Water pressure might actually be a factor, especially in taller buildings. I’ve seen some upstairs units where you get that lazy swirl, but downstairs it’s fine—makes me wonder if the pressure drop is just enough to mess with the flush. Ever check if the fill rate is slower up top? Also, I totally relate to the “sad swirl” description... sometimes it really does look like the toilet just gave up halfway through. I wish more of these dual-flush designs took real-world use into account, not just lab tests.
I’ve run into this exact issue in my old apartment—top floor, and the half flush was basically useless. Here’s what I did to troubleshoot, in case it helps:
1. First, I timed how long it took for the tank to refill after a flush (both half and full). Upstairs, it was noticeably slower than downstairs. That told me water pressure was definitely playing a part.
2. Next, I checked the fill valve for any sediment or partial blockages. Sometimes older pipes or hard water can gunk things up, especially on higher floors where pressure’s already lower.
3. I also adjusted the float and the flush volume settings (if your dual-flush lets you tweak them). Sometimes the factory setting is just too stingy for real-world use, especially if you’re dealing with less-than-ideal pressure.
Honestly, some of these eco designs seem like they were tested in perfect conditions, not in buildings with 30-year-old plumbing. If you can’t get a decent flush after fiddling with those things, you might need to swap out the fill valve for a pressure-assist model—though that’s a bit more involved.
Anyway, hope that helps. It’s frustrating when “green” features don’t actually work in practice...
Honestly, some of these eco designs seem like they were tested in perfect conditions, not in buildings with 30-year-old plumbing.
Couldn’t agree more—sometimes it feels like these “green” toilets were designed by people who’ve never actually lived in an old building. I’ve had the same issue with half flushes just... not doing their job. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- Water pressure is a huge culprit, but I’ve also found that the angle of the flush button matters. If you don’t press it just right, you get a sad trickle instead of a flush. Not exactly high-tech.
- Had a plumber tell me once that mineral buildup inside the rim holes can mess with the flush power too. He poked around with a wire and it actually helped a bit (gross, but effective).
- I tried those “eco” drop-in tank tablets once—big mistake. They made things worse and gummed up the works.
Honestly, sometimes I just give up and use the full flush. I want to save water, but not if it means flushing twice every time. Kind of defeats the purpose, right?
Honestly, sometimes I just give up and use the full flush. I want to save water, but not if it means flushing twice every time. Kind of defeats the purpose, right?
I hear you. It’s like, what’s the point if you’re doubling up on flushes? One thing that helped me a bit—took the lid off and adjusted the float arm so the half flush actually lets out a bit more water. Not perfect, but at least it’s not as weak. Old pipes just don’t play nice with these “modern” fixes.
Half flushes are such a mixed bag, honestly. I tried tweaking the float arm too, but then I started worrying about messing up the whole mechanism. My place has pipes from the 70s, and sometimes I wonder if these dual flush systems are just too “modern” for older plumbing. I even swapped out the flapper once, thinking maybe it was leaking or not sealing right, but it didn’t make much difference.
One thing I noticed—if there’s any buildup in the rim jets or the trap, the half flush just doesn’t have enough oomph to get things moving. I ended up running a wire around the rim holes and it helped a bit, but still not perfect. Maybe these systems are just designed with newer toilets in mind? I get wanting to save water, but if you’re flushing twice, it’s kind of a wash... pun intended.
