Kohler Toilet 81100 owners, replacement options

**jomardi** · 01-26-2005, 01:43 PM

Good news for owners of Kohler 81100 pressure-assist toilets. Kohler is offering FREE replacements for this troublesome (& sometimes dangerous) model. Owners can exchange for a new K-3467 San Raphael at no charge. The new model is not pressure-assisted, so owners need not worry about the explosions & floods reported with the 81100.

**Terry** · 01-27-2005, 10:12 AM

Kohler 81100 pressure-assist toilets.

Seems pretty fair to me. Those models are at least 10 years old at this point.

**jimbo** · 01-28-2005, 07:29 PM

On Jan.20, 2005 a class action suit was filed in the California Superior Court ( San Diego County) against Kohler. The suit alleges that in 2000, Kohler stopped manufacturing parts for the Rialto Pressure Lite model K3404 and the San Raphel Pessure Lite model K3394, rendering these models unrepairable; and also alleges that the remediation and replacement program was inadequate, unfair and unlawful.

Kohler does not admit any wrongdoing, and settlement talks are ongoing.

**jimw203** · 01-31-2005, 10:18 AM

How does one know if a toilet is involved? What models are included; where on the toilet should one look to confirm?

Jim W

**Terry** · 01-31-2005, 10:35 AM

If you lift the tank cover off, the inside will look like this.

**AlpineFrank** · 12-29-2005, 03:51 PM

I have one still working Kohler 81100, but want to replace it with a safer toilet that will not explode and flood. I used to have a second one but it died some years ago. Can someone give me a hint on how to get the replacement toilet from Kohler?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Frank

**jk60** · 12-29-2005, 04:17 PM

Call Kohler and mention the replacement program for your toilet. They will ask you for the serial number on the pressure tank. Then they will send you a letter that you can take to a Kohler distributor in your area to get your free toilet. I did this a few weeks ago.

You could try 1-800-4-KOHLER

hj · 12-30-2005, 06:26 AM

Interesting. I replaced one about 10 years ago, but had heard that the program was discontinued.

**jk60** · 12-30-2005, 01:04 PM

I first became aware of the replacement program from reading a thread on this forum published on 11-30-05 by Coca-cola Bear. I followed his steps for obtaining a new replacement toilet and the process was very easy. Installation of the new toilet and disposal of the old one are not covered by Kohler and are up to the owners.

**Deric Kettel** · 05-31-2006, 03:27 PM

Well I called Kohler a few days ago, and told them I have 7 of these toilets where I work, and they said I could buy a new top half with the new tank inside for about $125.00 each. So I guess the replacement program is gone?

Any ideas?

Deric Kettel
Maintenance Mechanic II
University of Washington

**Terry** · 05-31-2006, 03:41 PM

$125 would be a good deal I think.

**Deric Kettel** · 05-31-2006, 03:43 PM

Hey Terry is this really you? I love the website, and have been reading all kinds of threads. Well I might replace the one I robbed parts off of to see how the replacement goes, but are the parts going to be available in 10 years, or am I going to have to go through all of this again. Thanks again for the reply.

Deric Kettel
University of Washington

**Joerg** · 05-31-2006, 04:34 PM

This brings up a question: Are pressure-assist tanks in general safe? When I got my first one I was looking for an overflow path in case the plastic tank inside decides to take a dump. Didn't see one...

Regards, Joerg.

**Scott** · 06-01-2006, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by Joerg

This brings up a question: Are pressure-assist tanks in general safe? When I got my first one I was looking for an overflow path in case the plastic tank inside decides to take a dump. Didn't see one...

Regards, Joerg.

Kohler discontinued their Pressure Clean system and currently uses Sloan Flushmate systems in their pressure-assist toilets. While there were some reliability issues when Flushmate transitioned from the original plastic & metal tank to the all plastic tank, those issues have long since been resolved and Flushmates now have a LIFETIME WARRANTY on the pressure-tank and a ten year warranty on components.

It's difficult to imagine a company offering a lifetime warranty if they have any reason to believe their product isn't safe. If you go with Flushmate, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

**Deric Kettel** · 06-01-2006, 07:19 AM

I also wondered where water would go if it ever did start leaking. The one toilet that has failed of mine out of the 7 installed here, was indeed leaking and got really bad toward the end of its life. What is funny is the leak was bad enough that if there was no place for the water to go it would have filled up in just a couple of hours. So I am still confused as to where the water was going. Oh well I am going to pursue the replacement top half of the tank and inside tank from Kohler. I wonder if they will be recalled after a few years like this model and if I can still get parts, but in a world that is unstable and as fragile as ours who can know? Time will tell. The other 13 toilets I have here on site are the wall hung type, and I have never had a problem with them in 11 years. Well the occasional cartridge, but pretty maintenance free. I guess they put the Kohler toilets in the apartments to make it seem less institutional.

Deric Kettel
University of Washington