How to Save Water Without Sacrificing Performance with TOTO ,
HOW TO SAVE WATER WITHOUT SACRIFICING PERFORMANCE USING TOTO
You want a bathroom that works flawlessly but doesn’t drain your wallet or the planet. TOTO makes that possible. Their toilets, faucets, and showers cut water use without cutting power. This playbook shows you exactly how to do it—no fluff, no guesswork.
PREPARATION PHASE: KNOW YOUR NUMBERS AND YOUR GEAR
Pick the right flush. TOTO’s Tornado Flush uses 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) but clears waste like a 3.5 gpf tank. Check your current toilet’s gpf rating—it’s stamped inside the tank. If it’s 1.6 or higher, you’re leaving savings on the table.
Map your water pressure. TOTO’s ECOPOWER faucets need at least 8 psi to work. Buy a $10 pressure gauge, screw it onto an outdoor spigot, and test. If your pressure is below 8 psi, install a booster pump before swapping fixtures.
Audit your habits. Track one week of bathroom use. Note how often you flush, how long showers run, and how much water your sink spits out per minute. TOTO’s 0.8 gpm aerators can halve that flow without you noticing.
EXECUTION PHASE: SWAP SMART, NOT HARD
Install the toilet first. TOTO’s Drake II comes with a 3-inch flush valve—double the size of most toilets. This means less water does more work. Use the included wax ring, level the bowl, and tighten bolts evenly. Don’t overtighten—cracked porcelain voids warranties.
Retrofit your showerhead. TOTO’s Silhouette showerhead delivers 1.75 gpm but feels like 2.5 gpm thanks to air-injection tech. Unscrew your old head, wrap the new threads with Teflon tape, and hand-tighten. Test for leaks—one drip per second wastes 3,000 gallons a year.
Upgrade your faucet aerator. TOTO’s aerators screw onto existing faucets in 30 seconds. Pick the 0.8 gpm model for bathrooms, 1.5 gpm for kitchens. Remove the old aerator with pliers, clean the threads, and screw in the new one. No tools needed beyond your fingers.
OPTIMIZATION PHASE: TUNE FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY
Adjust the fill valve. TOTO toilets ship with the fill valve set to 1.28 gpf, but you can tweak it lower. Turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise to drop the water level ½ inch below the overflow tube. Test with a dye tablet—if the bowl clears, you’ve just saved 0.1 gpf per flush.
Calibrate the showerhead. TOTO’s Silhouette has a flow restrictor you can remove for higher pressure. Don’t. Instead, clean the nozzles monthly with vinegar to prevent mineral buildup. Soak the head in a bag of vinegar for an hour, then scrub with a toothbrush. Restored flow means shorter showers.
Monitor with a smart meter. TOTO’s partnership with Flume lets you track water use in real time. Install the Flume sensor on your main water line, sync it to your phone, and set alerts for leaks or spikes. A 10-minute shower should use 17.5 gallons with a 1.75 gpm head—if yours uses more, check for leaks.
7-DAY ACTION PLAN: START TODAY, SAVE TOMORROW
Day 1: Buy a pressure gauge and test your water pressure. Order a TOTO Drake II toilet if your pressure is 8 psi or higher.
Day 2: Track your bathroom habits. Note every flush, shower, and sink use. Download the Flume app and order the sensor.
Day 3: Install the Flume sensor. Follow the in-app guide—it takes 20 minutes. Set up leak alerts.
Day 4: Order a TOTO Silhouette showerhead and a 0.8 gpm aerator. Pick up Teflon tape and vinegar.
Day 5: Remove your old showerhead. Clean the threads, wrap with Teflon tape, and install the Silhouette. Test for leaks.
Day 6: Swap your faucet aerator. Remove the old one, clean the threads, and screw in the TOTO aerator. Run the water—notice the difference.
Day 7: Install the Drake II toilet. Follow TOTO’s video guide. Use the included wax ring and level the bowl. Flush and check for leaks.
You’ll see lower bills within a month. The toilet alone saves 4,000 gallons a year for a family of four. The showerhead cuts 2,700 gallons. The aerator shaves another 700. That’s 7,400 gallons saved—without sacrificing performance. TOTO’s tech does the heavy lifting. Your job is to install it. DUATOTO.
