What are Dual Flush Toilets & How Does It Work

what is a dual flush toilet
dual flush toilets

If you are here because you are interested in learning the following: What Is a Dual Flush Toilet & How Does It Work and Which To Buy, they best toilets on the market, and if they are worth the upgrade from your standard toilet, then we have you covered!

What Is a Dual Flush Toilet?

picture of a dual flush toilet

Dual flush toilets were created to handle the disposal of solid and liquid waste differently from standard single flush toilets. This difference is responsible for dual flush toilets possessing a greater conservation of water compared to standard flush toilets. In countries with a short water supply, such as Australia, Europe and Asia, the dual flush toilets have gained popularity. It is no secret that water shortages have been on the rise. This is due to increased manufacturing, the rise in population, and even water sources becoming poisoned rendering them useless. The invention of dual flush toilets was to combat the water shortage issues that we face now and in the future to come.

How Does a Dual Flush Toilet Work?

How dual flush toilets works

In 1980 the first dual flush system was created by Bruce Thompson of Caroma Industries. This two button flushing system created a convenient way to select the proper amount of water to use for the flush needed – a half flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste. 99% of people frequent the bathroom for the purpose of “liquid relief” yet most people use an entire flush to dispose of that liquid when in reality a half flush would do the trick. Most dual flush toilets utilize around 3 liters of water to dispose of liquid waste and around 1.6 gallons to flush solid waste. Before the toilet redesign in 1993 most toilets used a staggering 5 gallons of water for each and every flush. That’s a big difference in water savings!

How to Use Dual Flush Toilets?

how to operate dual flush toilets

Using a dual flush toilet is very simple and intuitive. One button activates the release of a half flush of water and another activates a full flush. The reason that dual flush toilets can dispose of waste by using less water than traditional toilets is due to their disposal system. Standard toilets use what is called siphoning action to dispose of the waste. This siphoning action utilizes a tube and relies on a high volume of water to fill that tube. Once filled it is the siphoning action which disposes of the waste. The brilliant design of the dual flush toilet utilizes a larger diameter trapway (the hole at the bottom of the toilet bowl) which enables less water to be used and also reduced the chances of clogs.

Related: What NOT to Flush Down the Toilet

The One Piece DF Toilet

a picture of a one piece dual flush toilet

When choosing a single flush toilet you will be met with the decision to choose a one piece or a two piece toilet. Both toilets operate in the same manner, are installed in the same way, and utilize the same amount of water. The main difference between the two toilets is the size of the toilet. One piece toilets are generally smaller which makes them the ideal choice for bathrooms with a smaller square foot area. Another great advantage of one piece toilets is that they’re also easier to clean due to their seamless, one piece design compared to their two part toilet counterpart. One piece toilets are also more durable due to the one piece design hiding the pipes and flushing elements from outside elements such as steam from the shower or cleaning solutions. The only downside to a single piece toilet is their price points. Single piece toilets are generally more expensive due to their modern design and solid construction however the pros of a single piece toilet are agreed to be worth the increased price.

Best DF Toilet Kit?

best dual flush toilet kit

Dual flush toilet kits are the ideal solution for those who have had a new toilet installed recently yet still would like the benefit from single or duel flushing. Most dual flush toilet kit costs under $40 and their installation is simple to anyone with low to moderate mechanical ability. These kits are a direct replacement of the current flapper system inside the bowl of the toilet and give you the about 80% of the experience of swapping for an entire dual flush, single piece toilet. Once installed, and after a few adjustments, your current toilet will have the ability to use either a half flush or full flush depending on the waste being disposed of.

Related: 3 Ways to Identify Something’s Wrong with Your Toilet

Dual Flush Toilet Problems?

Problems that effect dual flush toilets

Up until now it may seem as dual flush toilets are the holey grail of toilet and flushing technology, and that is mostly right! However, like with all technology there is always areas of concern. For instance the seals with dual flush toilets can wear out over time and could cause leaks, rendering the benefits of saving water mute. Note: Seals in dual flush toilets are far superior to flappers in standard toilets, so this is less of an issue than before upgrading. The largest cause for concern when dealing with dual flush toilets is the zip tie that is needed to secure the fill valve to the rest of the assembly. Most dual flush kits come with a very flimsy zip tie and over time these zip ties are known to fail before the rest of the system. Solution: Use a slightly beefier zip tie during the initial installation. If you take this measure you will greatly (probably entirely) reduce the chances of this becoming an issue. Some of these fixes are easy however hiring a plumbing company will be the best solution for repairs.

Related: How Much Damage Can a Small Plumbing Leak Cause?/

Dual Flush Toilet Reviews?

reviews of dual flush toilets
The illustration of a 5-star rating system

Like all things, dual flush toilets are not created equal. Knowing what current customers think about their purchase is crucial to making the correct decision. If you are going to be searching for your dual flush toilet at Home Depot or Lowe’s than you are in luck as they both offer a great selection of toilets to choose from. Below are some reviews from the most popular toilets on the market.

Single Piece Toilet: Glacier Bay 1 Piece high Efficiency Dual Flush Elongated All-In-One Toilet

Two Piece Toilet: Glacier Bay High Efficiency Dual Flush Toilet Complete Elongated Toilet

Two Piece Toilet: American Standard Cadet Tall Height 2 Piece Dual Flush Elongated Toilet

Two Piece Toilet: Kohler Highline Complete Solution Dual Flush Elongated Toilet

Best Dual Flush Toilet

here are the best rated dual flush toilets

So, what do these reviews mean? What is the best of the best?

If you are looking for a single piece toilet the optimal choice is the Glacier Bay 1 Piece high Efficiency Dual Flush Elongated All-In-One Toilet, as depicted in the first option. This toilet is very expensive compared to it’s competitors and also holds the strongest review score of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on over 3970 reviews! You can find this toilet at The Home Depot.

Wrapping Up:

If you are a do-it-yourselfer and would like to upgrade your toilet then a simple kit may be the best option for you. However, if you are looking to upgrade your a toilet that is outdated or experiencing leaks or other failing components then upgrading to a modern, dual flush toilet it may be best bet. Remember to speak with a plumber as swapping toilets is an extensive process and best suited for an experienced plumber to handle for you.

How to Choose the Right Plumber:

Choosing the right plumber for the job is very important as you can imagine. This person will be coming inside your house and performing work that if done wrong could cost thousands of dollars and maximum frustration and believe me, this happens every day.

The first precaution you can take is to check a companies google reviews. If they have over 15 positive reviews it is safe to assume they provide a valuable service however always read a handful of reviews and determine for yourself if they were posted from past customer and not their family members or best friend.

If the reviews check out, the next step is to check their licensing and insurance. Under no circumstance is it ever recommended to have plumbing work done by someone who isn’t insured. Yes, they will be cheaper but any decent plumber will possess insurance. There is always a reason as to why those who are without insurance don’t have it.

If they are licensed and insured, the final check is to simply give them a call and assess how they are as a person! Again, this person will most likely be inside your home for a considerable amount of time. There are many plumbers out there folks and you deserve to find and pay a plumber as nice as you!

Using these tip you are sure to find the right plumber for the job. If you are located in Palm Beach County and are looking for an affordable plumber in Delray Beach feel free to give Your 1 Plumber FL a call for a free consultation & estimate. I will leave their contact info below. Your 1 Plumber Fl is licensed, insured, very professional, experienced and they hold a 5-star google rating with plenty of reviews and have made many happy homeowners, and they can do the same for you.

Plumber Delray Beach

Related: 4 Major Plumbing Mistakes Homeowners Make

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