efficiency windows and appliances gravitate to the dual-flush-type toilet."

Steve Gragg, senior project manager for construction firm J.H. Kelly, expects significant water savings from the dual-flush toilets he is installing at a large apartment project in Portland, Ore. Because each toilet saves about 3,000 to 5,000 gallons of water per year, he thinks the building will conserve about 1 million gallons annually.

"It is a significant savings looking forward to future buildings using the same technology," he says, pointing out that the units are no more difficult to install than a standard water closet.

Water Counts
Pros want to impress their clients with every product they install, and the toilet is no exception. But neither water efficiency nor performance alone is enough to meet homeowner demands, according to Lenora Campos, public relations manager for Toto USA. "The marriage of performance and efficiency is key," she says.

A new EPA program called WaterSense, set to debut early this year, will help consumers identify products that are both highly water efficient and work with one flush. The voluntary program will label toilets that provide at least a 20 percent water savings over current codes (meaning toilets that flush using a maximum of 1.28 gpf will qualify) and that cannot be altered to consume more water.

"Providing an easily recognized label that indicates that the product meets certain minimum performance levels will give a [pro] an easy way to select truly water-efficient products," Campos says.

Kohler's Zimmerman adds that the standard also will give homeowners more confidence and help to weed underperforming toilets out of the marketplace. "Consumers have a whole lot more information on how toilets work and how they perform," he says.

With water use an increasing concern in most areas, builders can set themselves apart by providing their clients with an efficient toilet that eases their conscience--while leaving them confident in its performance.

--BUILDING PRODUCTS

Comforting Commode
Keep an eye out for these user-friendly and increasingly popular features:

• Elongated bowls. Longer bowls provide better sanitation, more comfort, and more symmetrical, appealing design. "No one regrets the decision," says John Brown, associate product manager for Sterling.

• Comfort heights. Toilets raised 2 to 3 inches to chair height require users to bend less and are ADA compliant.

• Concealed trapways. Creating a flat base makes cleaning easier by eliminating the curves and corners where dust can accumulate.

• Tool-free maintenance. Valves that disassemble by hand make repairs a quick process.

--J.L.

Briggs Maelstrom

Briggs. The Maelstrom features a flapperless, 3-inch flush valve that quietly empties its 1.6-gallon tank in three seconds, according to the manufacturer. The enlarged flush valve releases water through the extra-wide waterways with 40 percent more power than a 2-inch valve. 800-888-4458. www.briggsindustries.com.

Gerber Ultra Flush toilet with pressure-assist flushing

Gerber. The Ultra Flush pressure-assist flushing collection now includes the Ultra Dual-Flush 1.0-gpf/1.6-gpf toilet and the Ultra Flush 1.1-gpf toilet, both of which qualify as high-efficiency toilets. The technology uses the standard water supply to pressurize the air inside the tank and drive water into the bowl, providing superior waste removal and bowl cleaning, the maker says. 630-754-0278. www.gerberonline.com.

Toto USA Aquia Dual Flush toilet

Toto USA. The Aquia Dual Flush Toilet enables users to select a 1.6-gallon or .9-gallon flush. The gravity flush with a washdown system directs 100 percent of the water through the rim to keep the bowl clean, and the sides of the unit's bowl are steeply pitched to force water toward and through its large 2-5/8-inch trapway. 888-295-8134. www.totousa.com.

Neo-metro Metro-Urban toilet

Neo-metro. The Metro-Urban toilet is part of a collection of designer bath fixtures that utilize the classic look of stainless steel to achieve an institutional and minimalist character, according to the manufacturer. The toilet and cistern tank are manufactured entirely from heavy-gauge stainless steel. The product features an elongated bowl with top-mount holes pre-punched and threaded for a hinged seat. 800-591-9050. www.neo-metro.com.

Villeroy & Boch dual-flush water-saving toilet

Villeroy & Boch. The firm's dual-flush water-saving toilets have a two-part push-button flush control on top of the tank. The outer button provides .6 gallon, adequate for removing liquid waste, and the inner button provides a full 1.6-gallon flush, recommended for solid waste. The toilets also feature a 3-1/2-inch trap to prevent clogging. The Editionals model is pictured. 877-505-5350. www.villeroy-boch.com.

Vitra elongated Dual Flush toilet

Vitra. Dual Flush Technology gives users the choice of two separate flush volumes, .8 or 1.6 gpf. The toilets conserve 40 percent of water over single-flush 1.6-gpf systems, the manufacturer says. The elongated Dual Flush toilet measured at 800 grams on the Maximum Performance test and the round-front toilet measured at 475 grams. 877-658-4872. www.vitra-usa.com.

Kohler Cimarron Comfort Height 1.28-gpf toilet

Kohler. The Cimarron Comfort Height 1.28-gpf toilet saves nearly 1/3 gallon of water per flush over industry-standard 1.6-gpf toilets. The toilet uses a flapperless flush tower design that allows for easier actuation of the trip lever and prevents toilet "run-ons" better than traditional flappers. 800-456-4537. www.kohler.com.

Duravit Happy D. toilet

Duravit. The Happy D. toilet has classic clear-cut lines that bring to mind the distinctive shape of the letter "D." Form, function, and simplicity strike a balance in this design, and the toilet is defined by its generous, extended surface area, the manufacturer says. All the firm's models are available with a soft-closing toilet seat and use 1.6 gallons per flush. 888-387-2848. www.duravit.us.

Niagara Conservation's Flapperless 1.6 gpf toilet

Niagara Conservation. The Niagara Flapperless 1.6-gpf toilet uses maintenance-free flapperless technology that eliminates the need to replace flappers, chains, and levers, according to the manufacturer. The dip-bucket technology creates a high-performance flush at 1.6 gpf, which substantially decreases water consumption. The flapperless dip-bucket technology will be available in a 1.28-gpf high-efficiency toilet this year. 800-831-8383. www.niagaraconservation.com.

Saniflo Sanicompact 48 self-contained water closet

Saniflo. The Sanicompact 48 is a self-contained water closet that combines a macerating pump and an electronically activated toilet bowl into a single compact unit, making it ideal for tight spaces, according to the manufacturer. Measuring 14-3/4 inches wide and 21-3/4 inches deep, the toilet also conserves water, requiring only 1 gallon per flush. 800-571-8191. www.saniflo.com.

American Standard Cadet 3 toilet with EverClean

American Standard. The Cadet 3 toilet is coated with EverClean, a silver-based double-coat glaze that repels dirt by reducing adhesion of mineral deposits, according to the manufacturer. The toilet uses an oversized chemical-resistant flapper in the Flush Right system. The 3-inch flush valve, combined with a direct-fed jet, delivers a powerful water flow for exceptional flush performance, the firm says. 800-442-1902. www.americanstandard-us.com.

Sterling's Karsten toilet featuring Dual Force technology

Sterling. The Karsten toilet features Dual Force technology, with a two-button actuator that allows the user to choose between a 1.6-gallon and a .8-gallon flush. The flapperless flush valve maximizes the force of gravity for one-flush, bulk operation and ensures long-term operation and reliability, according to the manufacturer. A sanitary guard helps to prevent liquid from getting under the tank. 800-783-7546. www.sterlingplumbing.com.

Herbeau Dagobert

Herbeau. First introduced at the "Arts Menagers" fair in Paris in 1970, where it won first prize for most original entry, the Dagobert is outfitted with full armrests, a Gothic-arch back, cast iron candleholder, and an ashtray. The "throne" plays a musical chime when the lid is raised. 239-417-5368. www.herbeau.com.

The Newberry Compact Water Closet by Barclay

Barclay. The Newberry Compact Water Closet has an elongated front and a compact tank. It is available in white, bisque or black. The company also manufactures several other models, from Victorian style with a high-tank water closet, to a one-piece modern style. 847-244-1234. www.barclayproducts.com.