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Two Ohio landlords say the makers of Champion toilets have failed to properly address a defective and leaky flush valve seal.
Plaintiffs Rachel Papp and Reginald Friesen are suing defendant AS America Inc., the makers of the Champion toilet. The plaintiffs claim the flush valve seal within the Champion 4 toilet is defectively designed and manufactured in a way that ends up causing substantial leaks.
The flush valve seal is part of a toilet’s flushing mechanism that keeps water from leaking out of the tank until a person flushes the toilet. The problem with the flush valve seal on the defendant’s Champion 4 toilet is a blister that develops on the seal’s surface after a short period of time, according to the plaintiffs.
As the blister grows, it creates a leak path. More and more water leaks out of the tank, leading to excessive water bills. The alleged defect can also impair the Champion toilet’s normal function; plaintiffs claim the leak can become so large that the toilet occasionally flushes itself.
Photos included in this Champion toilet class action lawsuit show blue flush valve seals, all of which have visible blisters near their edges, matching the plaintiffs’ description of the alleged defect.
The plaintiffs accuse defendant AS America of failing to fix the design of its flush valve seal, even though the company is allegedly aware of the defect. They claim this defect should be covered by the 10-year express warranty that AS America offers on its Champion toilets.
Papp says she became aware of the alleged defect in August 2016, when she noticed that the water usage at her rental property had increased by 30 percent. Her contractor allegedly traced the problem to the flush valve seal in her Champion 4 toilet later that November. The contractor replaced the seal at Papp’s expense, and only after Papp had incurred substantially higher water bills due to the leak.
Friesen says he had a similar experience with the Champion toilets he purchased for his own home and for rental properties owned by Candu Properties. He says tenants at his residential properties complained that their toilets were running and occasionally flushing on their own.
Friesen claims he inspected these Champion toilets and found blisters on their flush valve seals. He contacted AS America about the problem. The company supposedly told him it was aware of the problem and sent him a replacement flush valve seal.
But the new seal suffered from the same defect, Friesen says. It eventually blistered up like the first seal and caused a leak. Friesen also reports that although AS America did send him the new seal, it did not cover the cost of the repair.
The plaintiffs seek to represent a Class covering all persons or entities in the U.S. who purchased a Champion 4 toilet made by AS America within the past 10 years.
They seek an award of damages, restitution and disgorgement of profits, and reimbursement of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation, all with interest.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Brendon P. Friesen, Anthony J. Coyne and Emily S. O’Connor of Mansour Gavin LPA as well as Stuart E. Scott and Dennis R. Lansdowne of Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP.
The Champion Toilet Defective Flush Valve Seal Class Action Lawsuit is Rachel Papp, et al. v. AS America Inc., Case No. 1:17-cv-00800, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
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58 thoughts onChampion Toilets Class Action Says Flush Valve Seal is Defective
Sign me up I have 3 and have replaced seals multipal times
I love the way this toilet flushes but I have had to change the flush vale 4 times in the last 3 years.I bought this when they first came out and had no issues till a few years ago,I don’t think the new replacement valve is the same style that came with the toilet,so now I’ve had it and going buy a new toilet,different brand obviously!
Add me too. I have 3 Champion 4 toilets and 1 Champion 4 Max and they all have failed.
This has also happened to me. The seal developed bubbles and water was leaking very slowly. We bought two of these toilets less than 10 years ago. The second toilet ring seal was not leaking but there were bubbles.
I have two Champion 4 toilets. the phantom flushes drive me crazy. I replaced the blue seal which had blisters, but it still leaks. I don’t know how much water I am wasting due to these phantom flushes.
Put me on the on the list also. I have two of these toilets which I really like except for having to replace the gasket on the flush valve assembly. It’s very annoying. I’m 71 years old and it’s not as easy to replace this gasket as a person with hands that have a little more dexterity. I found this article because I’m in the process of trying to find a good replacement for this gasket.
Add us to the list, have replaced the “blue” gasket numerous times. CRAPPY material? CRAP being the key word as it is a toilet. Biggest buying mistake ever. Am going to call American standard again. next week for a repacement…other than Max4 plus cost to hire plumber!
Add us to the list, new “blue”silicone seals have been installed numerous times. They are garbage and as mentioned should NOT BE SOLD! Next week I’m going to call again and demand a new toilet…not another Max 4, will also request compensation for a plumber to replace the piece of crap. “CRAP being the key word since it’s a toilet!!!!!
Same problem here. Good for the first two years. Once we replaced seal the first time seems like we have to replace 2 to 3 times a year. Our water bill literally tripled. Don’t understand why the company doesn’t have to replace a faulty product or offer a more permanent solution. We’re nearing a time that we’ll have to call a plumber for repairs, what’s that going to cost.
I have been having this problem on and off for 5 years in Champion 4 toilet. Other older toilets have no problems for decades. it’s a major defect and I’m ready to replace the toilet because it’s a nuisance in wasted water and money and time and unwanted noise trying to make the defective flush valve work. I will not buy American Standard products going forward and others should do the same. I would like to be refunded for this toilet and and repair parts and my time.