dherzog
New Member
I manage a building with 176 pressure assist toilets. Building is 3 years old but I have been in conversation with Kohler for 3 years now trying to figure out why each toilet looses pressure resulting in weak flush or no flush. Toilet will flush for a few weeks and then will gradually lose its pressure. The bowl is labeled 1.4gpf and the Flushmate system installed is labeled 1.6 gpf (I don’t believe Flushmate manufactures a 1.4gpf). Over the course of the last three years and after spending lots of time and money trying to resolve the issue I think I am on the right track but can’t confirm and hope that this posting will help me collect more details from others having same problem.
I think.....
Kohler sells this model 1.4gpf toilet with 1.6gpf Flushmate tank installed and they put in a flow restrictor to reduce the 1.6 to 1.4. (Allowing themselves the ability to market a 1.4gpf toilet even though it appears to be the same tank as what is in their 1.6! Go figure!)
I have a limited understanding of how the pressure assist works, but I believe the pressure necessary to produce a good flush is built by the fill time, pressure and amount of water coming into the chamber??
So wouldn’t a flow restrictor limit the fill time, pressure and amount of water? And if those things are important than how can you expect it to work correctly?
And Why after I pull out the flow restrictor does my toilet now work?
Why is the flow restrictor NOT on the parts list?
All postings I have read about this issue seem to offer only one solution....and that is to pull out the flow restrictor. BUT WHY AM I THE CONSUMER BEING SOLD A TOILET THAT IS MARKETED AS "SAVING ME WATER", AND THE BEING TOLD TO PULL OUT THE WATER SAVING DEVICE TO ALLOW IT TO WORK PROPERLY!?
If I had a single family home with 2-4 toilets...then no big deal, but I have 176! We have spent a lot of money with Kohler to buy these 1.4gpf toilets.....it makes no sense that the only fix is to remove the water saver! Then why sell a 1.4 at all?? Now I have to pay a plumber to remove 176 flow restrictors?? Wouldn’t purchasing the 1.6 been a whole lot cheaper and easier?? Again...I have given Kohler over 3 years to help with this issue; any advice from this site is MUCH appreciated! Thank you!
I think.....
Kohler sells this model 1.4gpf toilet with 1.6gpf Flushmate tank installed and they put in a flow restrictor to reduce the 1.6 to 1.4. (Allowing themselves the ability to market a 1.4gpf toilet even though it appears to be the same tank as what is in their 1.6! Go figure!)
I have a limited understanding of how the pressure assist works, but I believe the pressure necessary to produce a good flush is built by the fill time, pressure and amount of water coming into the chamber??
So wouldn’t a flow restrictor limit the fill time, pressure and amount of water? And if those things are important than how can you expect it to work correctly?
And Why after I pull out the flow restrictor does my toilet now work?
Why is the flow restrictor NOT on the parts list?
All postings I have read about this issue seem to offer only one solution....and that is to pull out the flow restrictor. BUT WHY AM I THE CONSUMER BEING SOLD A TOILET THAT IS MARKETED AS "SAVING ME WATER", AND THE BEING TOLD TO PULL OUT THE WATER SAVING DEVICE TO ALLOW IT TO WORK PROPERLY!?
If I had a single family home with 2-4 toilets...then no big deal, but I have 176! We have spent a lot of money with Kohler to buy these 1.4gpf toilets.....it makes no sense that the only fix is to remove the water saver! Then why sell a 1.4 at all?? Now I have to pay a plumber to remove 176 flow restrictors?? Wouldn’t purchasing the 1.6 been a whole lot cheaper and easier?? Again...I have given Kohler over 3 years to help with this issue; any advice from this site is MUCH appreciated! Thank you!
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