Dual flush toilets are great and practically have no downsides to them because they only use about 0.8 gallons of water per flush for a light flush and about 1.6 gallons of water for solid waste flushing. When you compare the two types of toilets you will realize that dual flush toilets use about 4.5 gallons less than the conventional single flush toilets do.
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Nowadays American water management companies are encouraged to offer incentives to individuals implementing more efficient dual flush toilets as this reduces the amount of waste that gets sent to waste processing plants as well as water treatment reservoirs. Some city and county administrations go the extra mile and give store credit to individuals looking to replace outdated toilet models with more modern and efficient ones.
Read Our Comparison Table
12 Best Dual Flush Toilets – Reviews of Our Top Picks
1. TOTO Aquia IV Porcelain Dual Flush Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 1-piece |
| Seating Height | 17.25 inches |
| Material | Vitreous China |
| Shape | Elongated |
TOTO has designed the Aquia white porcelain model in a timeless classic style that will fit any bathroom interior design. Moreover, its compact size means it can be placed in a corner of the bathroom if you have limited space.
The toilet is designed with a dual flush button that can be used halfway to add the needed amount of water into the bowl or pressed all the way for a regular flush down. Moreover, the toilet has been designed to have a textured finish that helps shed water and is much more resistant to dirt, scratches, and stains.
Furthermore, Toto Aquia comes with a very clear step-by-step instruction booklet that makes it easy to understand how to install the toilet and how to operate or perform small fixes if the need will arise. Also, it is a bit taller than the standard TOTO toilet models are hence it will be more suitable for taller individuals or elderly family members.
2. TOTO Ultramax Porcelain Dual Flush Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.6 GPF |
| Pieces | 1-piece |
| Seating Height | 17.25 inches |
| Material | Vitreous China |
| Shape | Elongated |
The trapway has been computer designed and tested for super-efficient and clog-free use throughout the years. Moreover, this model is sold in 5 different finishes including the high-end CEFIONTECT ceramic glaze.
It is designed for households and RV equipped to handle up to 3.8 gallons per flush without the water backing up.
Plus, the single-piece design will eliminate the need for frequent cleaning especially between the bowl and the tank. Customers have reported this model to work flawlessly with a strong flush and bearable noise level.
3. American Standard H2Option Dual Flush Toilet
| Water Consumption | 1.0/1.6 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 17.25 inches |
| Material | Vitreous China |
| Shape | Elongated |
A sleek designed toilet reported by many to be very quiet, elegant and beautiful. This American Standard toilet has a rounded corner and clean design with a shiny cotton white finish.
Plus, it is easy to keep the toilet clean with minimal effort as the bowl surface is non-stick and it does not have many crevices, corners or grooves.
The toilet has an optimal seating height for children, elderly and tall individuals. The toilet is made in the USA using high-end porcelain and comes in a box with all the necessary screws and bolts.
Moreover, the toilet has been WaterSense certified due to the low consumption of dual flush.
4. TOTO Eco Ultramax One Piece Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 17.5 inches |
| Material | Vitreous China |
| Shape | Elongated |
TOTO Eco UltraMax toilet has low water consumption at just 1.28 gallons of water per flush. The toilet is glazed in a patented SanaGloss finish that prevents mold, mildew, fungus and debris from sticking to porous porcelain and ceramic surface.
The gloss works great because it seals the china with an ionized barrier that creates a super-smooth surface that is easy to clean with a flush. Moreover, the catalyzed ion particles even repel debris and rusting themselves.
Furthermore, its soft closing seat has a comfortable ergonomic design and molded bumpers as well as polypropylene finish to prevent the common and annoying toilet seat bump.
If needed, customers can order a separate toilet seat they can later use to replace the old one. All TOTO toilet seats are made to fit all models regardless of whether the model is regular or elongated.
5. Our Top Pick: American Standard H2Option Round Front Dual Flush Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.92/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 16.5 inches |
| Material | China |
| Shape | Round |
In our opinion this American Standard model is the best dual flush toilet. It comes in three colors. The standard one, which is white, the linen and the bone color one. This American Standard product weighs only about 68.8 pounds and has a round bowl. Due to its shape, it is a bit less comfortable but still very practical. As the round models are often a few inches smaller, it is more compact than the elongated one. It features a siphon jet bowl with the PowerWash and provides optimal performance.
Keeping this toilet clean and bacteria-free is a piece of cake with the EverClean surface. The dual flush mechanism offers 0.9 GPF with the light flush and 1.28 with the full flush. It comes along with a five-year limited warranty on the mechanical parts. Also it has a lifetime limited warranty for the chinaware.
You can also find a right height version of this toilet online. But the standard one is 15 inches high and not as comfortable for sitting. The toilet itself is effective and powerful. It is also very affordable and makes a perfect choice if you want to save some space.
6. KOHLER K-3987-0 Wellworth Round Front Toilet
| Water Consumption | 1.1/1.6 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 16 inches |
| Material | China |
| Shape | Round |
Because of its round shape, it is not the best in terms of comfort. Still, if you have a small bathroom, this makes a perfect choice for you. This high-efficiency Wellworth toilet offers you the choice of 1.6 and 1.1 gallons per flush. This way, you save at least 4000 gallons per year and reduce the water bills quite a lot. It has a classic 12-inch rough-in which is really simple to install. The Kohler K-3987-0 is equipped with a standard one-year warranty.
This is a floor-mounted round toilet. With the Class 5 flushing technology it offers a magnificent power and water flow rate. It has a very sleek, modern, yet stylish look. This toilet is available in four different colors so it fits to any type of bathroom. This model is available in biscuit, white, almond, and believe it or not, black. It is made out of china and is very durable compared to the ceramic models. Although it is durable, it is definitely not the heaviest toilet out there. The K-3987-0 weighs only about 86.3 pounds.
7. TOTO CST746CEMFG#01 Drake Dual Flush Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 17 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Shape | Elongated |
Due to the universal height elongated bowl, this model is very comfortable. The height of 17 inches makes it a perfect choice for older people with movement issues. Even though it is made of ceramic, it is just as durable as most modern toilets. Due to the CEFIONTECT, no bacteria nor particles will stay in the bowl. This layer of very smooth glaze will keep your bowl clean for a long period of time.
This toilet makes a perfect combination of functionality and enhanced design. It comes along with most high-end features such as DYNAMAX TORNADO and CEFIONTECT. The CST746CEMFG#01 lets you choose between 0.8 and 1.28 flush.
Speaking of flushes, it utilizes a 360 degree flushing system. This way it successfully cleans the whole bowl from all types of waste attached to it. With this dual flush system you will approximately save about 3500 gallons a year.
8. American Standard Cadet 3 Toilet
| Water Consumption | 1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 16.5 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Shape | Elongated |
Various features such as the EverClean surface distinguish the Cadet 3 from the rest. This model was designed with style and efficiency in mind. It offers very decent performance with almost no clogs. In the most recent MaP performance tests, it got the highest rating possible. Plus, this toilet has a big, extra-wide flush valve, providing quick and clean flush. Furthermore, with the PowerWash rim it can completely clean the whole bowl.
The American Standard product is treated with the Ever-Clean surface inside out. This means, no bacteria, mildew, or mold will stay attached to the surface. This way the toilet stays clean, odor-free, and fresh all the time. For elderly, the Cadet 3 makes a perfect choice as it has a right height of 16.5 inches. Still, the product is a little bit heavier than usual and weighs about 110 pounds. The Cadet 3 from American Standard is backed by a five-year warranty.
9. Kohler K-5401-PA-0 Veil Skirted Dual Flush Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 1-piece |
| Seating Height | 17 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Shape | Elongated |
The closing as well as the opening of the seat and its cover is motion-activated. To make sure no odor is coming from the toilet, it has an automatic deodorization system. The K-5401-PA-0 gives you the choice to choose between 1.28 and 0.8 gallons partial flush. In order to save space, Kohler made this toilet system absolutely tankless with direct supply.
To enhance the quietness of using this model it has a built-in Quiet-Close toilet seat. The bowl can also serve as a nightlight as it has LED lighting. The power outage won’t be a big problem since you get 100 emergency flushes.
Kohler K-5401-PA-0 comes along with various unusual, yet useful features. This is one of the best dual flush toilets so far.
It is a single-piece intelligent elongated dual flush toilet. Standing up is also much easier with the comfort height seat. Aside from the comfort height, the elongated bowl shape also improves the comfort. One of the coolest features of this toilet is the self cleaning function. The toilet uses the electrolyzed water system and the UV light to clean the wand surfaces.
The K-5401-PA-0 also features a heated toilet seat and it comes along with a changeable temperature setting. Such a thing has a huge impact on the comfort and the experience of using a toilet.
10. TOTO CST746CEMG#01 Drake Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 17 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Shape | Elongated |
Another very important, noteworthy factor is the space saving design. Even though it is an elongated model, it provides the same space saving as round toilets. Still, due to the elongated shape the comfort is much better. The TOTO Drake toilet utilizes a 360 degree flushing system. This way the toilet removes the waste from all parts of the bowl. It is possible to coordinate this toilet with any type of bathroom style.
Its design is very modern, sleek, yet minimal and comes in various colors. The product itself weighs about 100 pounds. This TOTO toilet comes with the new enhanced elegant design.
This toilet features the TORNADO flush system like the CST746CEMFG#01. Plus, it also comes along with the CEFIONTECT ceramic glaze. Such a combination does a great job reducing the amount of toilet cleanings. Therefore, you won’t have to use the water and harsh chemicals all the time. Unfortunately, this toilet doesn’t come along with a seat. But you can buy a soft close seat to get the best experience. You can go even further and buy a washlet bidet electronic seat.
11. TOTO CST746CSMFG#01 Drake Toilet
| Water Consumption | 0.8/1.28 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 17 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Shape | Elongated |
A little downside is that the toilet seat must be purchased separately. The comfort is fully enhanced with the universal height of this toilet. Also not to forget that this model is ADA compliant. Another useful feature of this toilet is the semi-concealed trap-way. This kind of trap-way provides you maximum efficiency with almost no clogs. To make sure the toilet easily blends in your bathroom, it is available in four colors. The bone, colonial white, sedona beige, and the cotton one.
Looking for a powerful, highly-efficient yet affordable toilet?
Then this model makes a perfect choice. It is capable of providing powerful flushes without big water consumption. The CST746CSMFG#01 features the CEFIONTECT glaze. This way, it prevents any mold, dirt, or debris from staying attached to the surface. The CST746CSMFG#01 offers you two different flushing options. The 0.8 gallons half flush, and 1.28 gallons full flush. The TOTO CST746CSMFG#01 dimensions are 27.38 x 17.31 x 30.06 inches.
12. American Standard H2Option
| Water Consumption | 1.0/1.6 GPF |
| Pieces | 2-piece |
| Seating Height | 15 inches |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Shape | Elongated |
This American Standard model is protected by the 5-year limited warranty. With the PowerWash technology your toilet bowl stays clean after every single flush. So, you won’t need to invest much time in scrubbing the bowl with harsh chemicals. In terms of design, this toilet is available in three colors: white, bone, and linen.
A little disadvantage of this model is that it isn’t universal height toilet. So if comfort is most important to you, you may want to check out other dual flush toilets on the list. This American Standard toilet offers a magnificent water flow rate of 1.6 gallons per minute. This is definitely one of the greatest H2Option dual flush toilets in its class.
Its innovative and modern design is most likely to meet all your bathroom needs. It has a push button which allows you to choose between a partial flush (1.0 GPF) and a full flush (1.6 GPF). This will save you a lot of water over the years, still providing you maximum power. This American Standard toilet is simple to maintain and has high efficiency. Due to the Ever-Clean surface, you will never experience problems with odor. With this coating, the toilet stays fresh, clean, and bacteria-free.
How to Choose the Perfect Dual Flush Toilet
The American Water Association has conducted a study that revealed that an average person’s annual water expenses will reduce on average by about $250 with dual flush toilets. The Federal Energy Policy Act has introduced a water limit of 3.5 gallons for low flush toilets back in 1992 before that regular outdated toilet models could use up to 8 gallons per flush regardless of whether the bowl had liquid or solid waste.
Moreover, those models were notorious for needing more than one flush for solid wastes anyway otherwise the toilet bowl would be filled with waste left behind. Since then, a lot has changed and the latest models are designed to help water conservation. They are as water-efficient as possible. Toilet manufacturers have come up with various ideas to improve water savings and among their designs is the dual flush toilet that uses the least amount of water when compared to any other type of toilet.
EPA Rating
Toilet companies have to keep the capacity of the toilets below 1.6 gallons. Still, most of them are trying their best to beat that and be even better. There are many toilets that are designed with a 1.28 gallons cistern. Such toilets get a special kind of certificate. But they only get it if the toilet manages to flush effectively. If such toilets are what you need, look for the ones with the EPA Water Sense certification. This certification is given only to the toilets that use less than 80% of the standard (1.6 gallons).
Flushing Mechanism
All the toilets with the dual flush technology have an improved system of flushing. That is how they achieve very powerful and effective flushes with minimal water usage. Speaking of flushes, there are two main flushing structures available. The first one is pressure-assisted flushing structure. It uses the mixture of water and highly-pressurized air. These systems are often more expensive and louder, but still more powerful. There are also systems with gravity flush structure. They are easier and more ordinary than the pressurized ones. Such systems use gravity to utilize water weight and produce the pressure for flushing. They are also much quieter and water-saving.
Seating Height
The height of your toilet plays a very significant role in the comfort and convenience. Therefore, regardless of the type or design you must consider the height. Most standard toilets are about 15 inches away from the ground. However, there are many comfort-height toilets out there to choose from. They are ADA-compliant and around 18 inches in height. Such design makes sitting on them feel like sitting on an average chair. That is why these toilets are a great choice for people with movement disabilities.
Durability and Warranty
The units that use the dual flush system are well-known for their durability. Still, to ensure the quality of their products, most companies offer a 1-year warranty. It isn’t unusual for some companies to even offer you to extend the warranty. But, that pretty much depends on the brand of your toilet. In that period, buyers can return the product back to the company if it is faulty. After that, they will probably be given a fresh replacement. If not, sometimes the company offers to repair the faulty product for free.
Noise
One thing you must also keep in mind while making the purchasing decision is the noise. If you live with elderly or kids, noisy toilets can give you all a hard time sleeping. Especially if you have a baby, the loud toilets can be a nightmare. In that case, you should consider the noise levels while buying a toilet. So, if you want a bit quieter toilet aim for the ones with gravity flushes. The air-pressurized ones are often way louder than the gravity ones.
Size and Shape
In terms of shape, there are two most common types: elongated toilets and round ones. While the round ones are a bit outdated, the elongated toilets are much newer. The elongated models are well-known for the comfort they provide. Their shape makes sitting a way better experience than the round ones. They are normally about 5 inches smaller and a better option for kids. However, if you have less space, we recommend wall mounted toilet for small bathrooms.
How to Install a Dual Flush Toilet?
Installing a dual flush toilet can be pretty simple if you have the necessary knowledge.
- First things first, remove the old toilet from its place. You can use a knife of some sort to get rid of the wax ring.
- Put the closet bolts from the new product over the flange.
- Now, using a masonry drill bit, drill through the floor over the screw-hole marks carefully.
- After that you can screw both mounting blocks into the floor.
- Put the new toilet in its place and make sure it fits perfectly over the blocks.
- Open the toilet tank and take the flush valve out of it.
- Install the tank on the bowl and carefully tighten the bolts.
- After connecting the water supply line, you have pretty much finished the process.
- Finally, flush the toilet a few times to see if there is any leakage.
Potential Disadvantages
These toilets can often be confusing. A lot of people make mistakes such as accidentally pressing the wrong button. Such things can be very confusing, but also defeat the point of a dual flush technology. That is why you should look for the model that is simple to use. Another possible disadvantage is the maintenance of a dual flush toilet. Due to their mechanisms, they are not as simple to maintain as the traditional ones.
Extra Features and Advantages of the Dual Flush Toilets
There are numerous advantages of using a dual flush toilet. The main and most obvious advantage is water saving. With such toilets, you save huge amounts of water every day. Upgrading your existing toilet with dual flushing functionality is less expensive than buying a new one. Even the best upgrading kits are not too expensive and have numerous benefits. Plus, as you have already seen, these toilets are easy to install.
Extra features are not a must, and a toilet works perfectly without them. Still, such features drastically enhance the experience of using a toilet. The models with additional features often have automated flushing for instance. The automated flushing is based on motion sensors or even timers. Some other noteworthy features are heated toilet seats, slow closing lids, and various colors.
Even the toilet bowls might have a special kind of glaze. That feature can prevent stains and make the toilet resistant to bacteria and mold.
Plus, some models may even feature under-rim pumps, whirlpools, and power washers. These things will keep your toilet fresh and easier to clean. There are toilets that have driers, deodorizers, fans, and, believe it or not, Wi-Fi. With such technology you will use the electricity more than the toilet paper itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Some Individuals Are Not Sure About Getting a Dual Flush Toilet?
Some individuals might be a bit confused because best dual flush toilets can be confusing to maintain and sanitize. Plus, if you accidentally press the wrong side of the flush then you will need to flush again thus beating the purpose of dual flush toilets which is primarily to safe water.
Moreover, since the dual flushing toilets have a separate flushing mechanism for liquid and solid wastes be prepared to change the flushing system completely even if the problem of faulty flush lies only in one small part breaking. The dual flush mechanism has two buttons that can be pressed however their inside mechanism is connected with one another.
Does a Dual Flush Toilet Save Water?
Long story short, yes! Compared to standard models, the dual flush ones save up to 67% of water. This will drastically decrease your water bills in the long term.
What’s the Minimum and Maximum Flush Rating?
The minimum amount of water for the partial flush is usually around 0.9 gallons per flush. On the other hand, the maximum amount (full flush) is mostly between 1.28 and 1.6 gallons per flush. The models with 1.6 are usually more powerful than the 1.28 ones.
Why Does Your Dual Flush Toilet Keep Running?
Various factors such as faulty flapper or seal can cause the toilet to keep running. One factor that is often the cause is the rubber piece that might have misaligned. But it is completely normal, such things happen as the years go by. Check for those problems before anything else.
Will a Single-Piece Toilet Get Completely Clean After Flushing?
Even though the single-piece toilet uses less water, its flushes are still powerful. More water doesn’t always have to mean a cleaner and better toilet.
Bottom Line
Having a comfortable yet efficient and powerful toilet will save you a lot of energy. The main features to look for are right height design, the shape, and the performance. But still, don’t forget to make sure the toilet is water efficient and compact.
It can be rather difficult to find the best dual flush toilet online without some knowledge. Therefore, you must check the buying guide before purchasing. It should help you find some of the best dual flush toilets. The K-5401-PA-0 Veil is our top pick if you want the luxury features it has to offer. Still, note that it is a little more expensive than the other toilets on the list. So, if that one doesn’t suit your needs re check the best dual flush toilets list.
We hope this guide has helped you set your mind on making your home a little more efficient and eco-friendly. We have included only the best dual flush toilet reviews in the article and hope you were able to pick the right model for your bathroom. Also, you might want to try and browse some local sources to see if you might be illegible for a government refund through the ‘Make America More Efficient’ program that is being run by local councils.
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