Got a Plumbing question...Dual Flush Commode Kits......

LandlightS
by LandlightS
There is a end cap display at our local Lowes' that features a Dual Flush Kit and after searching the Fluidmaster products in the plumbing department....I found a kit from them also.
So....are they as efficient as a NEW Dual Flush Commode or should I make the large $ investment for another new Dual Flush system?
Thanks, Gary
  8 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Nov 04, 2012
    I put in a really simple dual-flush system that you just add to an existing toilet. I don't remember the brand, but it works great. I think it's comparable to a new dual-flush toilet, and it only cost about $30, if I recall. Of course, I have also heard complaints about the lack of flushing power in the dual-flush systems. I don't have that problem at all, but just a heads-up.
  • The conversion unit works ok, but it depended upon the toilet. Some older toilet units do not flush very well when using only a half tank of water, There is simply not enough flow to get the bowl to clear. You can test it yourself, by simply using your hand in the water tank and shutting off the flapper to the bowl after about a half tank has drained. Did the bowl clear? If not do not waste your money. But if it did, you should be fine.
  • Warren G. Warren G. on Nov 06, 2012
    Put a brick in the bottom of the tank and displace the water level to save water and money. Or fill up a plastic bottle with water and place it in the bottom of the tank it displace water. Ether will work and is fare cheaper then buy a kit or a new commode.
  • Z Z on Nov 06, 2012
    Not sure how long ago since I have no concept of time, but we too installed an add on dual flush system to one of our toilets to see if we liked it enough to add to the other three toilets. Hate it. I did some research and found if you do it as instructed in the kit it won't work properly and was lead to better instructions on Amazon, but we've yet to take the time to make the adjustments. So for now we hold the top (pee) button in just a bit longer in order to flush the paper down. I wish we'd have not tossed the old parts away because I'd have reinstalled them along ago. Oh and our toilets are just 9 years old so they already used less water than the old ones.
  • Becky that is exactly my point. Older toilets were designed to flush with a set amount of water, It is the velocity of the water draining out of the flapper hole that determines the power of the flush,. If you look at the newer toilets you will see a much larger flapper opening then the older ones. The length of time the water takes leaving makes the older ones flush paper, If you shorten the amount of water whether you lower the water, put brick in tank, or close the flapper sooner the quality of the flush will suffer. Another issue people forget about these low flush toilets is that the older pipes in the house will tend to clog more. As the inside of the older cast pipes begin to rush they become quite rough on the interior. This results in more solids catching on the inside of the pipe. The older toilets tend to use more water thus a longer flow through the pipes thus cleaning then out better.
  • Z Z on Nov 06, 2012
    Our drain pipes are all PVC @Woodbridge. Hubby and our son did them all when we built our home. It never dawned on us when we saw these new dual flushes that our toilets were already efficient. Ee built our home with "green" in mind shortly before that term became popular.
  • LandlightS LandlightS on Nov 06, 2012
    Thanks guys...I guess it's time to spring for a new Toto commode.
  • Pat Couch Harris Pat Couch Harris on Sep 03, 2017

    A plumber solved a problem for me. When flushing a commode, hold the handle down until the flush is complete. This has saved me a lot of dollars.