Dual Flush VS Single Flush Toilet Comparison Chart 2024

Are you planning to remodel your bathroom or just want to install a new toilet in your new house? No matter the reason, choosing the right flushing toilet for your home, business, or office is very crucial. A toilet that is great for home use may not be ideal for public use. That’s why we’ve compiled this post to differentiate between dual flush toilets and single flush toilets. So, which toilet should you buy? What is the main feature difference between Dual Flush VS Single flush toilets?

Dual-flush toilet water usage (one person)

Daily water usage: 4.8 gallons
Monthly water usage: 144 gallons
Annual water usage: 1728 gallons

Single-flush toilet water usage (one person)

Daily water usage: 6.4 gallons
Monthly water usage: 192 gallons
Annual water usage: 2304 gallons

So a person can save up to 576 gallons of water with a dual-flush toilet.

Every toilet has its own advantages and drawbacks. Single-flush toilets are the most common type of toilet on the market. They can be found in older homes and most buildings. Single flush toilets use just one mechanism, which is the same gallon per flush for all kinds of waste, while the dual flush toilet offers two options: One for flushing liquid waste and the other for solid waste.

Comparison Chart: Dual Flush VS Single Flush Toilet

Detail Features Comparison: Single Flush VS Dual Flush Toilets

Here are the feature differences between Dual Flush and Single Flush toilets.

Water usage

Single flush or gravity toilets are the most common types of toilets on the market. The older models of single flush toilets used a lot of water to push down the waste, but they have undergone a lot of improvement. Today, single flush toilets in America use 1.6 gallons of water per flush or less. The law requires that every toilet in the country should use 1.6 gallons of water or less. Before then, some toilets used even up to 5 gallons per flush. But there are also some high-efficiency (HET) single flush toilets that use less than 1.28 GPF.

On the other hand, double flush toilets use 1.6 gallons of water for a full flush and 0.8 gallons of water for a half flush. The full flush is meant for pushing down the solid waste, while the half flush is for clearing liquid waste. Normally, the toilet features two buttons on the tank lid that are pressed for either a half or full flush.

When you compare the single flush and double flush toilets, it is clear that the dual flush toilet has the edge over the latter. With dual flushing systems, you will save more water as you can use less water for liquid waste and more water for solid waste. While with a single flush, the water is constant at either 1.28 GPF or 1.6 GPF. A single flush system is suitable for use in a busy bathroom, like in public restrooms, while a dual flush toilet is suitable where the numbers of users are few.

Flushing system

Even though dual flush options help you save more water, some users have reported experiencing difficulty during flushing. The button located on the toilet tank requires more force to press it. But with the chrome trip lever, this is never the case. This can somehow be challenging for disabled and elderly persons.  Therefore, when it comes to flushing, the single flush toilet is the best choice as it is easier to use when compared to a dual flush toilet.

Ease of maintenance

Dual flush toilets are very environmentally friendly and convenient to use. They offer you the option of choosing either a half flush or a full flush. The main challenge with this kind of toilet is that it is not very easy to maintain as its parts are hard to get. Alternatively, single flush toilets are very popular and have spare parts all over the market. So, if you want to replace the lever or flush valve of a single flush toilet, you will find replacement parts easily and quickly.

Eco-friendly

If your aim is to save a lot of water and have an eco-friendly toilet, then the dual flush toilet is the best option. Dual flush toilets use very little water, but they are very effective in performance. When you install this type of toilet in your house, you may end up saving more than 25,000 gallons of water per year. Also, you may be in a position to get rebates in some states if you are replacing an older toilet with a high-efficiency toilet.

Aesthetics

The biggest advantage that a single flush toilet has over a double flush toilet is that it can be modified to blend with the environment. Single flush toilets feature a lever that can be changed to match your bathroom décor. This is not the case with the buttons placed on the dual flush toilet, as they cannot be easily changed.

Cost

Finally, the single flush toilet is cheaper than the double flush toilet. But if you take into consideration the amount of water and water bills you will be saving with a dual flush toilet, you will realize that it is cheaper in the long run. You just have to maintain it in the best condition, as maintaining a dual flush toilet is costlier than maintaining a single flush toilet.

Dual Flush or Single Flush Toilet: Which is better?

Regardless of whether you are replacing your old toilet or installing a new one in your new house, it is important to understand the benefits and shortcomings of different types of toilets. Single flush toilets can be suitable in high-traffic areas, while double flush toilets are ideal for home use. Also, depending on the state that you live in, it is a good idea to follow their regulations and get the right toilet.

To conclude, I can gladly say that the dual flush toilet is the best option between the two, and it is gaining popularity slowly by slowly. It uses less water, offers the user the option of clearing solid or liquid waste, and it is cheaper in the long run.

Should I select a toilet that utilizes a maximum of 1.6 GPF or 1.28 GPF?

This depends on how much water you want to save and what state you reside in. If you want to save more water and get rebates on your water bill in some states, then you should go for a toilet with a maximum of 1.28 gallons of water per flush. Also, people who live in states like California and Georgia are required to have a flushing toilet that uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush or less. Generally, it was passed by law that all toilets in the country should use 1.6 gallons of water per flush or less.

Is it difficult to install a toilet on my own?

This is not a very challenging thing. All you need is to assemble the right tools and follow instructions to the end. Note that one-piece toilets are hard to install than two-piece toilets. This is because they are heavier and cannot be installed by one person. Before you install a toilet, you should know your toilet rough-in so that you don’t buy the wrong toilet rough-in. The standard rough-in is 12 inches, while there are some old models with a 10-inch or 14-inch rough-in.

What are the disadvantages of a dual flush toilet?

Even though dual flush toilets are very convenient, they’ve their own drawbacks. First of all, dual flush toilets are more costly than single flush toilets. This alone makes many people shy away from these toilets, and instead, they purchase a single flush toilet. The second drawback is that dual flush toilets are not as prominent as single flush toilets. They have limited designs and a few options to choose from when compared to single flush toilets. If you have any confusion after reading this Dual Flush vs. Single Flush Toilet article, you can comment below.

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Robert Crossan

Hi, this is Robert Crossan, the owner of this website, has 17 years of experience in the installation, maintenance, and repair of toilets and plumbing systems. After completing the Level 2 Basic Plumbing course in 2005, I started working in both domestic and commercial buildings as a professional plumber. So I can figure out the core difference between different toilet models and brands. It also helped me monitor their work performance and setbacks.