This post has taken me a year to write. No kidding, this post was meant to happen. It was calling that I was failing to answer. Let me explain.
Last July, I wrote a blog post that mentioned 19 of the 34 toilets on EPA's WaterSense manufacturers list were manufactured by Caroma, an Australian company that first developed the first two button dual flush system (1.6 / 0.8 gallon). After writing this post, I thought I should buy one of these toilets, however, the thought was quickly lost to everyday stuff. However, the thought returned when I reflected a bit for my "7 best of 2007" end of the year blog post and I vowed in that post to actually buy one of these toilets to test.
This was a great example of why it is good to write down your New Year's Resolution, or better yet be naive enough to put them in a blog for some accountability. Shortly after I wrote my blog post, one of my readers responded that she sells Caroma toilets and would be glad to help. Oh boy, no more excuses.
I was really concerned that this toilet could not handle our family's demands. This is a good way of saying it, right? We have a first generation 1.6 gallon flush toilet and it is awful. However, I knew these High Efficiency Toilets had to complete the third-party certification process to earn the WaterSense label.
Andrea at eco Transitions, located in Atlanta, did a great job answering my questions. Finally, I chose Caroma's Sydney 305 model. This is a two piece, two button dual flush, High efficiency toilet - 1.6/0.8 gallons per flush. After buying a wax ring and spending this past Saturday morning removing the old toilet, removing that nasty old wax ring off, I installed the new toilet in less than an hour.
Our family must lack for entertainment, because we each took turns using it. Pushing a button to flush a toilet seems modern, while our old handle driven toilet now seems like an old rotary phone, functional, but lacking ease and grace. My five year old daughter said our new porcelain marvel was the most beautiful toilet she had ever seen. I am not sure about this, but I will say I am very pleased. It works and it works well.
If you are interested in saving some water by upgrading your toilet, give eco Transitions a call. You will feel good and you may possibly have the best looking dual flush toilet on your block.
Thursday, June 26
Where's the Handle? : My First Dual Flush Toilet
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7 comments:
I have the opposite reaction, thinking what do you mean 'where's the handle?'
I'm in Australia and we have had these dual flush toilets for as long as I can remember (20 odd years?) - a handle would seem strange to me! :)
I just got 2 of the Sydney 305's installed last night & we are very impressed. The plumber who installed them was even impressed. She was expecting the old style low flow action, but when she tried this one out she siad we better not lose anything down this one, because it's heading out. I really do love them. Andrea at ecoTransitions was great to deal with. They dropped them off at my house without any hassles. I'd definately check with them to get these items. I then had Melinda with Home Fix-it Divas do the install. Great service and pricing!
It's really nice to write about something you are totally aware and you already experienced. You can explain and elaborate it more once you know the topic you are discussing. Like this dual flash toilet, you can explain it better once you already tried it.
Thanks for this great article, I enjoy this article.
1.6/0.8 gallons, wow that sure is efficient. Back in India most toilets are still 4-5 gallon monsters! I've placed three 2-litre bottles in the cistern to minimise the damage. Also when the handle is pushed up in the opposite direction, the flush stops. There is an Indian word for it called 'jugaad'.
Dual flush toilet retrofit kits are another option. They convert existing two-piece 1.6-gallon toilets with a two-inch discharge into a dual flush toilet. If your existing toielt meets these criteria, you can convert to a dual flush for under thirty dollars plus shipping and handling. This means you save water while avoiding the carbon footprint pressed by the removal and disposal of the existing toilet as well as the creation and instalation of the new one. It may not be right for you, but if it is, you should take a look... www.curryconduit.com/clients
Buyers beware of the dual flush toilet kits. There is no assurance that your toilet will:
a) flush waste out of the toilet with at least 40 feet of drainline carry
b) provide an adequuate trap seal to prevent poisonous sewer gases from entering the home
c) save you water.
You can be assured all of these features when you buy a true dual flush toilet specifically designed to meet all industry requirements.
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