Yeah, I've definitely noticed the same thing with thicker TP. When we first switched to low-flow toilets, I didn't think about the paper at all—just wanted to save a few bucks on the water bill. But man, it became clog city around here until we downgraded from fluffy triple-ply to basic single-ply.
Also found that adjusting how much paper everyone uses helps a ton. Sounds obvious, but it took some family reminders before things improved. Another tip: holding down the flush lever a bit longer gives you a little extra water flow when needed without totally defeating the purpose of saving water.
As for enzyme-based papers...I tried them briefly, but honestly didn't notice a huge difference compared to regular single-ply. Maybe my pipes just weren't picky enough to show an improvement? Either way, considering their higher cost, I went back to the cheap stuff and haven't regretted it.
"Another tip: holding down the flush lever a bit longer gives you a little extra water flow when needed without totally defeating the purpose of saving water."
That's exactly what I've found helpful too. First-time homeowner here, and I was initially pretty skeptical about the whole low-flow toilet thing. Seemed like a gimmick at first, but after seeing the water bill drop noticeably, I'm coming around. Had the same clogging issues you mentioned with thicker TP—thought I was saving money buying bulk packs of super-soft stuff, but nope...just ended up spending more on plungers and drain cleaners.
Switching to single-ply definitely helped, though I haven't tried enzyme-based paper yet (didn't even know that was a thing until recently). Interesting to hear it wasn't much different from regular single-ply for you—maybe I'll skip that experiment altogether. Also, totally agree about reminding family members to ease up on paper usage; took some gentle nagging here too before everyone got on board. Glad I'm not alone in this!
Holding the lever down a bit longer can help occasionally, but honestly, if you're needing to do that regularly, it might be worth checking the flush valve or water level settings. Had similar issues myself until I adjusted mine—made a noticeable difference without sacrificing efficiency.
"Had similar issues myself until I adjusted mine—made a noticeable difference without sacrificing efficiency."
Yeah, adjusting the flush valve and water level can definitely help. Had a similar experience when I first installed my water-saving toilet. At first, I was skeptical because it seemed like I had to flush twice or hold the lever down longer just to get everything cleared out. But after tweaking the settings, things improved significantly.
If anyone else is dealing with this, here's what worked for me:
1. First, check your water level in the tank. Usually, there's a marked line inside indicating the recommended fill level. If it's too low, you'll get weak flushes; too high, and you're wasting water anyway.
2. Adjust the float mechanism accordingly—usually just a simple screw or clip adjustment. Took me about 5 minutes tops.
3. Next, inspect the flush valve itself. Sometimes debris or mineral buildup can partially block it, reducing flow. Cleaning it out or replacing it (if it's really worn) can make a big difference.
4. Lastly, double-check the flapper seal at the bottom of the tank. If it's warped or cracked even slightly, water leaks out slowly and weakens your flush.
Honestly, once I got these adjustments dialed in, my toilet flushed reliably every time without needing to hold down the lever or double-flush. Plus, my water bill actually dropped noticeably after switching from an older model.
So yeah, while water-saving toilets might seem overhyped at first glance, they're pretty solid once you get them set up right. Just takes a bit of initial tweaking...
Had pretty much the same experience here. When I first got mine, I legit thought I'd been scammed—every flush felt like a gamble, lol. But after tweaking the float and replacing a crusty old flapper (gross, btw), it's actually been great. Water bill dropped noticeably too, so I'm calling it a win...just gotta be patient with the setup.
