Apparently you think I just make this stuff up, but I'm actually just the messenger, sharing what I've learned--and still continue to learn--from engineers at equipment manufacturers and other qualified sources. It was a toilet mfr who taught me the reason why joker valves in manual toilets should be replaced at least annually and I'm sure the engineers at any of the toilet mfrs would be glad to explain the value of PREVENTIVE maintenance vs. "only fix what breaks" to you.Peggy, I know how pumps work. My grandfather was an engineer, my father was an engineer, I'm an engineer, two of my kids are engineers (one Ph.D., my daughter is an architect). Technology runs in the family.
I still don't buy it. I can see "inspect," or test, if there is an objective test of joker valve performance. But annual replacement is just over the top, in my opinion. Unnecessary, wasteful of time and money. Also, you're putting wear on those plastic threads cut by the screws in the pump housing. (Not really an issue, but I just thought I'd throw that in.). If you said five years, yea, O.K., I can buy that. But I guess it depends more on use than time, and what you might be forcing through it, and how salty your flush water might be, and so on, and so on. Or, if you said 'take it out and clean it, in vinegar, if necessary, lubricate it, and replace it,' I could buy that, too. But just taking out and tossing a one year old joker valve, regardless of use, condition, or performance, is just too much.
And I'm definitely be interested in learning from them what lubricating a joker valve accomplishes or how cleaning one in anything, especially vinegar, can cause a stretched slit to close up tight again. I was taught that when soft rubber (joker valve) is allowed to sit and soak in vinegar it swells up and distorts...the reason why vinegar should never be left to sit in the bowl.
Please do report back after your conversation with one of them...I'm always open to learning something new.
--Peggie