The Ultimate Guide to Tankless Toilet Benefits

As a home improvement expert, I’m often asked if installing a tankless toilet is worth the investment. In my experience, tankless toilets provide a wide range of meaningful benefits that make them an ideal choice when remodeling a bathroom. Read on as I provide a comprehensive 2500+ word guide exploring what exactly a tankless toilet is, its many pros and cons, installation considerations, and everything else you need to know from an expert perspective.

What Exactly is a Tankless Toilet?

Before diving into the key advantages of tankless toilets, let’s quickly review what makes them different than traditional tank toilets.

A tankless toilet does not rely on an internal water tank mounted behind or above the bowl to hold and release water for flushing. Instead, tankless toilets utilize a high-pressure flush valve that connects directly to your home’s plumbing water supply lines.

When you press the flush button or lever, this opens the valve immediately and allows water to rush into the bowl at high velocity. This creates a powerful siphon effect that forcefully evacuates the contents down the trapway and into the waste pipe below. The valve then closes immediately to stop the water flow after the flush is completed.

Without a tank, a tankless toilet uses only the water needed for an effective single flush, which is often significantly less than a gravity-based tank toilet. This makes them far more water efficient, which is the first major benefit we’ll explore.

The Key Benefits of Tankless Toilets

Save Significant Water With High Efficiency Flushing

One fact I always share is that the average household flushes a toilet nearly 5000 times per year. Each traditional tank flush uses 3-5 gallons of water. A tankless toilet uses 1.28 gallons or less per flush on average.

Over a year, a tankless toilet can save 13,000 gallons of water per bathroom! For a family of four, that’s 52,000 gallons saved annually just by installing tankless toilets.

To put that into perspective, that’s enough water to take over 700 10-minute showers! As you can see, the water efficiency impact is substantial. Those savings quickly add up, saving thousands of gallons over the lifetime of the toilet. This helps conserve precious freshwater resources in an era of climate change and droughts.

Several studies have found that high-efficiency toilets like tankless models can reduce household water usage by 16-28%. Many utilities even offer rebates of up to $100 per toilet to encourage homeowners to upgrade to more efficient models. The water and sewer bill savings over time make a tankless toilet purchase pay for itself faster than you may expect.

Reclaim Valuable Bathroom Space

Tankless toilets have a much smaller footprint than traditional tank toilets. Without a tank taking up space behind the bowl, a tankless toilet can be mounted directly to the wall. This eliminates the need for the extra 12 inches of clearance required for a tank toilet.

Reclaiming a full foot of space may not seem like much, but in a powder room or small bathroom, every inch counts! This extra space allows for more flexibility when configuring fixtures, storage, towel bars, tp holders, and other accessories. You may be able to install a larger vanity or more shelving than you could with a tank toilet.

I’ve helped many clients “find” extra usable square footage in their bathroom just by swapping to a tankless toilet. The compact low-profile design can really open up your options.

Enjoy Whisper-Quiet Operation

Standard tank toilets require water to refill the tank after each flush, which creates loud swooshing and filling sounds. Tankless models eliminate the noisy tank refilling process entirely.

For households with bedrooms in close proximity to a bathroom, this can make a meaningful difference in comfort and not being woken by flushes in the night. The quiet operation can also provide pleasant ambient sound levels in bathrooms adjacent to living spaces.

I always recommend customers with open floor plans consider going tankless for enhanced acoustic privacy and noise reduction.

Reduce Risk of Bacteria and Mold Growth

The moist, humid environment inside a toilet’s tank can promote bacteria, mold, mildew, and mineral buildup over time. Even if you flush regularly, some contamination is unavoidable.

Frequent mold and bacteria growth in the tank can lead to stains, odors, and potential clogs. A tankless toilet completely eliminates this issue, as there is no tank for standing water and germs to accumulate in.

For homeowners concerned about hygiene and limiting toilet cleaning hassles, this is a definitive benefit of the tankless design.

Contemporary Styling and Sleek Aesthetics

Tankless toilets feature a sleek, modern minimalist look. With no tank on display, all of the mechanical components are neatly contained away from view. The clean streamlined profile suits contemporary bathroom designs and blends seamlessly into elegant spaces.

Compared to the visible tank and various protruding parts on old-fashioned tank toilets, I find customers are much happier with the tidy, sophisticated appearance of tankless models. If your goal is a bathroom with a polished hotel or spa-like look, a tankless toilet is an excellent choice.

Other Advantages to Consider

There are a few additional potential perks that tankless toilets can provide in the right circumstances:

• Fully accessible base – Lack of a tank makes cleaning the exterior base much easier.

• ADA-compliant height – Some tankless models meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards for accessible seating height.

• Dual flush capability – Many tankless toilets allow a choice of full or reduced flush volume.

• Touch-free flushing – Motion sensor flushing is available on some tankless toilets for added convenience.

• Heated seat – An integrated heated seat is an option on some higher-end tankless toilets.

Potential Drawbacks to Keep in Mind

While tankless toilets provide many excellent benefits, there are a few potential disadvantages or compromises to keep in mind as well:

Higher upfront cost – Purchasing a tankless toilet and professional installation costs significantly more than a basic gravity-flow tank toilet. However, the cost difference can be recouped over time through water savings. Expect to invest $500 – $1500+ for a tankless toilet.

Complex installation – Specialized plumbing is required, including ideal minimum water pressure and dedicated supply lines. Installation is best left to qualified professionals.

Lack of manual override – Unlike tank models, excess water cannot be manually added to the bowl to aid flushing issues. A plumber would be needed to address any flow rate problems.

Requires electricity – Most tankless toilets need a power source to operate the electronic flush mechanism and heated seats if included.

Less bowl coverage – Some tankless toilet models may not jet water as widely across the bowl surface compared to tank toilets. This may require more interior bowl scrubbing to prevent stains.

At a Glance: Tankless vs Tank Toilet Comparison

Factor	Tankless Toilet	Tank Toilet
Water usage per flush	0.8 – 1.28 gpf	1.6 – 5 gpf
Installation cost	$500 – $1500+	$100 – $350
Water efficiency	High	Moderate
Flushing power	Strong	Moderate
Space required	Compact	Bulky
Noise level	Very low	Moderate
Electricity required	Often yes	No
Lifespan	20+ years	10 – 15 years

***gpf = gallons per flush

While tankless toilets require greater upfront investment, they deliver excellent functional benefits that make them worth considering for many homeowners.

How Much Water Do Tankless Toilets Really Save?

I’m sure you’re wondering exactly how much water tankless toilets can save compared to traditional tank models. Here are some statistics:

• Tank toilets use 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) on average
• Standard 1.6 gpf tank toilets are common in newer homes
• Older 5 – 7 gpf models still exist in some properties

In contrast:

• Tankless toilets use 0.8 – 1.28 gpf on average
• Ultra-high efficiency (UHET) models use just 0.8 gpf
• EPA WaterSense toilets must use no more than 1.28 gpf

For a household of 4 with old 5 gpf tank toilets:

• 4 people x 5 flushes per day per person = 20 flushes
• 20 flushes x 5 gallons per flush = 100 gallons daily
• 365 days x 100 gallons daily = 36,500 gallons yearly

By switching to new 0.8 gpf tankless toilets:

• 20 flushes x 0.8 gallons per flush = 16 gallons daily
• 16 gpd x 365 days = 5,840 gallons yearly

That’s over 30,000 gallons of water saved per year! Plus sewer bill savings from the reduced water use.

As you can see, the water efficiency impact of tankless toilets is quite substantial. The savings can really add up over time for households aiming to conserve resources and reduce their utility bills.

Do Tankless Toilets Require Special Plumbing?

One downside of tankless toilets is that they require specialized plumbing connections to operate correctly. There are two key requirements professional plumbers are trained to handle:

Dedicated, unrestricted water supply line – Tankless toilets need a supply line with adequate water flow and pressure routed directly to the high-pressure flush valve without any splits to other fixtures.

Dual-flush lines – A separate water line to the nozzle provides the water used for the rinse cycle after the main flush. The dual lines keep the pressure flush sequence functioning optimally.

Meeting these crucial plumbing requirements often involves reworking existing supply lines and drain pipes in a bathroom. I strongly encourage homeowners to hire professional plumbers very experienced with tankless toilet installation.

Attempting a DIY tankless toilet installation without proper knowledge of the specialized plumbing needs is likely to result in an improperly functioning toilet and water supply issues. Let qualified experts handle this one!

Tankless Toilet Installation Cost Breakdown

If you’re considering adding a tankless toilet to your home, it’s helpful to understand the typical installation cost range:

Toilet unit – Budget $300 to $1000+ depending on the brand, features, efficiency, and design. Be sure to pick a toilet sized appropriately for your space.

Plumbing labor – Expect to pay your plumber $200 to $500+ for installation, including modifying supply lines and drainage as needed.

Parts/materials – Any additional fittings, connections, valves, adapters, shut-offs, etc will add $50 to $100+ to the total.

Permit fees – Your local municipality may require plumbing and/or building permits for toilet installation costing $50+ total.

With everything factored in, you can expect to invest $500 – $1500+ to have a tankless toilet professionally installed. The benefits can easily be worth the upfront cost, but it’s a larger investment than adding a basic gravity toilet.

Picking the Right Tankless Toilet Model

With so many tankless toilet options on the market, it can be tricky selecting the best model for your needs and budget. Here are my top tips for choosing the right tankless toilet:

• Match toilet style – Pick a one-piece or two-piece design to match your existing toilet setup.

• Consider bowl shape – Elongated bowls work best for most bathrooms, while round bowls save more space.

• Check toilet height – Measure to ensure the tankless toilet will fit your desired seating height.

• Confirm water pressure – Verify your home plumbing system can provide the needed 25-45 PSI working pressure.

• Select appropriate flush performance – Choose a gpf and siphon rating to suit usage and waste removal needs.

• Compare warranties – Tankless toilet warranties range from 3 to 10 years. Aim for 5+ years of coverage.

• Review efficiency certifications – Look for EPA WaterSense rating for high water efficiency models.

• Compare supply line positions – Some models feature top port connections, others have in-wall back ports.

Doing adequate research before selecting a specific tankless toilet for purchase ensures the model you choose works seamlessly in your space. An experienced plumber can also provide guidance on picking ideal performance ratings and features.

Maintaining Your Tankless Toilet

While tankless toilets are generally low maintenance, periodic care is required to keep everything operating smoothly. Here are my top maintenance tips:

Inspect seals and valves – Check around the flush valve and supply line connections for any leaks or damage. Tighten or replace parts promptly to prevent issues.

Clean inlet strainer – The water inlet strainer protects the internal valve by filtering out sediment and debris. Rinse it annually or semi-annually.

Check mount stability – Verify all mounting bolts and connections are tight. Tighten as needed to avoid rocking or leaks.

Perform test flushes – Run regular test flushes to check water flow strength and that the siphon action clears the bowl fully. Adjust water use if needed.

Clean exterior – Wipe down all exposed surfaces regularly to keep your tankless toilet looking its best.

Following the manufacturer’s maintenance suggestions can maximize the longevity of your tankless toilet and prevent unpleasant problems!

Troubleshooting Common Tankless Toilet Issues

While tankless toilets are generally reliable, here are some troubleshooting tips for common problems that can arise:

Weak flush – Ensure water supply valve is fully open. Clean inlet strainer. Check for kinked supply line. Consider increasing water pressure if too low.

Leaking valves – Tighten connections at water supply and between tank components. Replace washers or seals if worn.

Loose fixtures – Verify stable mounting to wall studs, re-tighten bolts as needed to stop rocking toilet.

Odd noises – Check for debris in flush valve causing rattling. Lubricate seals and mounts. Tighten all interior bolts.

Sensor malfunction – Check power supply. Replace batteries if electronic sensor fails to activate flush.

For any issue that persists, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber for assistance to prevent damage and keep your tankless toilet functioning properly long-term.

Is a Tankless Toilet the Right Choice for Your Bathroom?

As we’ve covered in this guide, tankless toilets offer a number of excellent benefits but also come with a higher upfront cost and more complex installation.

Here are a few key questions to ask yourself when deciding if upgrading to a tankless toilet makes sense:

• Is water efficiency a priority? Tankless can save 20,000+ gallons over toilet lifespan.

• Do you need to reclaim space in a cramped bathroom? No tank provides flexibility.

• Will a quieter flush be beneficial for bedrooms or living areas? Tankless operation is nearly silent.

• Does your bathroom decor lean modern or contemporary? Tankless design aligns with current styles.

• Is your home plumbing sufficient? Tankless models need 25 – 45 PSI water pressure.

• Are you comfortable hiring a qualified plumber for specialty install? Professional expertise is recommended.

If you answered yes to some of these questions, a tankless toilet is likely a smart upgrade for your home. Feel free to reach out with any other questions as you consider whether going tankless makes sense for your next bathroom renovation project!