American Standard Champion toilet Review and comments. Rated #1 by Consumer Reports

**Reader Review** · 11-01-2010, 02:12 PM

I have now that I found this site a champion toilet. Didn’t even know what it was until I run across this site. It was problematic ever since we bought the house a few years ago. It was preinstalled in the house. I don’t mind the noise as it is great to not have to plunge as with so many of the new fangled low flow units. I made a few adjustments to it at first and seemed to work nicely. Now It has began to run on and on draining the tank in only a few hours. Taking it a apart and finding the huge hole (4” or whatever it is) was a bit of a shock when no parts are available and even a net search it is nearly impossible to find anything. After taking the tank off and not having parts for repair I made a few adjustments that may be a temporary fix and some of you may find helpful. The little red/orange seal as others have mentioned had developed blisters. I removed the seal dried everything off and pierced the blisters with the point of a small pair of scissors. I squeezed the water out and put a second hole in the blister to help alleviate re-expansion with water. I reseated the seal on the plunger/piston. I coated the whole thing with petroleum jelly and re-assembled the toilet. The petro jelly also will help disperse water and seal the holes in the blisters. I also inverted the washer so the deformation of the rubber is opposite what it was before helping the seal to contact its mating point and form a proper seal. I would think the petro jelly would assist in keeping this seal in place for those who are having problems with it slipping off. Aslo the seal has a pretty tight fit in the groove of the plunger, make sure it is well seated. (as I mis-seated it a couple times before I got it right). This was about 24 hours ago and I have not lost one drip of water through the valve yet. I am not sure how long this will hold up but maybe until I can get some new parts located. The other problem is the huge sponge washer/seal from the tank to bowl seal. Can’t find one of those either.
M. Miller
Colorado

**Reader Review** · 11-01-2010, 02:12 PM

I have now that I found this site a champion toilet. Didn’t even know what it was until I run across this site. It was problematic ever since we bought the house a few years ago. It was preinstalled in the house. I don’t mind the noise as it is great to not have to plunge as with so many of the new fangled low flow units. I made a few adjustments to it at first and seemed to work nicely. Now It has began to run on and on draining the tank in only a few hours. Taking it a apart and finding the huge hole (4” or whatever it is) was a bit of a shock when no parts are available and even a net search it is nearly impossible to find anything. After taking the tank off and not having parts for repair I made a few adjustments that may be a temporary fix and some of you may find helpful. The little red/orange seal as others have mentioned had developed blisters. I removed the seal dried everything off and pierced the blisters with the point of a small pair of scissors. I squeezed the water out and put a second hole in the blister to help alleviate re-expansion with water. I reseated the seal on the plunger/piston. I coated the whole thing with petroleum jelly and re-assembled the toilet. The petro jelly also will help disperse water and seal the holes in the blisters. I also inverted the washer so the deformation of the rubber is opposite what it was before helping the seal to contact its mating point and form a proper seal. I would think the petro jelly would assist in keeping this seal in place for those who are having problems with it slipping off. Aslo the seal has a pretty tight fit in the groove of the plunger, make sure it is well seated. (as I mis-seated it a couple times before I got it right). This was about 24 hours ago and I have not lost one drip of water through the valve yet. I am not sure how long this will hold up but maybe until I can get some new parts located. The other problem is the huge sponge washer/seal from the tank to bowl seal. Can’t find one of those either.
M. Miller
Colorado

**Reader Review** · 11-03-2010, 09:29 AM

also bought two of these Tiolets last year, one that is higher for older people and an average size one. The one in my bathroom has started leaking out water also, water bill went up to over fifty dollars, I am a widow on Social Secirity and cannot afford to replace these rejects, had gone by all the hype on the commercials and believed them. A bunch of Bull is what they tell you, oh they flush better but we have to lean down and turn the water on when we use the tiolet then turn it off. My daughter & I are thinking on doing what the one review said GLUE that gasket down!! I keeps trying to go down with the flush. Next time if I can afford it there won't be one of these left in my home. thank goodness the other one hasn't started leaking yet, but it is in the master bathroom where my grandson and his wife use it. Had to have a new sewer line put in then the tiolet started this. Shirley

**Reader Review** · 11-03-2010, 09:32 AM

If you have the old style flush valve on the left, call American Standard Tech Support and they will send out the new flush valve on the right.

**ImpliedConsent** · 11-05-2010, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Reader Review

If you have the old style flush valve on the left, call American Standard Tech Support and they will send out the new flush valve on the right.

Confirmed. My Champion was installed early 2005 (4260). A.S. is sending out the refit kit gratis.

**dpete3** · 11-07-2010, 12:03 PM

What a pile of junk this toilet has been. That damn seal leaks shortly after being replaced. I didn't know this was a problem with AS design until I stumbled on this forum. Like everyone else on here the tank never seated onto the toilet, I was afraid to tighten it any more for fear of breaking it. I stuffed a rolled up hun k of cardboard behind the tank to give it some support, Great way of having to fix things. I just contacted AS to see what they will do about the old style valve that I have. I have also filled out the information on the pending class action lawsuit. I'm building a new house and rest assured there will be NO AS products in it at all.

**ImpliedConsent** · 11-14-2010, 03:14 PM

Installed the new flush valve today. Went in as expected, no issues. The flushing system sounds better (no more "broken clunk" feel). I'll be able to put it to the test after my 2 cups of coffee tomorrow morning.

BTW, that tank seats just right on the toilet. It's not fully seated until the front and rear ribs touch. Don't use a screwdriver on the screw in the tank, use a 1/2" long socket from underneath.

**EDIT** - put the Champ through the real world paces this morning. It's still "The Champ" and does what's intended.

**belmontj** · 11-21-2010, 07:06 AM

So I purchased the Champion 4 from HD; it shows a 2010 model date. It flushes well. I purchased it based on CR recommendations. I’m not a Plumber. I’ve experienced some of the same issues as prior postings; specifically the tank to bowl connection. No leaks or wobble, but

1) The tank will not sit flush to the back ribs. The front ribs have made contact. I can’t tighten any more without applying significant torque
2) The diagram for the gasket at the AS website is nothing like the gasket that comes with the toilet. There is no “tapered end”

I don't understand the conflicts with how it was designed to sit and the actual install. It seems contradictory that both the front and back should contact the ribs, but don't over tighten. How do you know when it’s over tightened? When you have 1.6 gallons of water on the floor?

**belmontj** · 11-21-2010, 07:08 AM

So I purchased the Champion 4 from HD; it shows a 2010 model date. It flushes well. I purchased it based on CR recommendations. I’m not a Plumber. I’ve experienced some of the same issues as prior postings; specifically the tank to bowl connection. No leaks or wobble, but

1) The tank will not sit flush to the back ribs. The front ribs have made contact. I can’t tighten any more without applying significant torque
2) The diagram for the gasket at the AS website is nothing like the gasket that comes with the toilet. There is no “tapered end”

I don't understand the conflicts with how it was designed to sit and the actual install. It seems contradictory that both the front and back should contact the ribs, but don't over tighten. How do you know when it’s over tightened? When you have 1.6 gallons of water on the floor?

**ImpliedConsent** · 11-21-2010, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by belmontj

1) The tank will not sit flush to the back ribs. The front ribs have made contact. I can’t tighten any more without applying significant torque
2) The diagram for the gasket at the AS website is nothing like the gasket that comes with the toilet. There is no “tapered end”

I don't understand the conflicts with how it was designed to sit and the actual install. It seems contradictory that both the front and back should contact the ribs, but don't over tighten. How do you know when it’s over tightened? When you have 1.6 gallons of water on the floor?

I put even pressure on the tank, alternating front and back. During that, I also alternated tightening left and right, continuing even pressure on the tank. This eliminates the front rib only contact. Just do not tighten the screwhead from inside the tank, use a socket wrench on the nut from underneath. The "taper" I believe they are talking about is the tapered hole in the toilet itself.

**Reader Review** · 11-22-2010, 03:32 PM

We have four American Standard Champion toilets purchased and user installed in 2004. We've had three flush valve problems with the single one-piece toilet, one involving a seal leak and two involving broken parts. I called American Standard. They sent the new grey replacement flush valves for all four of our Champion toilets free of charge. I installed the replacement flush valve for the one-piece toilet which was easy since replacement does not require removing the tank. For the remaining three toilets that have model 4260 tanks, tank removal will be needed. I will do that one-by-one as the other toilets develop flush valve issues. The new flush valves get rid of the "clunk" issue during flushes. The blue seals for the new flush valves are considerably thicker than the red seals for the old flush valve assemblies. I am hoping that American Standard gets the message that parts such as seals for the new flush valves should be made available at Lowe's and The Home Depot.

Regards,

Allan R
Cumming, GA

**slchoat** · 11-24-2010, 07:12 AM

We had the new parts that Champion mailed to us yesterday, works fine now, also my grandson's father that installed this part advised that Walmarts has the exact same parts they are Universal and work. He said that they just cost $7.00.

**Reader Review** · 01-04-2011, 10:36 AM

Do Not Buy an American Standard Champion Toilet!! The flush valve is poorly designed and leaks. American Standard's Customer Service will lie to you and tell you that very few people have complained about the toilet, yet they have a system for sending out new seals (which only work for a couple of weeks).
Bad company!!
Rchas

**hobbspal** · 02-02-2011, 12:31 PM

i've got a newer version purchased in 08-09ish. first gasket blistered, i installed AS blue replacement and worked for about a year then started leaking. i replaced it with the one at lowes and in a short time (3 weeks) it started leaking. visual inspection showed no defects in the blue on or the red one. tearing my few that remain hairs out. i'm curious if the red o-ring on the black screw thingy can be a culprit.....