Traditional tank toilets have been the standard for over a century, storing water in a tank before releasing it to flush waste. But toilet technology has advanced with tankless models that flush without the need for reserve tanks. Operating on high-pressure valves and specialty plumbing, tankless toilets provide a hands-free and water-efficient flushing solution. We’ll explore what sets apart their mechanics to uncover the science behind these space-saving thrones.
How Tankless Toilet Flushing Works
At the heart of any tankless toilet is an activated flush valve system that controls water flow directly from the supply line. This differs from old-fashioned toilets by eliminating the tank that holds water waiting to flush. Instead, tankless models rely on high water pressure to produce an effective rinse when needed.
Flush Valve and Water Pressure
The flush valve assembly is the key that sets tankless toilets apart. Built into the base or rear of the bowl, this mechanism remainings closed until flush activation to conserve water. Users trip the valve open by pressing a button or sensor. This instantly allows water to gush into the bowl at pressures from 1.75 to 2.8 bars to wash away waste. For comparison, standard tank toilets only use about 1 bar of water pressure for flushing from gravity draining tanks.
Higher pressure levels give tankless toilets their effective rinse, despite lacking a reservoir tank. Electric or water pumps may boost line pressure on some models. Good drainage layout without kinks in the waste line also promotes proper water flow. By removing obstructions, the entire flush sequence can reliably complete in just a few seconds.
Electric and Self-Contained Models
While some tankless toilets tie directly into home plumbing, self-contained electric versions house all flushing components in one unit. These have a macerating pump and holding tank for waste built into their base enclosures. Users simply flush as normal, allowing an internal high-pressure system to break down and pump away waste without tying into drainage infrastructure.
Electric tankless toilets offer more flexibility by self-powering off-the-grid locations like basement remodels or tiny homes. However, they do require an electrical hookup to operate. Some environments like remote cabins may find it easier to install plumbing-based tankless models instead. Maintenance is key for any electric toilet to keep pumps and macerators functioning properly.
Activating the Flush
Users trigger tankless toilet flushing through a button or motion sensor, rather than a traditional pull-chain handle. This activates the control module, sending an electric current to the solenoid pinch valve assembly. A spring-loaded plunger then retracts and allows water to blast from the supply line into the bowl under high pressure. Tankless models achieve a full flush using just 1 to 1.5 gallons of water, far less than old 3 to 5 gallon per flush toilets.
Once activated, the continuous flush valve stays open for about 5 to 10 seconds depending on settings and bowl size. This rushing water generates a self-cleaning vortex throughout the bowl and waste line. The valve then shuts, stopping the water flow until the next flush. Users may adjust valve open duration to fine-tune water volumes for optimal flushing power. Extended times risk overflowing waste traps while shorts cycles may fail to fully rinse the bowl.
Unique Benefits of Tankless Flushing Technology
Beyond just changing flush activation methods, tankless toilets provide unique benefits stemming from their on-demand water flow and space-conscious designs.
On-Demand Water Flow
Tank refill wait times between flushes can stretch from 30 seconds up to a minute on traditional toilets. Tankless models avoid this by delivering water right from continuous building supply lines. This lets users flush repeatedly without waiting for tank refills between cycles. Facility managers estimate over 50 percent time savings during peak usage like intermissions at stadiums and arenas.
Instant water flow also helps tankless toilets clear waste more effectively. Uninterrupted pressure vortexes debris down pipes smoothly without clogging. Some public restroom operators even report lower plumbing maintenance costs after swapping old toilets for on-demand tankless units.
Water Efficiency
On average, tankless toilets consume about half the water of traditional flush toilets by design. Typical models only use 1 to 1.5 gallons per flush thanks to precision valve engineering and straight supply line feeds. Smaller water volumes still rinse bowls using focused siphon jet power instead of large unpressurized tanks.
Further water conservation comes from eliminating tank leak points. Gaskets and overflow tubes in old toilets often deteriorate over time, wasting gallons of clean water down drains daily. Doing away with tanks removes this wasteful leakage issue prevalent among aging flush toilets.
Compact Size
The absence of a tank also lets tankless toilets occupy less space while still providing full functionality. This gives architects more flexibility placing them in tight residential bathroom spaces without cramming layouts.
Commercial installations also benefit from the smaller footprint to add more stalls in public bathrooms. With a lighter overall weight compared to old cast iron tanks, tankless units simplify remodeling projects and reduce new construction demands.
Considerations Before Choosing Tankless
While tankless toilets solve problems for many applications, they also come with some unique considerations to weigh before committing to an install.
Retrofitting Limitations
Completely replacing existing toilets with new tankless fixtures may not always prove straightforward. For one, many buildings lack sufficiently sized water lines and drainage capacities to support pressurized tankless flushing.
Upgrading plumbing demands breaking into walls to replace pipes in some cases. Load-bearing walls sometimes further complicate routing new drain lines. This can make whole-bathroom retrofits prohibitively complex just to accommodate tankless toilet functionality in homes and workspaces.
Higher Upfront Costs
In general, tankless toilets carry a higher base price than basic gravity-flow tank models. By adding more moving parts like macerator pumps and electronics, manufacturers increase costs even for residential consumer models.
Commercial installations also accrue higher lifetime operating costs from increased electrical and water demands. While water use drops per flush, support pumps and valve actuators do consume supplementary power. Electrical code may even require outlets or hardwired connections just for new tankless toilets.
Tankless toilets depart from old designs by delivering water on-demand instead of storing it first. This allows for compact layouts with less waiting between rapid flushes. Precision electronic valves and specialty plumbing give tankless models their robust rinsing power without wasting water.
However, extended utility access and spatial constraints can complicate retrofitting traditional bathrooms. Assess your space limitations and bathroom goals first before committing to a tankless toilet overhaul. Their advanced designs may better suit new construction or full remodel projects instead of simple upgrades. But for the right applications, tankless thrones give modern water closets a run for their money.
