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Let’s Talk Toilets!

Toilets account for almost 30% of residential indoor water use in the United States.

Toilets are also a major source of wasted water due to leaks and inefficiency. In a home that was built prior to 1993 it is most likely that the toilet uses 3.5 gallons or more for every single flush (in Dekalb County alone, approx. 165,000 homes were built prior to 1993 – there are approx. 1 Mio. Homes in the Greater Atlanta area that still have old, inefficient toilets in use). Experts say that the minimum needed to meet the basic human needs of drinking, cooking and hygiene is five gallons of clean water per person per day. It’s far from enough to ensure health and well-being-just enough to get by. Do we really need to flush down that much each time we go “Number One”?

In the beginning of modern toilets there was the seven-gallon flushing porcelain lavatory. Then there was the low-flush toilet. And by the time you’d flushed several times the bowl was “clear” and you had flushed more water than you did with the faithful lavatory.

Then there was the new and improved low-flush toilet, which was better but still not what always got the job done. And finally, the High-Efficiency toilet arrived; you now have your choice of flushing as little as .8 gallons with dual flush toilets. The best part is that they really work!

What Are High-Efficiency Toilets?

Under federal law, toilets must not exceed 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). High-efficiency toilets (HETs) go beyond the standard and use less than 1.3 gpf. The WaterSense label will be used on HETs that are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only HETs that complete the third-party certification process can earn the WaterSense label.

Do High Efficiency Toilets Work?

Everyone is concerned about the performance of low-flow toilets. Do they clear the bowl and leave it clean? Do they stop up frequently? Unlike the first 1.6 gallon / flush toilets, WaterSense HETs combine high efficiency with high performance. Advances in toilet design permit WaterSense HETs to save water without loss of flushing power. In fact, many perform better than standard toilets in consumer testing.

How Much Water and Money Do HETs Save?

High efficiency toilets save you money by reducing your water and wastewater costs. Over the course of a lifetime, an average person flushes the toilet nearly 140,000 times. If you install a WaterSense HET, you can save 4,000 gallons per year and your children can each save about a third of a million gallons during their lifetime. If a family of four replaces one 3.5 gpf toilet made between 1980 and 1994 with a WaterSense toilet, they can save $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet. If the toilet being replaced was made before 1980, it uses 5 gallons per flush so the savings will be much greater. If you’d like to calculate how much water you can save try the water savings calculator on www.ecotransitions.com.

With these savings, new high-efficiency toilets can pay for themselves in only a few years. Even better, many local utilities offer substantial rebates for replacing old toilets with HETs. Detailed information on the rebates available in Georgia can be found here Rebates in Georgia.

What are Dual Flush toilets?

Dual flush toilets offer a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. They can save up to 40% (approx. 4600 gallons) compared to today’s standard 1.6-gallon single flush toilets. On an average of 4/1 uses a day, Dual Flush toilets have the lowest water consumption of all – 0.96 Gallons per flush. Caroma, an Australian manufacturer that invented the Dual Flush technology manufactures award winning toilets that are both user friendly and, with a full 4″ trap way, virtually blockage-free! Wouldn’t that be nice to be able to finally kiss the plunger good bye? Beware of some products reducing the amount of water flushed to use with your existing toilet. Existing bowls are not designed to perform with reduced amounts of water, so the likelihood of clogging your toilet while you are trying to flush paper and solid waste increases drastically.

Select a WaterSense Labeled High-Efficiency Toilet!

Whether you are remodeling a bathroom, beginning construction of a new house, or just want to replace an old, leaky toilet, a WaterSense labeled HET is your best bet. Look for the WaterSense label on any toilet you buy. If every home in the United States replaced just one old toilet with a new HET, we would save almost one trillion (spelled with a T) gallons of water per year, equal to more than two weeks of the water flowing over Niagara Falls!

Note that some manufacturers offer high-efficiency and ordinary models with very similar names, so be sure and look for the WaterSense label. A list of WaterSense labeled High-Efficiency Toilets can be found here List of WaterSense labeled HET’s published by the EPA.

Where can I find a HET?To find WaterSense partners and resources in your area, please follow the link and click on your state below or choose from the list that follows. EPA - Where you live

 

For a watersavings calculator and more information on Dual Flush toilets please visit www.ecotransitions.com.

Home Warranties are Great for First Time Home Buyers

In December of 2007 I purchased my first house, which was also a foreclosure.  Per the advice of my Realtor, Brenda Richterkessing, I purchased a home warranty which was paid for by the seller at closing.  Since the property was a foreclosure and had some older home systems (outdoor AC unit, furnace, refridgerator, and a few others) the home warranty made a lot of sense to purchase.  In addition, I had limited funds after making this major purchase.  If I were to have an unpredicted major expense to repair or replace something I would be up a creek!  The Old Republic Home Warranty that I have on my home systems, appliances, and swimming pool have saved me from numerous financial crisises.

Home warranties help you budget for the repair and replacement of major home systems and appliances.  Most home warranties will cover Plumbng, Electrical, HVAC systems and kitchen appliances.  In addition, many hom warranty companies provide optional coverage choices that can be purchased to “custom fit” the Plan to the unique needs of your home.  This means that you could also include your swimming pool or roof in the plan as well!

There are many home warranty companies to choose from…I recommend using either Old Republic Home Warranty or American Homeshield Home Warranty.  Most home warranty company’s offer a basic/standard plan that typically ranges from $350 to $500 per year with a fee per service call between $55-$75. 

Here’s how a home warranty works:

• You pay an annual rate to cover your home’s systems and appliances (renewable each year)
• You can opt to have additional coverage to “custom fit” the plan to your home
• The plan you choose will determine the deductible that you will pay each time a service technician comes to your property
• When a home system or appliance needs to be repaired or replaced you contact the home warranty company and inform them of the problem
• The home warranty company will provide you with the contact information of a preferred vendor that will contact you to setup an appointment
• The service technician will usually be out to your house within 24-48hrs.
• If needed repair or replacement is covered by your plan, then you pay your deductible ammount and the home warranty covers the remaining balance
• If needed repair or replacement is not covered by your plan, you pay the deductible ammount and have the option of paying the technician out of pocket o resolve the problem

In an eight month period I have used my home warranty plan a total of five times and only one issue was not covered under my plan.  As a result of my plan the following reapirs have been covered:  kitchen faucet replaced, garage door opener sensors replaced, outdoor condensing unit (AC) replaced, and a new AC fan motor installed.  (To date I have saved thousands all as a result of having a home warranty)

I strongly urge anyone to purchase a home warranty and renew it every year…at the very least, look into what the cost would be for a plan that fits your needs.  A home warranty plan is great for the first time home buyer, older homes, investment homes, or rental homes.  I have avoided situations of extreme stress as a result of having a home warranty plan…you could to!

Have you saved money by having a home warranty?  Tell us about it.

Olde Taylor Farms Estate Community in Johns Creek Files Bankruptcy

The housing crisis has moved up the economic ladder with Olde Taylor Farms a luxury subdivision in Johns Creek going bust.  Harrison Design Associates, the developers of Olde Taylor Farms in Johns Creek, with homes priced from $1.6 million to more than $3 million, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection July 1.

Olde Taylor Homes is situated amongst some of the most prestigious schools and organizations in Atlanta, such as the Atlanta Athletic Club, St. Ives Golf and Country Club, Woodward Academy, and Wesleyan School.

An exclusive enclave of 33 residences, Olde Taylor Farms is a serene community with pedestrian and bike paths that cross over the Chattahoochee River.  The neighborhood backs up to open green space that can not be developed.  Community sidewalks and wooded homesites will encourage neighbors to spend time walking and enjoying their outdoor living areas.  Ancient oaks and hardwoods line the streets and give the neighborhood an established feel.

From GA-400 take Exit 10 - Old Milton Parkway.  Follow signs to GA-120 East.  Take a left onto Medlock Bridge Road/GA-141.  Turn right onto Bell Road and continue left on Bell Road.  The subdivision will be on the right.

Olde Taylor Farms Homes for Sale

 

Results Are In…Atlanta Drivers Among the Worst

I am originally from a suburb of Chicago and have lived in the Atlanta area for a little over a year and a half.  I have always made comments about the poor driving of Georgians and their apparent disrespect for traffic laws as well as others (if you miss your turn, don’t hold everyone up while attempting to make a u-turn, simply go through the light and turn around at the next light!).  Having not lived or frequented too many cities in my young life, Atlanta has the worst driving that I have ever come across.  I’ve always said Atlanta has some of the worst drivers, but now I have proof!

Allstate Insurance looked at accident statistics from the nation’s 200 largest cities and compared the average number of years between accidents for drivers in each city.  The results are in and Atlanta came in at number 144 out of those 200 cities.

John Heid with Allstate says Atlanta drivers have an accident on average every 8.4 years.  That means Atlanta is about 19% more likely to have an accident than drivers in the average city.

There you have it…a little useless information that you can toss around at the next cocktail party you attend!