One of the more novel ideas was to place a brick (yes, an actual brick) inside the toilet tank: doing so displaces water — about half a gallon — making each flush use less of it. The idea sounds relatively harmless, but there are risks to consider.
The idea behind this classic DIY hack is simple: Putting a brick in a toilet tank takes up space, reducing the amount of water used for each flush. When done properly, it does work—but if you're not careful, your clever low-flow setup can either do nothing at all or seriously damage your toilet and plumbing.
Put a plastic water bottle in toilet tank.
If you take a plastic bottle, put a few pebbles or rocks in it, fill it with water, and then place it in the back of your toilet, you can save up to 10 gallons of water per day.
The EPA estimates that homeowners save as much as $110 per year on their water bills simply by switching to low-flow toilets. You should recoup your initial investment and save even more money the longer you use a low-flow toilet. Low-flow toilets can last up to 30 years without being replaced.
The largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, followed by taking showers and baths.
Adjust the Water Level
As the float ball rises, the rod shuts off the fill valve. Make your toilet more water-efficient by adjusting the water level in the toilet bowl. Start by bending or squeezing the float rod downward slightly with your hands; this lowers the float ball and means the tank won't fill as much.
Drop a baking soda tablet into your toilet tank for a natural cleaner. One of these tablets should be enough to last about 2 to 3 months. When you first drop it in, you might hear some fizzing, but that's okay—it means it's working!
Flush Facts
Recent advancements have allowed toilets to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less while still providing equal or superior performance. This is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.
If you're Muslim, however, there's an additional bathroom need that has to be met: There must always be a small vessel, to be filled with water, with which to wash your nether regions. For Muslims, toilet paper alone doesn't cut it. Our tech predates it.
Today, a majority of public toilets in China — both in the north and in the south — are squat toilets. This is mainly because squatting toilets cost less to build and maintain than seated ones.
Unsealed brick absorbs water, which can weaken the porous brick masonry and mortar. When water freezes in the pores and cracks of brick, the expansion can cause structural damage and cracking.
The Cons. Getting a separate water closet will use up more space compared to what you'll need for a toilet in a bathroom. It can also feel cramped since it's designed to provide just enough room for a toilet and you. If you are claustrophobic, a water closet won't be for you.
Generally, taking a shower uses less water than a full bath. A standard showerhead flows at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute . This means that a ten-minute shower only uses 25 gallons of water.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. You might argue that very few people fill the tub to the top, but a simple calculation shows that either way, baths use more water.
Consider this: The average shower lasts about eight minutes. Since the average showerhead has a water flow of 2.1 gallons per minute, each shower uses more than 16 gallons of water!
It's totally safe to let your pee sit in the bowl, BTW
So we asked an epidemiologist to give us the scoop. “Just because you are grossed out by it doesn't mean that it is a health hazard,” says Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of public health at the University of Las Vegas School of Public Health.
Assuming each flush uses 1.5 gallons and that you skip the flush three times a day, that amounts to around $2.95 saved each year. Now, this will vary from state to state and even city to city. For instance, if you live in Florida, your savings will likely be much lower because water costs less.
Toilet Water Saving Tips
Toilets made from the early 1980s to 1992 typically used 3.5 gallons per flush (13.2 liters) or more. Toilets made prior to 1980 typically used 5.0 to 7.0 or high gallons per flush (18.9 lpf to 26.5 lpf). The oldest toilets can use more than 8 gallons per flush (30 lpf).