American Standard Townsend Toilet (One-Piece) 1.28 GPF – Review 2021

Out of all of the American Standard toilet choices available, the Townsend by American Standard is sure to catch your eye. It’s one part of a full bathroom line by American Standard that also includes sinks, fixtures, showers, and tubs. All of the pieces in the Townsend line are inspired by the design aesthetics of the Manhattan Bridge in New York, and feature clean, tapered lines. In this article we’ve broken down the Townsend toilet’s features to give you an honest, detailed review.

Specifications

The Townsend has a number of attributes that we love. For one, it’s a chair-height unit with an elongated bowl, for maximum comfort. American Standard includes their slow-close seat and lid with every purchase, so there is no need to buy one separately. Also, while the unit comes standard with a left hand trip lever, you can easily customize the toilet to have a right hand trip lever instead, at no extra cost!

It’s also a beautiful appliance to look at, and matches perfectly with the rest of the Townsend collection. If you need to throw together a bathroom quickly, the collection contains everything from showers and tubs to towel bars and sink handles, for a one-stop shop.

Features and Highlights

VorMax Technology

By far, the most significant feature of the Townsend is American Standard’s proprietary VorMax flush technology. The VorMax still only uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush, but directs the water flow in a completely different way than standard flushes to really make use of every drop.

In every toilet, the water used for flushing is divided into two resources- the siphon and the rinse. The siphon water is the water sitting at the bottom of the bowl, that pulls waste down and away. In normal toilets, this accounts for about 70% of the flush’s water. The rinse water swirls down from the rim, pushing any waste that may be clinging to the bowl down. Whereas in normal toilets, the rinse water is only about 30% of the total flush volume, in a VorMax toilet it’s 70%- that’s right, they completely flipped the ratio!

By devoting more water to rinsing the bowl, American Standard has created a flush system that essentially scrubs the bowl for you, and is highly efficient at removing waste. A specially designed CleanCurve rim allows the water to reach even high up on the bowl, eliminating any lingering grime under the seat.

One caveat of this innovation is that it is highly technical and specific, which means that when it works, it works great. But when even one part of the system breaks down, such as one of the dual flush injectors, the entire mechanism barely functions. Furthermore, repairs can be difficult and expensive. Some customers also reported that while the flush is powerful, it is also very loud. If noise is a particular concern, this may not be the best option, but most users find that the benefits of the VorMax flush outweigh the negatives by far.

The above image shows all of the mechanical and design elements that combine to make the VorMax flush so powerful. These include two flush valves, specially designed bowl shape, and a 2 1/16” siphon outlet.

EverClean Surface

Another American Standard innovation that you’ll find on the Townsend is their EverClean antimicrobial surface. This is a permanent coating that inhibits any growth of bacteria, mold, or mildew on any surface of the toilet (not including the seat). The additive that makes this possible isn’t just an exterior treatment; it’s actually fired directly into the porcelain when it’s being glazed, which allows for a truly durable finish.

Installation

The Townsend follows the same installation method as the majority of one-piece toilets. An EZ Install kit is included with the toilet, which contains bolts, bolt caps, bowl-to-floor knobs, and an inlet valve coupling kit. You will need to purchase a water supply line and wax ring separately.

As a part of installation, you will need to prime the VorMax flush system before it can work properly. The video below explains the entire process, including why it’s important to prime the flush, how to do so, and what unprimed versus primed flush looks like.

Warranty

American Standard offers a generous warranty on the Townsend, including lifetime coverage on chinaware, 10 years on mechanical parts, and 1 year on the seat. Customers who have had to request replacement parts say that the company’s customer service is excellent.

Pros and Cons

Final Verdict

In all, the American Standard Townsend is a great option for a high-quality toilet. It’s not the most advanced unit on the market, so if you are looking for built in cleaning features or luxury seat options, then this won’t truly hit the mark. But by incorporating first-class materials and innovative methods into the design, the Townsend has elevated the basic toilet to a higher standard.