Types of Toilet Flushing Systems (2024’s Popular)

Are you tired of clogs or want to save water? Read this post and be informed about the different flushing systems and which one to choose for your bathroom.
Most people buy Flushing toilets based on their looks, size, shape, price, water consumption, and brand. But a few take a deeper look into the type of flushing system a toilet uses. This is very important because it determines how powerful a toilet clears the contents in the bowl. A good flushing system can prevent problems like clogging.

Water consumption of different flushing systems:

• Pressure-assisted flush: 1.1 to 1.2 gallons (Most Powerful)
• Gravity flush: 1.28 gallons (For Commercial Toilets)
• Double Cyclone Flush: 1.28 gallons (For Toto Toilets)
• Dual Flush: 1.28/0.8 gallons (Water-Saving)
• Siphon Flush: 1.6 gallons (Less Powerful)
• Rear Toilet Flush: 1.1 gallons (Expensive)
• Ballcock Flush: 2 gallons (Old System)

Related: One Piece VS Two Piece Toilet Comparison

Whether you want a quiet flush or a more eco-friendly flush, you will still have to choose from one of the flushing systems. It is a good idea to choose a very effective flushing system so that you don’t have to double flush. The water jet should be capable of cleaning the toilet so that it remains sparkling clean after every use.

What is a toilet flush system?

The very first thing that we must figure out is what is actually a toilet flushing system. The toilet flushing system is that kind of system where you depress the button, and water quickly passes into the toilet bowl from the toilet tank, and the waste contents are removed through the trap of the toilet through the drainage pipe. This process is called the “toilet flushing system.” Actually, the flushing of the toilet enables human waste to be transferred to the septic tank. Nowadays, well-known toilet brands have invented a vat-rate flushing system, which has ushered in a new era in the sanitary industry.

Most Popular 8 Types of Toilet Flushing Systems

In this Types of Toilet Flushing Systems post, we’re going to discuss the different flushing systems and help you understand them better.

Type-1: Pressure-Assisted flushing technology

This may not be the most popular flushing system in the market, but it is very powerful. Of course, gravity flush is the most popular. Pressure-assisted flushing system uses pressurized air to force water into the bowl. This flushing system is less likely to clog, but it is very noisy. But if you’re looking for a very powerful flush, you can bear the noise produced by this excellent system.

Related: Pressure Assist toilet – Niagara Stealth Toilets

Instead of being passive like gravity flushing systems, the more active pressure-assisted toilets are capable of pushing down more wastewater quicker and with extra force. With these toilets, you will never experience double flushes. When these toilets were first introduced into the market, they were difficult to maintain. But the latest models are better and easy to maintain.

Now, the only challenge lies in the noise that they make when in action. The noise can be attributed to the extra force applied when flushing the toilet. This is the only advantage the gravity flush system has over pressure-assisted toilets. Overall, they are amazing and very powerful. Also, this system uses less water but stays very efficient in performance.

How it works

The toilet tank consists of another pressure tank inside it, and the total unit works by using the tremendous force of the air. At first, water is filled inside the pressure tank, and when you flush it, the flush valve opens and sends water into the bowl at a vigorous speed. This mechanism mainly uses less water and more pressure to clean the entire toilet bowl.

Strength and Weakness

The most eye-grabbing attribute is the fierce air pressure that cleans the toilet bowl with the blinking of an eye. It is prone to use in big industries where the toilet is used in a heavier aspect. As the pressure pump operates, it yields an uncomfortable sound that is quite annoying.  

Type-2: Gravity Flushing System

This is the most popular type of toilet flushing system on the market. The gravity flush system applies water to make the flushing pressure, which in return forces all the contents from the tank and bowl via the trapway. Finishing the flush is siphoning action, which as well cleans the bowl, and since there are no additional mechanics involved, the gravity flush is one o the quietest flushing systems on the market.

The best thing about using a gravity flush over the other flushing systems is that there is very little or no maintenance. This is because it has no additional moving sections but just the natural flow. The gravity flush system is also the oldest flushing system on this list, and many people prefer it over other types of flushing.

Best Gravity Flush Toilets- Kohler Memoirs Toilet or Kohler San Souci 

To make these toilets more efficient, some gravity flush systems have their tank elevated instead of sitting directly to the bowl to increase the distance water has to travel to the toilet bowl and maximize the pressure created. As a result, water from the cistern is forced into the bowl, cleaning it and removing the waste at the same time very effectively. These are the toilets that you will find in most homes.

Working Mechanism  

The mechanism is very basic and easy, as the entire system is run by gravitation. When you activate the flush, the entire volume of the water forces anything way to the Trapways. 

Merits and demerits

This flushing system has many merits, and you need to understand them with sheer awareness. There is nothing fancy in between the systems. Just push the flush, and the waste will disappear. Here I am giving a short description of the positive sides of this flushing system. 

Pros: It is mainly clogs-free as the trapways are short and wide and can be handy in removing waste without any hassle. One of the craziest things about this toilet is that it is a highly budget-friendly product.    

Cons: This flushing has a more considerable disadvantage: the lack of swirling around the bowl increases the chance of leftovers in the bowl. This produces loud noise during flushing, and there is a real chance that it cannot clean the entire thing. Sometimes it needs more than one flush to wash away the waste, so this is not an eco-friendly strategy for cleaning the toilet bowl as it consumes a huge amount of water.  

Type-3: Double Cyclone Flush

This is one of the latest flushing systems on the market. Actually, this system was introduced by the Toto toilet brand. The double cyclone flushing system utilizes only 1.28 gallons of water per flush, but it still has the power of a full 1.6 gallons per flush. This helps you save on the water bill and to be eco-friendly by using less water.

Top Double Cyclone Toilets- Toto Carolina II or Toto Drake 

The double cyclone flushing system is unique in that it utilizes two nozzles instead of rim holes, and with the support of the propulsion system, more water is channeled to the siphon producing a more efficient flush. As a result, there is no lost power, and it utilizes some gravity flush techniques to complete the process. Though, it’s not clear whether this proprietary flushing system is the same as gravity flush toilets or dual flush toilets.

At the moment, Toto is making an effort to popularize this system, and they are reaping well from it.

Working Mechanism  

This Flushing system comprises three nozzles and a powerful propulsion system that yields immense centrifugal, cyclonic rinsing action, which does not allow the waste to leave the waste mark, and the swirling action throughout the toilet bowl obstructs the germs from growing up.  

Strength and Weakness

It has one of the strongest flushing systems that remove all the stains from the bowl. It showcases a formidable siphoning action which is rare in the other flushing methods. The system has minor setbacks; the parts are really difficult to find if damaged. 

Type-4: Dual Flushing Mechanism

Last but not least, we’ve got a dual flush system. This is one of the latest flushing systems on the market and is gaining popularity very quickly. This is because it provides consumers with the chance to choose between a partial flush and a full flush. Who doesn’t want to save water? And the dual flush is the perfect toilet for water-saving or getting a lower water bill at the end of the month.

Related: Dual Flush Toilet – Toto Aquia II Review

The dual flushing system features a partial flush and a full flush button. The partial flush is ideal for liquid waste in the toilet and uses up to 1 gallon of water per flush. On the other hand, the full or actual flush uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush. All of this is accomplished by just pressing the right button for every type of flush. The flushing system is very powerful, and you won’t experience a lot of issues.

Dual-flush toilets are becoming very popular. At the current rate, they are destined to pass pressure-assisted flushing toilets and gravity-flushing toilets.

How it operates

There are two separate buttons for different purposes of flush. That one flush swaps away all the solid waste and consumes about a gallon and a half of water, which is pretty much reasonable. On the other hand, there is a system of partial flushing that consumes less than a gallon of water. 

Positive and negative sides

The dual flush system is pretty much more trendy than the single flush system. There are two different flushing systems for the two different types of waste. Here, water is saved in a decent quantity. Another stupendous nature of this flushing system is that it is very budget-friendly and saves the electricity bill by a good margin.  

Related: Single Flush vs. Dual Flush

Type-5: Ballcock Flush System

This type of flushing system is actually the most common type of flushing system you can ever find. It has a ballcock along with a plunger that fills the water tank. 

Working Mechanism  

The ballcock is a plastic floating circular block that is attached to a sturdy rod. When the rod is elevated, it triggers the plunger, and this mechanism allows the water to be filled or emptied. The summary is it actually operates based on the water level in the tank. If the water level is insufficient, then the entire system will collapse. Let us see some of the advantages and disadvantages of this system.

Pros and Cons 

The main advantage of the ballcock system is that it is replaceable, and the flush can work correctly. One of the greatest disadvantages is that the ballcock is prone to failure and consumes a lot of water. If you do not properly measure the shut-off valve’s height, it will collapse and be unable to shut off the water. Actually, it is likely to be a traditional way of flushing water.  

Type-6: Flapper-valve Flush System

This type of flush system is pretty much similar to the ballcock flushing system. The main difference is that in the previous method, they used the ballcock, and in this case, the company incorporates the flapper system. The system consists of a toilet flush valve that is opened and closed by a one-sided plate hinge.

How it Works

The flapper is filled with air at the very first, and if you activate the flush, the flapper will start to float. The chain is given in the tank, then pulls out its position and provides permission for water to get into the tank. When the tank empties, the water level decreases, and the flapper loses its courage to float into the water. Consequently, the toilet tank began to refill again, and now it is again ready to flush for the next time.

Pros and Cons 

The prime advantage of this flushing system is that it is easy to maintain, and if it gets useless, it is very simple to reinstall the flapper. It is proven to be a long-lasting and easy-to-understand flushing system.

If we talk about the disadvantages, then the supreme one is that the chain is not that durable and can break at any time due to rot and impurities. 

Type-7: Siphon Flush Technology

It is one of the most normal types of toilet flushing systems. The main feature of this flushing is that one end is connected with the S-Shaped trap way, and the other end is attached to the bowl. The trapways are filled with partially vacuumed air which enables it to suck away the waste throughout the drainpipe. The bottom part of the siphon is designed to obstruct sewer gasses from escaping.  

Working Mechanism  

Whenever the flush is initiated, the water is flown away to the bowl with the help of gravity, and water enters the bowl at high pressure. Then, the siphon jet activates and passes through the bowl’s rim. Water meets with the trapped vacuum air inside the pipe, and the waste is gradually washed away throughout the drain pipes. 

Pros and Cons 

The prime advantage is that it has a powerful flush that removes all the stains from the bowl and produces less noise and odor. Another worth mentioning advantage is that this flushing system is less costly than the other flashing system.

One cause that makes it a bit shaky is that the flushing can not thoroughly wash away the waste, which results in acute clogs in the drainpipe. 

Type-8: Rear Toilet Flush System

This is not the most familiar flushing system in the world as the main functionality of the toilet is situated at the rear end of the toilet itself; in other words, they are called the wall-mounted toilet. The rear toilet flushing system is a compact and sleek model, as the flush valves, plumbing components, and other accessories are hidden completely. 

Strength and Weakness

It is an efficient flushing system that is compatible with modern toilet design. All of its hierarchy is hidden so that it looks compact. The bathrooms with less space can easily fit into this flushing system. But there is a significant problem requiring extensive maintenance and readjustments, which seems costly. 

Conclusion

As you have read through all the different types of flushing systems, it is clear that no one toilet is the best. You just need to identify what feature you think is the best for you and go for that type of toilet. It can be a powerful flush, silent operation, water-saving, or convenience. Choose a toilet according to your needs, and you will be grateful that you did. I hope these Types of Toilet Flushing Systems articles will help you a lot.

FAQs

How do I repair a toilet flushing system?

Answer: A toilet is a very busy area, and it has to be functioning all the time. If your toilet has a flushing problem, the most common part to check is the flush valve. This can be done easily and quickly if you know what to do. Assemble the right tools or if you can’t handle it, call a plumber. Here is the process to follow: shut the water supply down, disconnect the valve chain, and detach the flush valve. If the flush valve is bad, replace it with a new one, install the new flapper & flush valve, connect the valve chain replacement, reconnect the water supply, and test if everything is now smooth.

My flush handle is loose. How do I fix it?

Answer: If our flush handle is loose, you can fix it in two different ways. First, reconnect the lift chain or lift wire that links the lift arm to the flapper. And secondly, adjust the handle mounting nut inside the tank. This usually has reverse threads that need the counterclockwise rotation to tighten it.

I have a running toilet. How do I stop it?

Answer: This is one of the most common problems that toilet users face on a day-to-day basis. A running toilet can either be caused by a flapper that is not sitting well in the opening valve of the flush or because the water level in the tank is extremely high and allows water to flow over the top of the overflow tube and into the tank. No matter the problem, this can be fixed easily. If the flapper is bad, it has to be replaced. But if it’s not, simply return it to the position.

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.