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 Some city and county administrations go the extra mile and give store credit to individuals looking to replace outdated toilet models with more modern and efficient ones.
Table of Contents
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.
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
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. Additionally, the toilet has been designed to have a textured finish that helps shed water and is much more resistant to build-up, 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 arises. Also, it is a bit taller than the standard TOTO toilet models, 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 |
Designed for both households and RV, it’s equipped to handle up to 3.8 gallons per flush without the water backing up.
Fianally, 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 |
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.
Included is 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.
Finally, 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 |
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 a polypropylene finish to prevent the common and annoying toilet seat bang.
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 |
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 with a five-year limited warranty on the mechanical parts. Also, it has a lifetime limited warranty for the chinaware.
You can find a right height version of this toilet online, but the standard model 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 |
This is a floor-mounted round toilet. With the Class 5 flushing technology it offers 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. Colors include biscuit, white, almond, and 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 17 inch universal height elongated bowl, this model is very comfortable and 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 or 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 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 |
This American Standard product is treated with the EverClean surface inside out. This means no bacteria, mildew, or mold will stay attached to the surface, keeping the unit clean, odor-free, and fresh all the time. For the 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 |
Kohler K-5401-PA-0 comes along with various unusual, yet useful features. To enhance the quietness, this model has a built-in Quiet-Close toilet seat. The bowl can also serve as a nightlight as it has LED lighting. Plus, a power outage won’t be a big problem since you get 100 emergency flushes. This is one of the best dual flush toilets so far.
Standing up is also much easier with the comfort height seat. Aside from the 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 an electrolyzed water system and a 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 |
It is possible to coordinate this toilet with any type of bathroom style since 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 extra 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 |
This model is capable of providing powerful flushes without big water consumption. The CST746CSMFG#01 features the CEFIONTECT glaze. This way, mold, dirt, or debris won’t stay attached to the surface. The CST746CSMFG#01 offers you two different flushing options: a 0.8 gallon half flush and a 1.28 gallon 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 a 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.
One disadvantage of this model is that it isn’t a 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 great water flow rate of 1.6 gallons per minute. This is definitely one of the best 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, while still providing 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 by being as water-efficient as possible. Today, the dual flush toilet 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 these sound like what you need, look for models 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 toilets with dual flush technology have an improved system of flushing. That is how they achieve very powerful and effective flushes with minimal water usage. There are two main flushing structures available. The first one is a pressure-assisted flushing structure, which uses the mixture of water and highly-pressurized air. These systems are often more expensive and louder, but more powerful. There are also systems with a 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 an extended 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 most likely 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 a purchasing decision is the noise. If you live with elderly people 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. Quieter toilets usually have gravity flushes. The air-pressurized models are often way louder.
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 a 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, 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, which defeats the point of a dual flush technology. That is why you should look for a 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 traditional ones.
Extra Features and Advantages of 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. For instance, models with additional features often have automated flushing. 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.
Additionally, some toilet bowls might have a special kind of glaze that 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 make it easier to clean. There are toilets that have driers, deodorizers, fans, and, believe it or not, Wi-Fi. With such technology you will use electricity more than toilet paper itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some individuals might be a bit confused because the 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 defeating the purpose of dual flush toilets – to save water.
Moreover, since the dual flushing toilets have a separate flushing mechanism for liquid and solid waste, 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 mechanisms are connected with one another.
Absolutely. 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.
The minimum amount of water for a 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 those with 1.28.
Various factors such as a 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 this is completely normal as such things happen as the years go by. Check for those problems before anything else.
Even though the single-piece toilet uses less water, its flushes are still powerful. More water doesn’t always 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, shape, and 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, 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.
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 eligible for a government refund through the ‘Make America More Efficient’ program that is being run by local councils.
Leave a Reply