Fluidmaster Celebrates October as National Toilet Repair Month.

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 1997--In preparation for the coming holiday season -- a time when many home repair projects are completed in anticipation of holiday events and the arrival of additional house guests, Fluidmaster, the nation's largest manufacturer of toilet tank replacement parts, is designating October National Toilet Repair Month.

Repairing the toilet in a home may not be the most glamorous job in the house, yet, it is the No. 1 "fix-it" plumbing task tackled by consumers each year and leaky toilets are responsible for some astonishing wasteful statistics. -0-

 -- One leaky toilet can waste 78,000 gallons of water a year --
    that's enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!

 -- The majority of toilet leaks are caused by a faulty or worn
    flapper -- symptomized by the need to jiggle the tank handle!

 -- Sir Thomas Crapper is credited for patenting the first flush
    toilet in London in the late 1800's

 -- Americans flush 4.8 billion gallons of water away every day!

 -- Of this country's 150 million toilets, approximately 1 in 4 leak
    water!

 -- In 1988, Massachusetts became the first state to legally require
    "low-flow" (1.6 gpf) toilets in all new or remodeled bathrooms.
    This switch became a federal mandate in 1994, and now applies to
    all 50 states.

"National Toilet Repair Month is a way for Fluidmaster to motivate consumers to conduct a simple toilet tune-up by replacing old-fashioned components with well-engineered valves, flappers, levers and connectors," said Bob Connell, vice president, sales & marketing.

"No more handle jiggling, wasted water, late-night noises or leaks -- just years of flawless flushes."

A complete toilet-tune-up takes about 1 1/2 hours to complete and can be accomplished in four simple steps -- 400A Fill Valve, Bull's Eye Super Flapper, Sure Fit Toilet Tank Flush Lever and No-Burst Braided Stainless Steel Connector. The average cost of a complete toilet tune-up is $20. -0-

  A simple toilet repair includes:

  FILL VALVE AND CONNECTOR

  1.  Turn off water.  Remove old parts.

  2.  Position fill valve in water supply hole at bottom of tank.

  3.  Tighten locknut and attach new supply connector to valve
      shank, then tighten coupling nut 1/2-turn past hand-tight.

  4.  Attach refill tube to fill valve and overflow pipe.

  5.  Thread connector hex nut to water supply connection on wall.
      Do not tighten more than 1/2-turn past hand-tight.  Turn on
      water.

  6.  Set water level adjustment after re-filling tank.

  FLAPPER

  1.  Align flapper over mounting ears on overflow pipe, push into
      place.

  2.  Connect chain at appropriate hook-up on tank lever.

  TANK LEVER

  1.  Locate proper flapper hook-up by comparing old lever to new
      one.  Trim or bend to fit, if necessary.

  2.  Thread lever through handle opening, then screw on locknut.

  3.  Attach flapper chain at appropriate position.

Consumers can easily identify costly leaks by performing a quick at-home test. Simply remove the tank lid and flush. After the flapper has closed and as the tank refills, drop a Fluidmaster Leak Detector Tablet, available free to consumers at most major hardware and home improvement centers, into the tank water.

Wait at least 3-10 minutes. If there are any leaks in the toilet, the water in the toilet bowl will turn the color of the tablet.

A well-turned toilet is easy to take for granted but one that leaks and squeaks can be disastrous and wasteful.

Fluidmaster has supplied premium parts for toilet tanks since 1957, making them the expert source for D-I-Y repairs. For decades, their familiar red and green packages have been found in plumbing aisles by customers who want to fix it right the first time, no matter what age, size or style the toilet tank.

For more information on National Toilet Repair Month, contact Nancy Larsen or Colleen Cotton at Cotton & Kurz Marketing Communications Inc., 714/573-4429. "How to" slides and product samples available to the media upon request.

CONTACT: Cotton & Kurz Marketing Communications Inc.

Nancy Larsen or Colleen Cotton, 714/573-4429