the water bill savings have definitely outpaced what I’ve spent on the odd flapper or fill valve
That lines up with what I've seen in a lot of projects—long-term, the savings tend to justify the switch. Some models do seem to have more finicky parts, especially the dual-flush types, but honestly, most issues are minor and easy to fix. I’ve noticed Toto and Kohler hold up pretty well in multi-unit buildings. Anyone else find certain brands need less tweaking over time?
Some models do seem to have more finicky parts, especially the dual-flush types, but honestly, most issues are minor and easy to fix.
That’s been my experience too, though I’ll admit I was pretty skeptical at first. The first time I swapped out a whole building’s worth of old tanks for low-flow models, I half-expected a maintenance nightmare. But honestly, after the initial round of “what’s this button do?” calls from tenants, it’s mostly just been the occasional flapper or seal—nothing major.
I’ve had decent luck with Kohler, but oddly enough, one batch of American Standard units gave me more headaches than I’d like. Fill valves that wouldn’t shut off, weird ghost flushes... you name it. Maybe just a bad run? Hard to say. Still, the water bills dropped enough that even with a few extra service calls, it penciled out.
If there’s one thing I’d flag, it’s that some of the ultra-low flow models can be a bit underpowered in older buildings with less-than-ideal plumbing. Sometimes you trade water savings for a few extra plunges. But overall, yeah—the numbers don’t lie.
- Water savings are real, but yeah, some models just don’t play nice with older pipes.
- I’ve noticed the same thing—sometimes you get a batch that’s just off.
- If you’re retrofitting, it helps to test one or two units first before committing to a whole building.
- Minor fixes are par for the course, but overall, the lower bills make up for it in my book.
- Just gotta be ready for a few “learning curve” calls from folks who aren’t used to dual-flush setups...
Had a similar situation when I swapped out all the toilets in my last build—thought I’d save a ton, but a couple of the units just didn’t mesh with the old cast iron lines. Anyone else run into weird clogs with the low-flow models? I ended up having to swap two back to standard. The rest worked fine, though, and the water bill drop was pretty noticeable. Dual-flush definitely confused my dad for a week or two...
Title: Making the switch to water-saving toilets: Worth it?
I've noticed similar issues with low-flow models, especially in older homes with cast iron pipes. It’s not always a seamless upgrade—sometimes the reduced flush just doesn’t clear the line as well as the old ones did. That said, the savings are hard to ignore over time. I’m still not convinced every retrofit is worth it, especially if you’re dealing with frequent clogs or confused guests... but for most newer plumbing, it’s a solid move. Dual-flush can be a learning curve, though—my uncle thought his was broken for a week.