Tankless Toilet vs Tank Toilet: Differences & Similarities

Modern technology has also affected how we use toilets in our day to day life. One of the most recent revolutionary developments is the tankless toilet system. For a long period, the toilet system usually had a tank and a bowl. These tanks used to be provided with water to move the waste present on the toilet bowl through a siphon system and into the drainage system of your home.

Tankless toilets do not have a tank to store water. Their design looks sleek and functions in the same way as the old tank system. This piece will outline the differences between the tankless toilet and the tank toilet so that you can know the one to invest in:

Differences: Tankless vs Tank Toilets

The tank toilets and tankless toilet differ in several ways. From the flushing system to the way these toilets use water, there are many features that distinguish these two toilet types. Here are some differences between these two toilets.

1. The flushing system

One of the differences between these two toilets is the flushing system. For the tanks toilets, they are normally gravity-powered. Here, water is usually dumped into the bowl fast enough to activate a siphon that pulls the water and waste out of the bowl into the drainage system of your home.

Wall mounted toilet withou tankt
Tankless toilet

Since the flushing system of this toilet is gravity-powered, it can function on a water pressure that is a slow as 10 pounds per square inch. However, tankless toilets are quite different. These toilets usually use almost the same amount of water as the tank-type toilet. However, the water enters the fixture at great pressure.

In most cases, there is an electric pump that helps to pulp this water at a high pressure so that it can drain the waste from the toilet bowl at high speed and more thoroughly. If you already have enough water pressure in your home, you can readily flush the tankless toilet with ease. Here, you might not need any mechanical assistance.

2. Size

The old-fashioned tank is known to consume more space than the tankless toilet. This is because the tank toilet already comes with its own tank for water storage.

Tank Toilet
Tank Toilet

In most cases, this toilet normally takes up the wall and floor space, thereby making your bathroom look clumsy and congested. However, the tankless toilet is quite different. These modern toilets are compact and are therefore ideal for smaller bathrooms. Once you install this kind of toilet, you will have more space to design what you want.

When it comes to the installation of the tankless toilet, you can readily do it on the floor or even mount it on the wall of the bathroom. This allows you to free up the floor space and thereby make your bathroom more spacious. If you choose to mount it on the wall, you will be able to adjust the height to the level you feel more comfortable.

3. Water use

Both toilets usually use water to flush the bowl. However, the tank toilet is known to utilize more water than the tankless one. This is because conventional toilets are made such that they use 3.5 gallons of water per flush. If you have a model that was made earlier than 1980, it might use as much as 7 gallons per flush.

However, the modern tankless toilet uses as low as 1.6 gallons of water per flush. For some model, they will even allow you to determine how much gallons of water you want to use per flush. As a result, you will be able to save more water in the long run and thereby save more money.

4. Power

If you do not have electricity in your home, you can still use the tank toilet as long as the water can get to the tank toilet more conveniently. However, if you have installed a tankless toilet, you might need to have a power supply all the time.

 This is because this toilet normally uses an electric pump water at a high pressure through the pipes to flush the toilet. This means that if there is a power outage in your home, you might not be able to use the toilet the way you please.

5. Pipe installation

For the tankless toilets, the pipes that supply water are normally installed inside the wall, unlike those of the tank toilets.  Sometimes, these pipes can be installed under the floor. This means that a tankless toilet is less likely to have leakage issues, unlike the conventional tank toilet.

6. Ability to keep the toilet bowl cleaner

When using the tank toilet, you might have to flush the toilet severally, for the toilet bowl to remain clean for longer. However, if you have installed a tankless toilet in your home, your toilet bowl is likely to remain cleaner for longer as water is normally pumped at high pressure, thereby flushing the toilet bowl more effectively. This powerful flush makes the toilet bowl to remain cleaner than their tank-style counterparts.

7. Ability to refill faster

If you are using a tank toilet at home, you have to wait for the toilet tank to refill so that you can flush the toilet. This can be time-consuming, especially if you have many users in your home. However, the tankless toilet is different as it refills faster and can be flashed again more quickly than a tank toilet. This makes these toilets ideal for commercial operations where there are many users.

8. Design

The old tank toilet have been used for many decades in the past. However, if you have a contemporary design profile in your bathroom, you should consider installing a tankless toilet. These toilets are generally designed in sleek, modern forms and can instantly update the look of your bathroom.

9. Complexity of installation

For the tankless toilet, it is easy to install it on your own. All you need here is the DIY plumbing knowledge and some plumbing tools. However, if you want to install a tankless toilet, you might need to look for an expert. This is because these toilets are complex and might need the skills of a professional so that they can work optimally. Therefore, if you want to install the modern tankless toilet, you should brace yourself for this and set a budget for it.

Similarities

Although these toilets are different in one way or another, they have some similarities that you should know. First, both toilets can be installed in residential homes. However, for the tankless toilet, you need to hire an expert to install it for you. Also, you need to set a budget for pipes, among other things. Doing this on your own might not be effective. However, a licensed plumber will do this for you at a fee.

Both toilets usually use water to flush. As long as you have ample water in your home, you are good to do. This water can be used to flush the toilet bowl after use every time you visit the toilet. Finally, installing either of these toilets can be a good investment for your home. Besides increasing the value of your home, you will also enjoy more convenience as you use them.

Which is better and why

Having looked at both the similarities and the differences between these toilets, it is essential that you know which is better so that you can buy one for your home. In any case, you would want a more convenient toilet and one that will enable you to get the value for your money. This discussion will be based on the following factors.

1. Price

If you want to install any of these toilets, you have to set a budget for it. For the ordinary tank toilet, the price is relatively lower compared to a tankless toilet. For a tankless toilet, you have to dig deeper into your pocket as you have to part with $900 and above. Also, you have to look for a professional plumber. This exercise too demands more money.

For the ordinary tank toilet, you can readily install it on your own. This can help you save more money. Therefore, if the cost is an issue for you, you should consider installing a conventional tank toilet.

2. Purpose

The ordinary tank usually serves the usual purpose of a toilet. However, this toilet can consume more water compared to a tankless toilet. If you are looking for a more functional toilet, you should go for a tankless toilet. This is because it serves the purpose of a typical toilet can be more efficient when it comes to water consumption.

3. Maintenance and durability

Every toilet needs to be maintained so that it can remain in good condition for longer. If you install a tank toilet, you should maintain it once in a while as it might develop leakage issues from time to time, among other issues. This can make you spend more money in the long run.

However, the tankless toilet is easy to maintain as it hardly develops such issues. This makes it desirable for those homeowners who are looking for a low-maintenance toilet. When it comes to durability, the tankless toilet can last for longer compared to a tank toilet. As a result, you will get the value for your money when you buy a tankless toilet.

4. Dimension

The tankless toilet is more compact compared to a tankless toilet. Therefore, the tankless toilet is more suitable for those bathrooms that are small in size. If you choose to install the tank toilet, you have to ensure that you have more space in your bathroom as these toilets usually consume more space compared to their counterparts. If space is an issue for you, you should consider installing a tankless toilet in your bathroom.

At the end of the day, a tankless toilet might be costly to install on the onset, but it can significantly help you conserve more water. Your water bills will reduce and thereby help you save more money. Also, this toilet comes in a sleek design. This makes it a good option for your bathroom. Therefore, a tankless toilet is better than the ordinary tank toilet.

Back to top button