American Standard seems to lead the way. They introduced the three inch flush valve, the four inch flush valve and now, the dual flush valve toilet. [Note: Not to be confused with the water saving low volume and super low volume (#2and#3 optoin) type toilets.]

Innovation never seems to come without risk. The American Standard Vormax toilet is a good example of risky innovation.
Please don’t think I have decided one way or the other concerning the pros and cons. This toilet is too new for anyone to really know if the reward is worth the risk. Plumbing products have to be in many homes for many years to establish whether they are good or bad.

I noticed good and bad things about this innovative toilet.

American Standard was very clever when they designed the double (dual) flush valve system. One flush valve (the one with the overflow pipe) feeds water to the toilet rim. The other flush valve feeds the “jet” hole. Now, the weight of the water can dramatically increase the energy behind water squirting out of the jet hole as it pushes water and waste down the toilet.

This toilet has many great features. Improved glazing helps prevent stains and improves flush. One large hole in the rim has neatly replaced the many tiny holes people used to hate cleaning.This hole provides self cleaning swirling action and improves the flush. Also, the Vormax has a much smaller rim to keep clean thanks to the large one hole flush rim feature.

I followed every detail American Standard provided and still had a hard time getting a Vormax toilet to flush properly. I adjusted the tilting arm and made sure both flush valves opened and operated as the instructions indicate. I made sure NO air was trapped between the flush valve and the jet hole. I had to do things that were not mentioned in the toilets instruction book and later when I telephoned American Standard, the technician never mentioned. So, I hope I can make others aware of what I learned the hard way.

Even after I double and triple checked everything I could not get a good flush. I had to adjust the foam floats by moving the retainer tabs. It looked like the floats were improperly located. After I got several great flushes, I performed my usual testing procedures.

Some people flush too hard, too softly and/or too long. When I deliberately flushed a little too long (like some people frequently do) air got trapped between the jet hole and the jet flush valve. Trapped air seems to take about four flushes to escape. So, be aware, this state of the art toilet will probably give about four weak flushes if someone holds the flush lever too long.

Also, you might have to read my book OnlinePlumbingAdvice.com to understand, but air can mess up the timing and amount of water in the bowl.

It looks like American Standard will provide free parts (to the original owner of these toilets) for ten years. I worry about availability of parts and how many plumbers and/or stores will stock parts for the Vormax toilets.