New Dual Flush Toilet Vs. Dual Flush Toilet Conversion Kit
Background on Dual Flush Toilet Conversion Kit:
Often taken for granted and underappreciated, the humble flush toilet is a major innovation . . .
The first consumer flush toilets started appearing in US homes in the late 1800s. Like many other plumbing appliances from that period, they really haven’t changed all that much since then because the original design is solid, reliable and proven – they simply work and have become the single most important sanitation devices in the modern world. Why would you consider a dual flush conversion kit? Traditional toilets were never intended to conserve water and quite the opposite, most older toilets are not water smart and are simply wasting water for each and every flush – up to several gallons per flush. It wasn’t until 1980, when concern for water conservation started rising to the fore front, did the low flow toilet or more commonly “dual flush” toilet arrive on the scene.
The first big change and future of all toilets is the modern water saving dual flush . . .
Now, all the major manufacturers including American Standard, Toto, Kohler and Mansfield offer a number of models and styles of dual flush toilets, some with the familiar flush handle and others with a European push button actuator. The lever handle models work just the same as a traditional flush handle toilet, but with one big difference . . . when the handle is toggled in one direction, it produces a water saving “Number One” half flush and then can be toggled in the other direction for a higher water volume “Number Two” flush as required. Similarly, the Euro-style push button actuator is split into a smaller button for those little “Number One” flushes and a larger button for higher water volume “Number Two” flushes. Whichever model you choose, all of these newer dual flush toilets can save up to 67% of the water use over standard single flush toilets. But does this mean you have to replace your older toilet? What re the pros and cons of using some kind of dual flush conversion kit?
The cost of toilet replacement vs. fitting a dual flush conversion kit:
The cost to replace a perfectly good standard flush toilet with a new dual flush toilet is high . . .
While a new dual flush toilet costs from about $150 to $250 to buy and does not seem like a big investment for the desired water savings, there is much more in the total replacement cost to consider. First of all, removing and replacing a toilet is fairly major and messy job, best done by a certified plumber. The floor mounting may have to be modified for the new toilet footprint and then the old floor “donut” seal has to be carefully removed and replaced with a fresh one to ensure a leak-proof toilet-to-floor connection. Then the new toilet water line may require different fittings and/or rerouting, followed by any additional floor or wall caulking and then possibly some paint touch up. Most plumbers charge in the neighborhood of $250 for a basic install and if any complications arise with the floor or wall, that cost can go up considerably.
Finally, but certainly not to be discounted, is the fact that putting a perfectly good toilet into the landfill is environmentally unsound and simply does not make sense.
Dual flush conversion kit results:
Achieve the exact same results at a much lower cost with a dual flush conversion kit . . .
Most modern dual flush toilets still work on the exact same principles as the original old style toilets that are probably in your home right now. The real change in water efficiency is inside the tank compartment where the simple “flapper valve” has been replaced with a modern dual-float piston valve that provides the dual flush functionality.
The good news is that these same dual flush valve components used in the newer dual flush toilets are in fact available in dual flush conversion kits that can be retrofitted to existing older toilets. Even better for the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) type, a dual flush conversion kit is no harder to install than any other regular flush kit (such as the Fluidmaster kits) and yet achieves nearly the same water saving results as a new toilet and at a fraction the cost. There are many articles and videos on the web that explain how to replace a flush valve and how to convert to a dual flush toilet using a dual flush conversion kit. Note again that most of the dual flush components used in new dual flush toilets are EXACTLY the SAME from the SAME manufacturers and built to the SAME standards as our retrofit kits.
Keep your perfectly good toilet in place and simply upgrade it yourself using a dual flush conversion kit – get the same water saver results for a fraction the cost and save a toilet from the landfill!
