Frequently Asked Questions
Q. "Do you carry toilet seats for the one-piece Caravelle toilet?"
A. Older Caravelle one-piece toilets (like the 989646 and 989668 models we offer parts for) have a 6" bolt spread, as opposed to the more commonly used 5-1/2" bolt spread. Currently our premium toilet seats only come in a 5-1/2" bolt spread. However, we are continually updating our product offerings and may carry them in future.
Q. "How are Caroma washdown toilets different from other toilets?"
A. According to the manufacturer, "North American toilets most commonly utilize siphon jet technology. Most of the water in the tank is used to create a vacuum or siphon effect in the trapway of the toilet bowl, which then pulls the waste out after the water. In the past, several North American toilets have been subject to clogging due to the lower volumes of water used in ultra low flow toilets. The trapways of the bowls had to be reduced to allow the vacuum to be created.
Washdown toilets do not use this flushing mechanism. When flushed, the water is released very quickly from the tank and into the bowl through an open rim bowl design. The water very effectively and efficiently pushes the waste out of the bowl, which is then followed by the water. The flush is fast and allows for superior movement down the sewage drains, as the water is following the waste. Because washdown toilets do not rely on creating a siphon effect in the trapway, the size of the trapway does not have to be reduced. Caroma toilets feature a massive 4 inch trapway!"
Q. "I just purchased a replacement M5 Series Flush Valve but the two push buttons on my tank lid will not reach the two tabs on the flush valve to activate the toilet to flush. What do I do?"
A. The blue tabs on the M5 series flush valves can be adjusted up or down. In order to raise the blue tabs, use a phillps head screwdriver and place it into the round holes found at the top of the blue tabs. Turning the adjustment screw counterclockwise will raise the tabs and turning the screw clockwise will lower the tabs. Be sure not to adjust the tabs too high because you may find when you put the tank lid on there will be water leaking from the tank into the bowl. This would be due to the outlet valve being slightly activated by the buttons pushing down onto the blue tabs. You would like about 1/8" of play before the buttons activate the flush.
Q. "What is the difference between the Caroma 270 and 305 bowls? Does this matter when I'm looking for repair parts?"
A. The main difference between these two bowl styles is the size of the rough-in - either 10"-12" adjustable for the 270 bowl or 12" for the 305 bowl. This offers people options for toilet installation, and is not usually pertinent to typical repairs like changing the flush valve seal or installing a new push button mechanism. If you're looking for a new toilet seat, you will need to know whether your bowl is round or elongated, but both the 270 and 305 models come in round or elongated so it is important to measure to make sure you're getting the right size. To find common repair parts, such as fill valves, flush valves, gaskets, etc. refer to the model number of your tank to help you find the right parts.
