What is a Dual Flush Toilet?

If you’re like most people, you probably do not spend a lot of time thinking about how your toilet works. It’s there when you need it, and that is pretty much it! Single-flush models have long been the standard in most countries.

With the rise of eco-friendly policies and politics, however, a new type of toilet was introduced to the market not too long ago.

The design actually originated in the early 1980’s by Bruce Thompson, an Australian inventor that had a vision of a toilet system that would use far less water per flush than conventional models of the day.

How the dual flush system works

The technology has indeed been improved upon since then, and now many homes in North America feature the dual-flush product type.

The principle is simple; the toilets are equipped with two flushing modes, one for liquid waste, and one for solids. Since it requires a lot less water to dispense of liquid than it does solid matter, the technology ends up being highly effective from a conservation standpoint.

This is particularly important now more than ever, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that 36 states experienced water shortages in 2013, which is why it is imperative that more homeowners start adopting the dual-flush technology model.Similar water shortages have been seen in Canada, as well.

The savings aren’t small

Realistically speaking, making the switch from a traditional toilet can save the average household up to 50% usage from flushing. All told, this can easily amount to a few thousand gallons or more over the course of a year!

That being the case, you may still be wondering whether it is cost-effective to upgrade the toilets in your house. After all, this entails buying and installing new plumbing equipment. So are the savings really worth it? In short, yes they are.

Many people have reported a two-thirds reduction in their water usage from swapping out their conventional, single-flush toilets, and many countries like Australia have begun enacting laws that require their dual counterparts be installed in every home and building.

In addition to the big savings dual-flush toilets offer, they are also much more aesthetically appealing than conventional models (primarily since these models are relatively new to the North American market).

They’re also very easy to use. Contrary to the original push/pull design, newer series feature two separate buttons, one for low and high volume respectively. The installation of these toilets does require a fair degree of plumbing experience, so be sure to hire a reputable green plumber to have the job done properly.