Not all homes are capable of taking advantage of some of the newer high-efficiency plumbing solutions, like low flow toilets, designed to reduce water consumption. Older Homes were designed with the assumption that a toilet flush would need 3 gallons of water to carry away waste. Low flow toilets use about half that water to accomplish the same task, so there is a chance that plumbing in some older homes can’t work properly with that low volume.
Challenges of Older Homes & Low Flow Toilets
Pipe Slopes
One of the challenges in older homes is the waste drain beneath the toilet needs to have a 1/8-in to 1/4-slope per foot of water required to carry solid waste to the sewer system. If the water drain falls outside this variance, meaning they are too steep or too level, the flow of water may begin to build up and clog the lines.
Most Systems Are Capable
While most homes have plumbing that will support low flow toilets, there are a couple warning signs which indicate your system may have problems
Your current toilet backs up occasionally, even when solid waste wasn’t flushed. This problem could be the result of a clogged waste line.
You can see standing water in the waste line when the toilet is lifted off the floor so you can check the drain.
If you see either symptom, notify KC’s plumbing to check the problem and determine if your system will handle a low flow toilet before committing to purchase one. One solution is to install a fixture with a pressure-assisted flush mechanism that uses water pressure to charge a compressed air tank to ensure delivery to the sewer system.
