Question about home appliances?

[Keyboard Ninja]

Toilets: My folk's house has had the same toilets since 1990. They flush, but are pretty weak. They've thought about buying new ones and having them installed, and asked me if I had heard of anyone using low-flow toilets. Have any of you? What were your experiences? They plan on going to the local Home Depot and checking out what they have in stock and the list of plumbers they have to install it.

Washer: My cousin is convinced she needs a new washer and dryer set. She has the older ones that have the ENERGY STAR sticker on them, but has read so much about how the front loading washers are so much better. Who has them, and are they worth it? I told her that a new washer might be worth it, but the new dryer may not be. I assume since the front-loading washers are supposed to wring out all of the water then the current dryer can do it's job that much better. Well she also threw in the "well it doesn't match" arguement. I can't help her on that one, but what do any of you think?

 

[Khan]

Toilets: My folk's house has had the same toilets since 1990. They flush, but are pretty weak. They've thought about buying new ones and having them installed, and asked me if I had heard of anyone using low-flow toilets. Have any of you? What were your experiences? They plan on going to the local Home Depot and checking out what they have in stock and the list of plumbers they have to install it.

I replace 20+ y o toilet back in '93. Have not noticed any problems.

Washer

: My cousin is convinced she needs a new washer and dryer set. She has the older ones that have the ENERGY STAR sticker on them, but has read so much about how the front loading washers are so much better. Who has them, and are they worth it?

Might be depending on age and usage.

I told her that a new washer might be worth it, but the new dryer may not be. I assume since the front-loading washers are supposed to wring out all of the water then the current dryer can do it's job that much better. Well she also threw in the "well it doesn't match" arguement. I can't help her on that one, but what do any of you think?

You might as well stop talking at this point. Anyone willing to spend large amounts of money to have appliances 'match' is beyond redemption.

(Disclaimer: I have never had a dryer.)

 

[Meadbh]

Well she also threw in the "well it doesn't match" arguement.

The worst argument for making a purchase. If it looks ugly, paint it.

 

[bbbamI]

this might help....

http://www.early-retirement.org/for...-machines-36446.html?highlight=washers+dryers

and this....

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/toilets-36063.html?highlight=toilets

 

[samclem]

Washer: My cousin is convinced she needs a new washer and dryer set. She has the older ones that have the ENERGY STAR sticker on them, but has read so much about how the front loading washers are so much better. Who has them, and are they worth it?

It might make economic sense to throw away a good top-loading washer and get a more efficient one, but it would be a very unusual situation (e.g. she 15 loads each week, uses hot water much of the time, heats that water with expensive electricity, etc). My favorite washer (don't get me started!) is the Staber. She won't like it because it's not much to look at. But, a geeky engineer can open the front and see a lot to love. We've talked about it before here, maybe do a search.

Later edit: Thanks for providing the link, bbbam--you're not as lazy as I was.

 

[bbbamI]

Later edit: Thanks for providing the link, bbbam--you're not as lazy as I was.

Heh...the reason I provided the link is because I am lazy.........

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Hmm, if they think their old 1990's era toilets are flushing weakly, wait until they try a low-flow. The weak flush could be a bad fill valve, but it could also be a semi clogged drain. Fill valves are about $20-25.

Its only worth it financially to buy a front loader if your current washer already needs replacing or its very old and you do a lot of laundry and you can get a sweet deal on one.

BTW, my water company paid me $75 a toilet to replace my 1990 versions with a low flow that I bought at Costco for the same price. I couldnt turn down free toilets.

The water company also paid me a rebate, as did my utility company, for buying a front loader. So check the water company, local and state government offers, utility companies, manufacturers and sellers. My $~1k washer cost me about $450 after all was said and done.

That having been said, my utility company (who will remain nameless because its PG&E) is trying to stiff me on a rebate as we speak. I dont think they're enjoying the experience so far.

The only good reason to replace the dryer with the washer is if the old dryer doesnt have a moisture sensor and its old.

 

[Keyboard Ninja]

Hmm, if they think their old 1990's era toilets are flushing weakly, wait until they try a low-flow. The weak flush could be a bad fill valve, but it could also be a semi clogged drain. Fill valves are about $20-25.

When I was home I replaced the guts of the toilet and that didn't help much. Is there something that can clear up a semi-clogged drain?

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

If all the toilets are having the same problem, you might have to fish the cleanout for the main drain with a snake. Any trees growing near the sewer line? If its just one or all the ones on one floor, you might just want to call a plumber.

If its all of them, does the tub drain slow as well? Sinks and showers just dont run very much water that you'd notice a slow drain, but an old fashioned toilet tries to discharge about 4 or 5 gallons of water all at once.

Is it a sewer or septic? If its septic, have they pumped it in the last 5 years...?

 

[ladelfina]

Had a late '80s/early '90s low-flow in my old house and it was really bad news. The several flushes necessary when dealing with 'solid waste' nullified any theoretical water savings. I think many current models must have a better design. All I can say is do some research.. I found that the GardenWeb site has a lot of pretty nerdy posters on appliances and other home repair topics. The site itself is kind of slow and clunky (kind of like an old low-flow toilet!). Plus v. annoying that their archives disappear after x pages or x days..

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/

In Italy I've seen a lot of toilets with a dual-flush feature, which is a nice water-saving aspect.

 

[CuppaJoe]

I have a low flow toilet from the early '90s and SO has the new duel flush style. Landlords get some deal for putting them in. They both work fine as long as you don't put "stuff" in them. I use wire hangers when needed to break up the "stuff," enough detail.

 

[Sarah in SC]

You can also buy older non low-flow toilets from salvage places and Habitat for Humanity resale stores. I pulled mine out of a house that was due to be demolished for a new beachfront McMansion. They work great, for free.

 

[bbbamI]

No more wire hangers!!!!! Heard somebody say that once.

 

[FinanceDude]

Toilets: My folk's house has had the same toilets since 1990. They flush, but are pretty weak. They've thought about buying new ones and having them installed, and asked me if I had heard of anyone using low-flow toilets. Have any of you? What were your experiences? They plan on going to the local Home Depot and checking out what they have in stock and the list of plumbers they have to install it.

I installed 3 low flush toilets in my 20year old house in the last couple years, They use about half to 2/3rds less water than your current ones. You can get a good one for less than $200...........

Washer

: My cousin is convinced she needs a new washer and dryer set. She has the older ones that have the ENERGY STAR sticker on them, but has read so much about how the front loading washers are so much better. Who has them, and are they worth it? I told her that a new washer might be worth it, but the new dryer may not be. I assume since the front-loading washers are supposed to wring out all of the water then the current dryer can do it's job that much better. Well she also threw in the "well it doesn't match" arguement. I can't help her on that one, but what do any of you think?

get your hands on the February 2008 Consumer Reports, they have a nice review of the pros and cons of both.........

 

[CuppaJoe]

No more wire hangers!!!!! Heard somebody say that once.

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If I see any more squabbling in the Soap Box, this will be my new avatar.

 

[bbbamI]

Ahhh....that's great! Your pic is better than mine....

 

[Westernskies]

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If I see any more squabbling in the Soap Box, this will be my new avatar.

I double-dog dare you....

 

[Rustic23]

When we built our home we used Toto Drake low flush toilets. Have no idea what we paid, however, I think they were more expensive than others. They work great. In two years have never had to flush twice.

 

[Nords]

When I was home I replaced the guts of the toilet and that didn't help much. Is there something that can clear up a semi-clogged drain?

Toilet drains don't generally clog unless you have a small child in the house who's missing a few toys.

However the waste line (from the house to the municipal sewer) could easily be clogged with CFB's water-seeking tree roots. So if all the toilets in the house are flushing weak & draining slow then it's more likely the waste line than the toilets. If you also experience the same problem when draining a full bathtub then it's definitely the waste line.

We've been perfectly happy with Kohler's low-flush toilets for the last 15 years, but they have new models every year. I find myself getting the gimmes for their power-assist or pressure-assist models:
KOHLER: Bathroom: Toilets: High Efficiency Flushing Systems: Why KOHLER: Planning

And, hey, what guy wouldn't want a toilet that offers a choice of two different flush volumes!

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Toilet drains don't generally clog unless you have a small child in the house who's missing a few toys.

Thats what I thought until I saw a mass of about 40 q-tips pulled out of one drain about 8' from the toilet outlet, and on another occasion an equally large mass of another product which will remain nameless, but suffice it to say that my wife leaves a box of them out as a warning signal to keep my mouth shut every now and then.

 

[Westernskies]

....and on another occasion an equally large mass of another product which will remain nameless, but suffice it to say that my wife leaves a box of them out as a warning signal to keep my mouth shut every now and then.

toaster waffles?

 

[Sue J]

Some of the earlier low flow toilets were wimpy in the flush. The newer ones have solved the problem and with the two we have now it's not a problem at all. There was a noticeable drop in our water usage when we changed to the low flows. The next time we need a new toilet I'd like to get a dual flush one. Makes a lot of sense.

On the other hand, I find a low flow shower head intolerable. I feel like I'm in the "Oliver" movie pleading, "Please sir, may I have some more?" I had saved our original shower head and after about two days I took out the low flow one and put back the old one. I refuse to feel guilty about it.

 

[MGYog]

If all the toilets are having the same problem, you might have to fish the cleanout for the main drain with a snake. Any trees growing near the sewer line? If its just one or all the ones on one floor, you might just want to call a plumber.

My slow draining flush toilets problem was diagnosed by two plumbers (independent of each other) as tree roots. I had a service come in and videocam my line to its tie up with the main sewer line, and there were two points in my old clay pipe sewer line where tree roots had come in. Luckily, I had a wide lawn and since the videocam service also included the # of feet from where the clean out valve began, I could measure on my lawn where those points were.

The plumbers proposed $8,000.00 to dig up and replace the old clay pipe with pvc sewer pipe for about a 24 foot length. My son and I dug up the spots and went down about 4 1/2 feet each time (leisurely digging on my part which was on and off for 3 weeks in the summer), and isolated the pipe joints. I then called in the plumber to cut the pipe and replace with an (municipality) approved plastic type sleeve to join the excised lengths. Cost me $600.00 for the two areas, and I backfilled it myself according to code. No more slow flow.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

We have guys around here that'll dig one hole, core the whole thing out and then feed a sleeve into it. Almost no digging and you get a whole new line.

I have no idea how much it costs...but Gabe and I watched a crew put one in last year. Not sure which of us found it more interesting...

 

[Nords]

On the other hand, I find a low flow shower head intolerable. I feel like I'm in the "Oliver" movie pleading, "Please sir, may I have some more?" I had saved our original shower head and after about two days I took out the low flow one and put back the old one. I refuse to feel guilty about it.

We've had this one for over six months and it's more than lived up to its hype:
Oxygenics®- Super Charge Your Shower

No cleaning or mineral removal required, either...