How to Prime a VorMax Toilet

When installing an American Standard VorMax toilet or after adding a replacement part, you may need to prime your VorMax toilet for optimal performance before use. The benefits of a primed bowl are that it allows you to control the force of the water more efficiently.
STEP 1: Begin by adjusting the water level to the level indicated on the tank by turning the water level adjustment knob to move the float cup up or down. Turn right to add water, or left to lower the water level.
STEP 2: Prime the toilet by flushing it five times. It may take more or less times before the bowl is fully primed.
NOTE: Wait 30 seconds between each flush, to ensure that you allow the tank to completely fill. When flushing, be sure to press the handle all the way down, but do not hold the handle down.
When the toilet is not primed, you will see the water swirling around in the bowl without siphoning.
Once your bowl is fully primed, the water will quickly rotate around, and siphon through the trapway outlet to clear the bowl.

[@VoulkHusky]

thank you, we just installed this toilet and were pretty disappointed to not get any good flush out of it. the problem we had was holding the lever for too long. It's been working great now!

[@derekmaynard5619]

Yeah it's kinda of dumb. When people come over they don't know and to have to tell people thus is annoying to say the least. Hate mine lol

[@ahmadawadallah5321]

So I've had the VorMax for over a week. No complaints at all. Really good toilet. Strong flush, cleans the bowl well and pretty quiet.

[@whatthefockerypodcast4742]

I'm in Vortex 4307A hell. Re-priming did not work. Two plumbers have never seen this model- will call American Standard tomorrow to see if they have recommendations or even do a video consult.

[@swapnaar5329]

how often do we need to prime the toilet?

[@anahajarajanan1523]

Only time we have ever primed ours was when it was new, and if our water has been off while we were on extended vacations. After about 5 years this toilet has never failed us and the strong swish it makes we dont have to clean it very often.

[@ahmadawadallah5321]

Very useful info.

[@americanstandard]

We're glad to hear that, Ahmad!

[@sandran.4603]

My Vormax selfcleaning is having issues after 2 year the selfcleaning buttons are not working what can be happening?😢

[@austinblues6044]

I tried this, but didn't wait 30 seconds between flushes. However, it seems that only 2/3rd's of the tank water actually disperses before the flapper closes to start the filling of the tank. Is this function correctly?

[@americanstandard]

Hi Austin - Thanks for your question! Yes, that is normal. The tank will never fully empty when flushing the unit. The flappers should close rather quickly. The 1.28 gpm is made up of what is already in the bowl and the addition of the water coming out of the tank. Hope that helps! If you have any additional questions, please give us a call at 800-442-1902. Thanks!

[@needlepointnana]

We just bought a new home and this toilet is in the guest bathroom. It simple will not work. Every once in a while I can get it to flush. What a waste of water during a drought!!!!! This is a new bathroom and new toilet just installed in 2022. I'm exhausted waiting to flush again and again.

[@americanstandard]

Hi There - We apologize for the inconvenience you are experiencing! Please give our team a call at 800-442-1902 so we can get some more details and troubleshoot your issue. Thanks!

[@duckmcdonald2492]

Can someone tell me what "priming a toilet" actually does? It sounds like it puts water somewhere so it won't be air locked, but where, and how does this actually work? -- I've searched the internet, and can't find what priming a toilet actually does. I know what priming a pump means, both how and why. But I"ve never heard of priming a toilet until I got in the market for a new toilet. And obviously, no one talks about it anywhere except on these Format toilets.

[@americanstandard]

Hi Duck - Great question! The Vormax toilet needs to be primed for optimal performance, and in fact, the bowl may not function correctly if it is not primed, or primed correctly via the steps shown in this video. The benefits of a primed bowl is the ability to control the force and velocity of water more efficiently. Hope that helps! If you have any additional questions, please give us a call at 800-442-1902. Thanks!

[@pl5bnsf]

So far, just installed it yesterday, it works ok while priming it. But then later when actually used it goes right back to not emptying the bowl. I need to make a sign for visitors to my house...."Flush toilet 5 times, waiting 30 seconds each time, then it's safe to use the toilet". But really, is there a drainage issue whereby the 'vortex' part is not holding the water or whatever it needs between uses? UPDATE: It's working better now. I think the problem was I kept holding down the handle and that just messed with the priming each time. Now it's consistently flushing well, with the vortex. So even if guests hold down the lever, it will eventually get back into sync. Replacing our old toilets has been a frustrating experience. So many choices but no real information on each model such as why to choose one over another! Things like exactly how they flush, how much water is in the bowl, etc is important to know before buying.

[@americanstandard]

Please give us a call at 800-442-1902 so that we can get some more details and help troubleshoot. Thanks!

[@pl5bnsf]

@@americanstandard I updated my comment, working fine now.

[@Josef_R]

@@pl5bnsf Tell your guests not to be douchebags and flush the toilet like a normal person. The only reason you would EVER need to hold a toilet handle down is if there is something wrong with the toilet in the first place.

[@Josef_R]

@CFT Plumbing No, a sensible person would flush again after the tank refills. It doesn't "flush more" the longer you hold the handle down. You really have plumbing in your name and you think toilets flush more if you hold the handle?

[@Josef_R]

@CFT Plumbing By the time you would notice there's still something in the bowl, the toilet is already finished flushing. Holding the lever by then is only going to fill the bowl more and barely trickle out nowhere enough to flush more. You wait til the bowl is full and flush again.

[@ooyginjardl4037]

Do these work in Australia? Seriously.

[@jordanhfurness]

They don’t work north of the equator either. Total piece of garbage. Stay away from these. (They might work on a round bowl but certainly didn’t on an elongated bowl.). They don’t siphon the bowl down so most the time it just diluted what is in the bowl. It requires “priming” to get it to work correctly but in reality it also requires it after every time it works correctly too. So basically 5 waste flushes to “prime” and then one normal flush and then 5 more “prime” waste flushes; this really means this is about a 7.7 gallons and a bunch of curse words per real flush toilet. I can’t believe they tested this and approved it for mass production. It’s terribly inconsistent and unreliable.

[@TheGonebald]

@@jordanhfurness I have 3 and they all work perfectly.

[@bbilly28]

well now i know why after like 7 full flushes it flushes like a normal toilet lol. i thought something was wrong with it

[@americanstandard]

Hi Billy - We are glad to hear that you found this video helpful! If you ever do need further assistance, you can always give us a call at 800-442-1902 and a member of our Consumer Connection team will be happy to help. Thanks!

[@pulltabking7026]

This is the worst investment I made for the bathroom project. Works for two flushes, then back to swirling. No one holds the handle down, have had that discussion with the family, the toilet just does not work properly. Pretty messed up too that you have to inform people on how to use your toilet when they come visit.

[@derekmaynard5619]

I completely am with you on this! Toliet sucks and now that it's installed and paid for installing another one that works properly isn't something I'm up for right now. Wish I would have googled it before.

[@raccoon8381]

Can we return this toilet? Tired of "priming" works 3 days then prime again🤦‍♂️

[@jamespacheco1370]

Much better used a sensor flushing

[@Curt_Randall]

If this priming nonsense doesn't infuriate you, then the constantly having to replace the overpriced silicone flapper seals every few months will. The worst homeowners decision I ever made was letting the plumber sell me this lemon of a toilet.

[@americanstandard]

Hello Curt - We apologize for the inconvenience you are experiencing! Please give our team a call at 800-442-1902 so we can get some more details and troubleshoot your issue. Thanks!

[@MultiKtm300]

Flappers leak and this is a know issue. American Standard needs to update the materials and give owners the new version

[@mainman7712]

Have the same toilet and contact American Standard directly with model # (on inside of tank) and they'll ship a new dual flapper unit...

[@genelyon7577]

Simple solution....do not buy this toilet......like I did. I'm on my 3rd set of Silicone flapper seals @ $18 each time!.

[@UrbexSniperHunter]

First

[@GTsuji]

Way too complicated for the average homeowner.

[@allengdill]

Replaced this piece of junk with a $100 Glacier Bay toilet. No more problems.

[@andreduguay1627]

This toilet is pure crap, no pun intended. Primed or not, never works like advertised. BESIDES PRIMING WHICH DOES NOTHING. What else can we do. Can we change the screw or float settings?

[@americanstandard]

Hi Andre - We're sorry to hear that you are having problems with your VorMax toilet, and appreciate you taking the time to share this feedback with us. Please give us a call at 800-442-1902 so we can get some more details and help address your issue. Thanks!

[@marklinnert5623]

These instructions do not help, the toilet will not flush consistently. It does what it should maybe once out of ten times. Adjustments make no difference. I did notice that when I attempted a flush water would bubble out of the top of the overflow tube, so maybe some sort of vacuum lock is the issue. Expensive lesson for something which will be on the tree lawn real soon. The sixty year old American Standard I was replacing might have to come back in the house, even though it uses 3 times as much water.

[@hauntedro]

Agreed, this toilet flushes inconsistently at best. Holding the handle down a little seems to help. We won't purchase another one of these toilets. It's over engineered, a waste of $230.00. Next toilet will just be one with a standard flush system.

[@rayj9]

@@hauntedro I called American Standard and they're sending me new flapper system to see if that fixes the problem on my new toilet. But I have my doubts. The woman I spoke with says she has one and assures me hers works just fine. So maybe there is hope. Since it has a 10 yr warranty, I'll call every week until they get sick of me and make it work.

[@rayj9]

Okay so American Standard sent me new flapper assembly for my Esteem Vormax. Replaced it and it made absolutely no difference. It would still only flush properly every 3rd or 4th flush. So I called then back. This time they FedEx'd me a new Optum Vormax toilet. (Save the nuts for the tank and toilet seat from the original because they don't send those for some reason). Installed it. Adjusted water level. Primed with 3 flushes and it works PERFECTLY. It has a 10 yr warranty so make them make it right!!

[@nxc6570]

This video was no help whatsoever

[@americanstandard]

Sorry to hear that, Nelson! Please give us a call at 800-442-1902 so that we can help walk you through the process.

[@chrislila9648]

Awful toilet