Product Preview: HydroRight Dual Flush Converter

Dual-flush toilets are common around the world, in particular Europe and Australia, but these water-saving toilets are still just catching on in the U.S.

Based on our latest review of toilets, performance could be contributing to the slow penetration. In our tests (watch testing video, right), most dual-flush models did the job in the full-power, solid-waste mode. But the "short flush" for liquid waste was less effective As a result, you could end up having to flush twice, erasing  water savings. Read Buzzword: Greenflushing for more details on water use and toilets.

Dual-flush models we tested cost about the same as the single-flush models. Note that the recommended dual-flush models from Gerber and Mansfield, $400 each, are pricier than some of the top-scoring single-flush commodes in our toilet ratings (available to subscribers).

To save water from flushing at home without having to replace your toilet, you might consider the MJSI HydroRight Dual Flush Converter, $25, which is supposed to turn a single-flush, standard-valve toilet into a dual-flush model. We haven't tested this device, which we first saw earlier this year at the 2010 International Builders' Show.

To use the HydroRight Dual Flush Converter, you remove your toilet's old flapper and handle, slide the converter over the tank's overflow tube, and fasten a dual-flush button. An adjustable float on the converter lets you control how much water is used in each flush mode, according to MJSI President Michael Schuster. That way, if you're not getting the desired results in the short flush, you can always crank up the volume.

—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Check out these fixes to common toilet problems. Follow us at Twitter.com/CRHomegarden.