Alot of you have asked if the newer, 1.6 gal. toilets work as well as the old 5 gal. models.The question usually comes up during bathroom remodeling jobs or new construction. The answer is yes-if they're used for what they were intended. Gone are the days when you could flush just about anything. That's right, no more cigars, diapers, feminie hygiene products or bath toys.

The new 1.6 gal. and the old 5 gal. toilets actually operate the same way. They both employ gravity to work. A tank holds the water above the bowl and a lever opens a flush valve that allows water to rush into the bowl creating a vacuum that draws the waste out with it.

Not all 1.6 gal. toilets work the same way, however. There are three different systems. Some use a tank dam that fits around the flapper and permits only 1.6 gal. to flow into the bowl. Other models have an adjustable ballcock that cuts off the water supply after 1.6 gal. has been dispensed. The third type has a plastic bucket device inside the tank that restricts water flow to the top 50 to 75 percent of the tank reservoir, or, 1.6 gal. Most toilets have smaller tanks and a smaller diameter flushway than pre 1994 toilets.

The most common complaints we hear about the low volume toilets are sluggish or incomplete flushing, water spots or staining in the bowl and the need to double and sometime triple flush. The bowl and trap are designed to receive a specific amount of water with each flush. Many plumbers don't know that when they receive a toilet from the factory it may need to be properly adjusted after installation. If your low flush toilets are showing any of the symptoms mentioned above, give us a call for a tune-up. Proper use of the 1.6 gal. toilet can save the average household from $50 to $100 per year in water and wastewater bills.

The 1.6 gal. toilet is the law. It was mandated by the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and took effect for residential toilets in 1994 and commerical units in 1997.