Many toilet manufacturers are now offering Dual Flush toilets as part of their product line. While relatively new to the US the dual flush toilets are quite common in other countries especially those that have been facing water shortages for many years. The dual flush concept is one where the toilet user selects either a full flush or, a reduced flush based on their needs. The selection in the case of the gravity toilets with the tank is usually just selecting one of the two buttons on the top of the tank you need to press. Sloan has introduced a dual flush flushometer called the uppercut easily recognized by its green handle where if you push the handle up you receive the reduced flush and if you push the handle down you receive the full flush. The EPA’s WaterSense program has recognized the water saving potential of the dual flush toilets and on the dual flush toilets requires a full flush to be not more than 1.6 gpf and the reduced flush to be not more than 1.1 gpf to achieve WaterSense Certification making the toilet eligible for rebates in areas where rebates are offered. The EPA WaterSense criteria assumes that there will be two reduced flushes made to every full flush ending in a water use of 3.8 gallons for the three flushes vs. three flushes of a 1.28 gpf WaterSense Certified gravity flush toilet using 3.84 gallons for three flushes. Currently there are rebate programs in sixteen states in the US and four provinces in Canada where you can receive rebates for WaterSense Certified toilet purchase and installation. These rebates are not limited to dual flush toilets that meet WaterSense Certification but rather any toilet that meets the WaterSense Certification.
One of the key points people who purchase dual flush toilets should consider is that while dual flush is common in other areas of the world it is a relatively new concept in North America. There is some basic training that users need in selection of the proper flush as the reduced flush is only supposed to handle liquid waste and a light amount of paper vs. the full flush handling solids and paper. When you have guests in your home you may need to explain the operation to them.
There are some places that are offering dual flush conversion mechanisms that can be installed on toilets. Before you elect to buy one of these you should be aware that they are not compatible on all toilets. They may be installed on some 1.6 gpf toilets with success but will not work on older models that have a 3.5 gpf rate. In most cases you are far better off just purchasing a new toilet that is designed as a dual flush toilet.
In the 15th Edition of the MaP Report the following manufacturers have dual flush models listed as WaterSense Certified:
- American Standard, 13 models
- Aquasenses, 1 model
- Briggs, 2 models
- Caroma, 47 models
- Cerapure Industries, 2 models
- Chelini, 3 models
- Cobban Enterprises, 3 models
- Contrac, 5 models
- Crane, 18 models
- Dolphin Plumbing Industrial, 4 models
- Duravit, 14 models
- Eljer, 1 model
- Foremost, 12 models
- Gerber, 9 models
- Greentide – CE Union International, 3 models
- Hali Industries, 3 models
- Home Depot Pegasus/Glacier Bay by Foremost, 1 model
- Home Depot Glacier Bay, 1 model
- Kohler, 12 models
- Laufen Bathrooms, 3 models
- Mansfield, 5 models
- Mansfield/Colceramica, 1 model
- Niagara, 2 models
- OPS – Original Pacific Supply, 6 models
- Price Pfister by HCG, 1 model
- ProFlo, 5 models
- Rona, 1 model
- Seasons HD Supply, 2 models
- Swell Holding, 1 model
- Toto, 7 models
- Tynan plumbing, 3 models
- Villeroy & Boch, 5 models
- VitrA, 2 models
- Vortens Lamosa, 13 models
- WaterRidge – Milim G&G Ceramics, 3 models
- Western Pottery, 2 models
- Zurn, 3 models
There is a wide array of dual flush toilets to pick from for your use. The places selling them range from plumbing supply houses and showrooms, home centers, discount outlets such as Costco, and even On-Line. The manufacturers can range from solid companies domestic and abroad, to store brand labeled toilets imported one time from an unknown company for sale. Consider that a toilet is installed in a home and often left in place in excess of 15 to 20 years a wise buyer would consider parts availability to be important. Your purchase is only good as long as you can get replacement parts for the toilet. The dual flush mechanism is complicated and at some point will require replacement. If you have purchased a labeled toilet of unknown manufacture you may not be able to obtain parts that fit. The selection is further toughened because some manufacturers once prominent names in the industry are now a shell of their former selves nothing more than labels importing from unknown manufacturers abroad. You should ask where you are purchasing the toilet for them to show you the replacement dual flush mechanism in stock and available. If they cannot carry the part I would not advise buying the toilet.