Honestly, I’ve seen some of those “stronger flush” models in action and, not gonna lie, they still struggle if you toss in anything more than a couple squares of TP. Maybe it’s just my luck, but I’ve had to break out the plunger more than I’d like. My uncle swears by his old-school toilet—says it could flush a whole sandwich if you dropped one in (not that I’m recommending that). I get the water-saving thing, but sometimes it feels like two flushes defeats the purpose...
sometimes it feels like two flushes defeats the purpose...
Yeah, I hear you on that. I’ve worked on a bunch of these newer low-flow models, and honestly, some brands just don’t handle “real world” use very well. I always tell folks to check what kind of TP they’re using too—some of that ultra-plush stuff is basically clog bait. Have you noticed if it’s worse with certain paper, or is it just all the time?
some of that ultra-plush stuff is basically clog bait.
That’s the truth. I’ve seen more “emergencies” caused by fancy TP than actual plumbing failures. One time, I got called out for a backup, and it turned out the homeowner had switched to some triple-ply “luxury” stuff—thing looked like a quilt. Low-flow toilet just couldn’t handle it. Swapped ‘em back to basic single-ply and, poof, problem solved.
But honestly, sometimes it’s not even the paper. Some models just don’t have the right flush design. I’ve noticed the cheaper ones especially seem to need a double flush, which kind of defeats the whole water-saving idea. There are a few brands that get it right, but you usually pay more up front. Still, if you’re constantly plunging or flushing twice, you’re not really saving anything... except maybe a headache for me when I get called out.
Curious if anyone’s tried those “pressure assist” types? I’ve heard mixed things, but never had one in my own place.
Pressure assist toilets kinda scare me, honestly. I rented a place once that had one and it sounded like a jet taking off every time you flushed. It did the job, but I’d rather have a regular one that actually works than deal with all that noise. I agree—if you’re flushing twice or plunging all the time, what’s the point of “saving” water? I switched to a mid-range model after moving in and haven’t looked back.
I totally get what you mean about the noise—those pressure assist toilets can be intense. The first time I used one, I legit thought something broke in the wall. They do clear everything out, but at what cost to your eardrums, right?
Honestly, I think a lot of the water-saving models have gotten better over the years. The early ones were pretty weak and yeah, you’d end up flushing twice or grabbing the plunger way too often. But now, some of the mid-range options seem to strike a good balance between saving water and actually getting the job done. I’ve installed a few for friends and family, and most of them are happy with how they work.
Still, I wouldn’t say all water-saving toilets are created equal. Some brands just don’t perform as well, especially if your plumbing is older or you’ve got low water pressure already. It’s kinda trial and error unless you do a bunch of research first... or just ask around like this.