Dual/low flush toilets are now a fairly standard option in the porcelain goddess section of home improvement stores, but if you are a renter or unable to afford a replacement and want to conserve water without "letting it mellow" check out this simple solution.
It may sound a bit crazy, but all you need it a good sized rock and you’re ready to roll! Well, a rock or similar object that will displace water in the tank. Just make sure it won't fall victim to erosion from being submerged in the water (no bricks allowed), and be very careful not to damage the tank or block the mechanisms. This rudimentary fix means less water is needed to fill the tank to capacity, which in turn means less water is used in the flush!
(Image: Mill Creek Authority)
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fill a plastic bottle with water (or rocks?) and then put it in. I've got a plastic bottle full of water in mine and it works/stays out of the way.
You can get the same effect by just adjusting the level of the floater. In newer toilets, there is usually a long plastic screw you can turn. On older toilets, you can just bend the bar the floater is attached to. This means the toilet stops filling at a lower volume of water, just as with adding a rock or plastic bottle. The problem with this method is that toilets are designed to flush with a certain volume/pressure of water, so if you reduce the volume of water in the tank, you reduce the pressure available to flush the toilet. There are inexpensive dual-flush conversion kits available that allow you to maintain the appropriate volume and pressure of water, but just use less per flush.
Zero immediate cost, perhaps. The damage to the plumbing from the grit released from the rock or brick will cost you in the end, however.
agree that a plastic milk jug filled with...anything really would work better because there is zero chance the plastic will damage anything in your tank.
thanks for the reminder though, I'm definitely going to be doing this as soon as we finish the milk in the fridge.
Be careful if you try to lower the float by bending the bar. I broke one once!
Totally agree on the plastic bottle alternative. 1/2 gallon milk jug works well. I have a kefir bottle in mine. Just fill with water and drop it in the corner.