Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "I have a Porcher toilet and I ordered Porcher parts, but the box says American Standard. Did you send me the wrong parts?"
A. While we are human and do make mistakes sometimes, most of the time you did receive the correct parts. In 1991, American Standard acquired the Porcher brand and offered these toilets for many more years. With the launch of their DXV line, American Standard chose to stop manufacturing Porcher toilets and parts. However, most of the original Porcher toilet parts had been replaced by American Standard branded parts following the merger of the two brands. For older toilets where American Standard did not replace the internal parts with their own version, our team has worked tirelessly to find suitable "will fit" replacement options. Rest assured that these parts are generally exactly the same and will function the same, even if it says American Standard or one of our "will fit" brands and not Porcher on the box. If, for some reason, the parts you ordered do not work in your toilet, please contact our customer service representatives who will be happy to help you identify the problem.
Q. "I installed a new fill valve and my new valve comes on (and then goes off) for a few seconds about once per hour?"
A. This could be caused by many things. The most common is with a Fluidmaster 400. This is a great valve but be sure to install the 1/4" tube per their instructions. Use the clip that comes with it and do not just stick it into the overflow tube or it will go on and off every so often by itself. If that isn't it, take some food coloring and place it in your tank. Wait a few hours and if some of the color has gone into the bowl then you probably need a new flapper.
Q. "My Universal Rundle toilet tank has a tilt valve. How does the Fluidmaster 400A fill valve allow the bowl to refill?"
A. If you are using a Fluidmaster 400A then you must also use the Fluidmaster #599 refill tube & clip. The clip attaches to the back of the tank and keeps the 1/4" refill tube pointed towards and into the overflow tube of the tilt valve. The 1/4" refill tube must not be attached directly into the overflow tube. There must be an air break between the refill tube and the overflow tube to keep the 400A from siphoning the water in the tank and putting it into the bowl continuously causing the 400A to turn on and off continuously.
Q. "How long 'should' the parts inside of my toilet last?"
A. That depends on a number of variables and which parts. Water quality is one of the major factors. If your water source is heavily chlorinated then many parts won't last long. Or if you have a lot of sand or grit or have a low pH or "aggressive" water source then parts simply won't last as long as the 'average' length of time. Also the quality of the parts matters. The replaceable parts such as flappers and washers/seals generally will last at least 4 to 5 years on "average." If you use a chemical bowl cleaner some flappers won't even last one year. However, some toilet bowl cleaners isolate cleanser from the internal workings of the toilet therefore, maximizing the life of your toilet parts. If your flapper has black "goo" on it then it is either due to age or quality of your water and if it feels soft then it's best to change it.
