Tankless Toilets are a great alternative to standard flushing toilets as they are not only more space-efficient but more water-efficient as well. They are also known as HET (highly-efficient toilets) and instead of storing water in the tank, they use water directly from the supply line.

How Do Tankless Toilets Operate

As tankless toilets have no tank where the water can be stored, many people are wondering how they operate. Even though it might seem like a whole different story, the process of flushing on tankless toilets is not that different from the traditional ones. While regular toilets store water in a tank which is refilled after each flush, tankless toilets feature an electric pump.

The electric pump generates pressure that is high enough to remove all the waste from the bowl. The rest of the process is quite similar to the traditional toilets as waste goes through the siphon and then into the drainage system. Still, how does a tankless toilet know how much water is supposed to enter the bowl to flush effectively without overflowing?

Well, that is where the flushometer comes into play. This valve is what controls the water flow and determines the amount of water for flushing. Most of the flushometers are activated by a button, lever, motion sensor, or dual flush. Still, the most common types of flushometers are the diaphragm valve and the piston valve flushometer:

• Diaphragm Valve Flushometer: This type of flushometer contains a rubber diaphragm that separates 2 chambers - the one with high pressure and the other with low pressure.
• Piston Valve Flushometer: Instead of a rubber diaphragm, this type of flushometer has a molded piston that separates the chambers.

Are Flushometers And Flush Valves The Same Things?

Due to their names, a lot of people confuse these two terms. A flushometer is also a valve but is connected to tankless toilets and determines the quantity of water that enters the bowl. The flush valve, on the other hand, is a part that only tank toilets have. There are many differences we learned about flushing toilets and the variety of flush mechanisms from this blog post.

Flushing During Power Outages

Having a toilet that relies on electricity for flushing can sometimes become problematic. In these systems, the waste gathers inside a chamber and by using an electric pump, transfers into the sewer. That is why, during power outages, flushing becomes quite an issue. Therefore, you should avoid buying a tankless toilet if you live in an area that is prone to power outages.

Still, that doesn’t mean the waste has to remain in the bowl. The ideal solution to this problem is to store a few gallons of water in case of an emergency. As the siphon will still be able to operate during power outages, pouring water into the toilet bowl will cause the toilet to flush.

What Special Features Do Tankless Toilets Offer?

When buying a tankless toilet, the first thing you will most likely notice is that they usually have a much higher price than the regular models. Aside from water and space efficiency, tankless toilets often have unique, special features that you are not likely to see on regular models. Let's go over some special features we like best:

Tankless Toilets - Commercial Buildings Vs Urban Apartments

Even though tankless toilets have grown a lot in popularity, we can all agree that we mostly see them in commercial buildings. This brings up the question of whether it is a good idea to install a tankless toilet in an urban apartment or not. As the answer is not that simple, we will briefly go through a couple of factors that will likely have the most impact on your decision.

• Reliable Water Supply Line: As these toilets are not storing water in water tanks, it is essential that they are connected to a reliable water supply line. This could be an issue as there are many homes that aren’t equipped with one.
• Require More Power: Not forget that if you are planning on installing a tankless toilet in your bathroom, you need to ensure that the water pressure is powerful enough. This might be the most essential factor in order for them to work properly.
• Larger Plumbing: As these toilets are mostly designed for commercial uses, they are designed to be used and flushed more frequently. Therefore, the plumbing in your household needs to be bigger.

However, that doesn’t mean that there are no tankless toilets that can work with your plumbing. There are residential models that are specifically designed for people who want to have tankless toilets in their households. Still, they still rely on electric pumps for refilling, and thus, you won’t be able to flush during power outages.

Kohler Or TOTO Tankless Toilets?

Kohler is a very trustworthy brand that offers a wide variety of high-quality toilets. They do a much better job when it comes to regular toilets. However, if you are aiming for more space and water-efficient, tankless models, TOTO makes a much better choice. Most TOTO tankless toilets come with a bunch of convenient features and mechanisms that make the process of using a toilet way more pleasant.

A Few Words In The End

Long story short, if you are planning on getting a tankless toilet, make sure your plumbing is compatible. Not to forget that you are more likely to spend more money on these toilets than on the regular ones. However, aside from the many convenient features, most tankless toilets offer, they are also way more water and space-efficient.