Malfunctioning toilets can cause a wide range of issues in commercial and residential applications—property damage, inflated utility costs, and a poor guest experience just to name a few.
These are common issues in gravity toilets. Yet, pressure-assist systems avoid these problems through a single reliable flush and low water consumption.
We sat down with Lori Feltmate, Director of Customer Service, to discuss just how damaging a malfunctioning toilet can be to a business’s reputation, and how Flushmate provides an effective solution.
What are the biggest issues you typically see that cause recurring maintenance costs?
Clogged toilets, flapper leaks, degrading parts, and clogged lines are all things that add up to wasted water and costs for plumbers, facility maintenance professionals, and homeowners alike. There is a cost to have a plumber come out and fix the problem, as well as the time it takes for the maintenance staff to attend to the issue.
There is also a cost in terms of customer satisfaction. In commercial applications, customers don't want to deal with a toilet that's backing up or continually running.
How much water can be lost due to leaking toilets?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leaking toilets can lose 180 gallons of water per week. That’s nearly 10,000 gallons per year, depending on the severity of the leak. Again, that can be caused by worn out flappers and valve seals. Depending on how many toilets are installed and leaking, that amount of water can add up fast.
Is property damage a concern as well?
Clogged toilets backing up can definitely cause property damage. Beyond the potential damage that can occur to carpets, floors, and ceilings, overflowing waste may require specialty groups to come in and clean up wastewater caused by clogged toilets or drains as well.
In commercial applications like hotels where a room may be unoccupied, undetected leaks can be very costly from both a property damage perspective as well as the water bill. The same is true with a residential second property that can be unoccupied for months at a time. That can lead to major issues and damage if a leak goes undetected.
Do you think the majority of customers keep potential costs in mind when making purchasing decisions?
I think the potential costs are an afterthought for most customers at the time of purchase. Most customers generally look at the initial cost of the toilet and make a decision without thinking of the total cost of ownership. And that’s where pressure-assist innovation plays a role, because we’re able to eliminate a lot of those fundamental cost issues, whether it be clogged toilets, wearable parts, or the cost of water bills to have pricing consistency. All those things working together is your total cost of ownership. With gravity toilets, you tend to have cheaper up-front costs, but you’re going to spend more over the long term.
Aside from cost issues, how important are functioning toilets for ensuring a positive guest experience in commercial environments?
I think there are two parts to this, the first being water conservation. Water is a precious resource, and more people are becoming aware of that. If they go into a facility where the toilet’s running or needs multiple flushes, it’s concerning because water conservation is important to them. On the other hand, when they can go into a facility where the toilet clears on one flush, is working properly, and not wasting water, it makes a big difference.
The other aspect is the customer experience. If you have a toilet that’s backing up or clogged, it’s embarrassing for customers if they have to get help to resolve the issue. They could leave a bad review, not go back, and tell friends. It’s very important to have a positive guest experience in both commercial and residential environments.
How does Flushmate work to avoid these issues?
Pressure-assisted toilets help to reduce hidden costs that may occur down the road by reducing the risk of clogs. There’s less maintenance required, and pressure-assisted toilets deliver consistent flushing, which reduces the need for double flushing.
We’ve actually received calls from customers who visit various locations that use pressure-assist technology. They experience a powerful flush and remove the lid to see that Flushmate is inside the tank, and they call us for information about our product.
Do recurring customers express to you how they realize these benefits?
Yes, we have thousands of testimonials where people realize there is a total cost of ownership element. And with Flushmate, those problems are diminished. Typically, once you’re a Flushmate customer, you’re one forever because you don’t have to deal with incidental costs due to clogs and leaks that can come with gravity fixtures.