A dual flush toilet is a toilet that offers its users two different options when flushing the toilet. The first option is suggested when there is only liquid waste to be flushed. The second option, which provides an increase in the amount of water supplied, is used when solid waste needs to be removed.
In this article, the origins of the dual flush toilet will be explained as well as how this toilet developed over the years as newer technologies were developed. We will discuss the advantages of a dual flush toilet and its water-saving features and learn about the common issues these toilets face and why they are not a good choice for everyone.
Origins Of Dual Flush Toilets
In 1980, an employee of Caroma, a manufacturer of plastics for plumbing and bathroom products, developed the first dual-flush toilet. Bruce Thompson’s impetus for the design was a severe drought plaguing Australia which was already the driest inhabitable continent on the planet. In an effort to reduce water usage, he came up with a toilet that had two flush options: one using far less water to flush solid waste and a second using even a lesser amount of water for liquid waste.
Water Savings
Prior to 1980, a standard toilet used between 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush (GPF) but this changed when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in an attempt to reduce water usage, limited the number of gallons per flush to 1.6. Many toilets are still in use today complying with that limit.
The EPA’s standard for high-efficiency toilets with a low flush is now 1.28 and any toilet meeting this water usage or lower has a WaterSense rating. This rating’s purpose is to make it easy for consumers to recognize products that conserve water. Toilets in this category save the average family approximately 13,000 gallons of water per year. That is a substantial savings!
Dual flush toilets. Also referred to as half-flush toilets, combine a single high-volume flush button using 1.6 GPF with a second low-volume flush using just 1.1 GPF. Some even flush as low as 0.8 gallons per flush.
Advantages Of A Modern Toilet
The main attraction of dual flush toilets is their ability to use less water. Water-restrictive states such as Texas, California, Georgia, and Colorado now have regulations that limit the amount of water per flush to not exceed 1.28 GPF. Conserving water makes a dual flush toilet environmentally friendly with cost savings and lower water bills a plus.
Featuring two flush options provides versatility and improved plumbing efficiency and a dual flush mechanism can be retrofitted so outdated fixtures can be updated without needing to replace the entire fixture.
Another advantage is dual flush toilets come in one and two-piece options as well as a wall-mounted model with its components completely out of view as they are buried behind the back wall. Cleanliness is improved with the modern wall mount toilets as the area under the toilet is easy to reach.
Disadvantages Of Dual Flush Commodes
Although few in number there are a few disadvantages to a dual flush toilet. First, the instructions on which button is paired with which type of flush you need can be confusing. Oftentimes a low flush is accidentally selected for solid waste which then requires a second flush. This immediately defeats the water-saving aspect of this toilet.
Dual flush mechanisms can be more difficult to repair than a standard single-flush toilet and may lead to more costly repairs as the toilet ages.
Less water during the flush equates to less water cleaning the bowl so often times the dual flush toilet will require more frequent cleanings to keep the toilet looking fresh.
Looking For Toilet Replacement In Orange County?
A dual flush toilet is a great way to reduce water waste while still providing a strong method of disposing of human waste products. They contribute to cutting an average family’s water usage by 30% and offer versatility in choosing what type of flush is needed. Dual flush toilets are great for the environment and just as great for our heavily burdened pocketbooks. We highly recommend dual-flush toilets to our customers and we encourage you to consider switching from a single-flush toilet to a more efficient dual-flush toilet.
Contact our team today to schedule a consultation!
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