American Standard Champion 4 Two-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

The American Standard Champion 4 positioning

The Champion 4 (model 2034.014 for the volume White elongated Comfort Height variant) is American Standard's flagship strong-flush toilet — and arguably the most-spec'd residential strong-flush in the US market. Introduced in 2005, the Champion 4 has been continuously produced and refined for two decades, anchored on a single engineering choice that differentiates it from every other US residential toilet: the 4-inch flush valve.

The standard US residential toilet uses a 2-inch or 3-inch flush valve. The Champion 4 uses a 4-inch valve — the largest flush valve in residential. The wider valve dumps the entire 1.28 gallons of tank water into the bowl at much higher velocity than smaller valves, generating more momentum for waste clearance. The result: MaP score of 1,000g+ (vs ~800g on Cimarron, ~800g on Drake II, ~700g on Cadet 3). The Champion 4 is the toilet US plumbers spec when the household has chronic clog problems and pressure-assist isn't desired due to noise.

How the 4-inch flush valve actually works

Flush velocity = (tank water volume × valve diameter²) / flush time. The math:

The Champion 4 dumps the entire 1.28 gallons into the bowl in about 7 seconds. The momentum from that high-velocity water release creates strong waste clearance without the pressure-assist mechanism's loud "whoosh" — Champion 4 is louder than gravity 3-inch toilets but quieter than Flushmate pressure-assist.

The PowerWash rim — second engineering feature

Beyond the 4-inch valve, the Champion 4 includes PowerWash rim cleaning — the rim's water-distribution holes deliver flush water in a high-pressure stream that scrubs the bowl walls during flush. The combination of high-velocity 4-inch flush + PowerWash rim cleaning is what produces the Champion 4's reputation for bowl-cleanliness even with heavy paper use.

The EverClean glaze (optional upgrade)

American Standard's EverClean is the brand's hydrophobic ceramic glaze — comparable to TOTO CeFiONtect and Kohler Pure-Clean. The Champion 4 ships with standard ceramic glaze on base SKUs; the -EC suffix (e.g., 2034.214) indicates EverClean upgrade for $30-$60 additional. In hard-water US regions, EverClean is worth the upgrade — extends cleaning intervals from weekly to every 3-4 weeks.

The Champion 4 variant matrix

What's in the box

• Tank with pre-installed Champion 4 flush mechanism (4-inch flush valve + PowerWash rim)
• Bowl pre-drilled for 12" rough-in
• Tank-to-bowl gasket and brass bolts
• Chrome trip lever (specifically engineered for Champion 4 valve actuation)
• Wax ring NOT included — buy separately ($5-10)
• SoftClose seat NOT included — Bemis 1500EC ($35) or American Standard Champion 4 EverClean seat ($45-$70) recommended
• Installation manual

Install requirements and procedure

• Rough-in: 12 inches (standard).
• Floor flange: standard 3" or 4" PVC/cast iron. The Champion 4's larger flush valve doesn't change the floor flange spec.
• Supply line: 3/8" compression-fit. The Champion 4 uses standard supply connections — no special plumbing needed.
• Total weight: ~95 lbs (tank ~38, bowl ~57). The Champion 4's heavier tank is due to the larger flush valve assembly inside.
• Standard two-piece install procedure — same as any AmStd two-piece. See AmStd parts hub install walkthrough.

The Champion 4 install procedure (75 minutes)

1. Remove existing toilet (shut off water, disconnect supply, unbolt floor bolts, lift bowl off — typically two-person for the old toilet).
2. Scrape old wax ring off the floor flange. Inspect the flange — if cracked or too low (more than 1/4" below tile), repair before proceeding.
3. Install new wax ring (standard or horn-style — both work).
4. Position the Champion 4 bowl on the wax ring. Press straight down — don't twist or rock.
5. Use mounting bolts to anchor bowl to flange. Hand-tighten, then 1/4 turn — never overtighten on porcelain.
6. Set the tank on the bowl, aligning the tank bolts through the bowl-side holes.
7. From under the bowl, install metal washers and nuts. Tighten alternately — porcelain cracks if uneven.
8. Reconnect supply line. Open shutoff valve. Test flush several times (3-5 cycles to verify the 4-inch valve seats properly).
9. Check for leaks at supply, tank-to-bowl junction, and bowl base (wax ring).

The 4-inch flapper — the unique part to know

Because the Champion 4 has a 4-inch flush valve, it uses a 4-inch flapper — the largest residential toilet flapper sold in the US. This matters when you eventually need to replace it (typical 5-7 year service interval):

• American Standard 7301111-0070A (OEM 4-inch) — $14. Genuine AmStd part.
• Korky 2022BP (universal 4-inch) — $9. Most volume aftermarket pick.
• Fluidmaster 504 (universal 4-inch) — $11. Korky alternative.

2-inch and 3-inch flappers do not fit the Champion 4. If you go to Home Depot looking for a "toilet flapper" and grab a generic 2-inch, it won't seal on a Champion 4. Specifically buy the 4-inch variant.

What owners report (10-20 year ownership)

• Clog problems disappear. Households with chronic clog history (large families, heavy paper users, older drain lines) consistently report dramatic improvement after switching to Champion 4.
• Flush velocity is genuinely impressive. The 4-inch valve dumps water faster than the eye easily tracks — owners describe a satisfying "whoosh" that resolves any waste-clearance doubt.
• Bowl cleanliness improves vs gravity 2/3-inch alternatives. The PowerWash rim scrubbing combined with high-velocity flush keeps the bowl noticeably cleaner between manual cleanings.
• Service life: 25-30 years on porcelain. 4-inch flapper at 5-7 years; fill valve at 10+ years; tank-to-bowl gasket at 12-15.
• The 10-year flush engine warranty is genuine — AmStd has honored Champion 4 flush mechanism replacements for owners who experience valve failures within 10 years of purchase. This is industry-leading and specific to the Champion 4 line.
• Bowl glaze (without EverClean upgrade) shows hard-water spots in mineral-heavy US regions. Worth upgrading to the -EC variant if hard water is a concern.
• Trip lever chrome plating dulls at 10-15 years — universal Danco replacement ($12).

Where Champion 4 wins vs competitors

Where Champion 4 loses

• Flush noise — louder than 3-inch gravity-flush alternatives (Cadet 3, Cimarron, Drake II). Noticeable in master baths adjacent to bedrooms.
• 4-inch flapper cost — slightly more expensive ($9-$14) than universal 2-inch flappers ($5-$8) at replacement time.
• Heavier tank — 38 lbs vs ~32 lbs Cadet 3. Slightly harder to handle during install.
• Standard glaze on base SKU — EverClean is +$30-$60 upgrade.

The verdict

Buy Champion 4 if:

• Household has chronic clog problems with current gravity-flush toilets
• Heavy paper users, large household, or multi-resident bathroom
• You want the strongest gravity-flush in residential without pressure-assist noise
• The 10-year flush engine warranty matters for peace of mind
• You're in an older home with partial drain-line clogs — the 4-inch valve has momentum to push through

Skip Champion 4 if:

• Noise sensitivity matters — Cadet 3 or Kohler Cimarron is quieter at the same price tier
• Budget under $250 — Mainstream or basic Cadet 3 covers normal-use needs
• Water savings is the priority — Niagara Stealth Sabre at 0.8 GPF beats Champion 4 on conservation
• You want one-piece silhouette — Boulevard or Heritage VorMax are the AmStd one-piece alternatives

Warranty

American Standard Champion 4 residential warranty: 1 year on tank trim, lifetime on porcelain, 10-year flush engine warranty. The 10-year flush engine warranty is industry-leading — no other US residential toilet carries this length of mechanism warranty. AmStd has documented track record of honoring Champion 4 flush replacements within the 10-year window when valve issues arise. Service network is broad — Home Depot stocks Champion 4 OEM parts, plumbing-supply houses keep them in inventory.

Pricing reality (2026)

Champion 4 2034.014 (White, elongated, Comfort Height, 1.28 GPF): $330-$390. Home Depot stocks at $369-$399 standard with periodic $40 off promotions. Lowes: $349-$389. Build.com: $329-$369. Ferguson trade pricing: $309-$349. Linen and Bone variants +$30-$60. EverClean upgrade variant (2034.214) +$30-$60. Champion 4 round-front (2533.214): $300-$360.

The honest summary

The Champion 4 is the toilet you buy when waste-clearance reliability is the priority. It's the most-recommended toilet by US plumbers for households with clog history. The 4-inch flush valve is a real engineering differentiator — not marketing — that delivers genuinely stronger flush at 1.28 GPF than any other gravity-flush toilet in the US market. The trade-off is flush noise and a slightly larger flapper part. For 70%+ of US bathroom installations where clog risk isn't a chronic concern, the Cadet 3 or Cimarron at lower price covers normal use. For the 30% where strong flush is the buying logic, Champion 4 is the answer.