Adventures in American plumbing

When the s#@t hits the.......floor

from WinCustomize Forums

Warning: not for the sqimish

 

This has been a trumatic trip to the states.

First it was leaving my laptop at home in Norway, forcing me to use my dads non customized computer. Now yesterday, I had an experience that I'll never forget!

Taking a break from shooting the breeze here on WC, I went to the WC. Unaware of the danger lurking behind me I casually flushed the toilet. This proved to be a huge mistake. I watched in horror while the water level rose rather than sank. "Is it gonna overflow, is it gonna overflow" Close to to rim, I started to panic! "aaa aaa" was all I managed to croak out as the water started to rush over the side.

I searched desperately for the shutoff valve, while dodging the oncoming sewage raining down all over the floor. Time to call for help my shocked brain decided, so I waded out to the hallway (the water had by now run under the door and was happily lapping at the livingroom rug). "Dad!" I yelled "Come quick, it won't stop!"

It's not easy rousing my dad from his slumber in the lazyboy, but he must have sensed (smelled?) something amiss, because he sprang into action and sloshed his way into the bathroom. By this time my wife was busy throwing bathtowels down in front of the bedroom door, trying to make a dam to protect our daughter sleeping peacefully unaware of the unfolding drama only feet away!

Hy heroeic father finally manged to stop the onslaught of gushing, poo-filled water, and we started on the messy clean up...... a gallon of bleach and several mops later I was satisfied. This bathroom has never been so clean before!

24 hours have gone by, and I can look back and laugh at this but.......

I'm really looking foward to getting back to Europe where toilets behave themselvs!

 

Note: I'm very sorry to anyone I may have offended with this post   

4,859 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You see in America we have a theory called conserving water... so our toilets have certain standards that the most of the world is lacking.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No shut off valve.  Guess the flapper in the tank wouldn't shut.  That can happen, just giggle the handle.  

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Turned out that the floater in the tank wasn't adjusted properly, so the water didn't turn off when the tank was full!
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When we lived in Illinois I had a loo that couldn't handle my ehh, volume. At any rate there where a few occasions when the plunger saved the day. After the first spillover which required the mop bleach thing, I learned to pay attention and if I saw that the "load" wasn't going anywhere I should not flush again. At this point the plunger came out .

Memories.....
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm really looking foward to getting back to Europe where toilets behave themselvs!
End of quote


They have toilets in Europe?    
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They have toilets in Europe?
End of quote


As a matter of fact.... Yes   

Here's my "throne"

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Didn't realize just how bizarre US is 'til I spent a yr-and-a-half out of it. Wait...that doesn't sound right...   
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Another thing I like is the fact that in my house flushing the john doesn't affect the water temp in the shower. Nor will washing clothes, dishes etc
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Adventures in American Plumbing is right...

You see in America we have a theory called conserving water... so our toilets have certain standards that the most of the world is lacking
End of quote


- conserving water when flushing the toilet, novel idea - we've never heard of it in Canada and I'm sure the rest of the world hasn't heard of that either.   

The problem is that the majority of those basic inexpensive 6 litre flushing toilets (not high end expensive models) made in the US that most people will purchase for their homes as a replacement is poorly made and isn't designed to flush properly forcing people to flush 2-3 times when a regular 12-13 litre toilet would have done the job in 1 flush. No one conserves water like that when they have to flush more than once.

Plus the mess that toilet made and the laundry required for the cleanup will use even more water.

Don't take my word for it - cross border U.S. shoppers come to our home depots in Canada and buy the 13 litre flush toilets by the truck load since apparently they're illegal to purchase in most parts of the U.S.

... boy this story stinks....   

The only way around this I guess is to stop eating white flour & meat and consume vegetables & whole grains (which wouldn't necessarily be the worst thing for you from a health aspect).

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Mine has a good function that allows you to do a big flush or a small flush


Now that's conserving water   
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I fear that this thread can only deteriorate.




Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Quite frankly m' dear, I don't give a shit.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Dual flush toilet
1982
toilet with two flush-volumes

In 1956 Charles Rothauser, a Hungarian immigrant, renamed his plastics company "Caroma" and began manufacturing bathroom products, including the world's first one-piece plastic toilet cistern (the cistern is the water tank above the toilet that stores the flush).

A traditional Australian way of saving water in a drought is to drop a housebrick into the cistern to reduce the volume of water in it. But in some cases you need that extra big flush!

In 1980, with $130 000 government assistance, Bruce Thompson of Caroma developed a cistern with two buttons and flush volumes (11.0 litres and 5.5 litres). This wasn't easy because the toilet bowl had to be redesigned to make sure less water could still remove the waste.

Thompson's Duoset cistern saved 32 000 litres of water a year per household when it was trialled in a small South Australian town. Caroma's success led to legislation in every state but NSW to make dual volume toilets compulsory in new buildings.

In 1994 the company completely redesigned the toilet in stylish porcelain in a modern 'organic shape'. Its 6 and 3 litre dual flush cistern and matching bowl halved the amount of water normally flushed away.

This combination of style and environmental awareness attracted attention in the tough European sanitaryware market and exports began soon after. The product is now shipped to more than 30 countries worldwide.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/australia_innovates/?behaviour=view_article&Section_id=1040&article_id=10044

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

(Master Apprentice)unclerob
October 23, 2007 11:39:54
Reply #9
Adventures in American Plumbing is right...

The only way around this I guess is to stop eating white flour & meat and consume vegetables & whole grains (which wouldn't necessarily be the worst thing for you from a health aspect).


End of quote


It'd only be worse for those down wind on that diet..lmao

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Lordy, I've read this whole thread...I must be really, really bored...    
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's ok, I just read all your posts..........   
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It'd only be worse for those down wind on that diet..lmao
End of quote


Be thankful he's not on curried cabbage...now that's a diet that can travel UP wind and totally disregards international borders.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It was the damned crapper that was in fault, not my diet!  


BTW the toilet is an "American Standard"........ hmmm
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why do I keep clicking on this thread?
Anyone need a really bad Thomas Crapper animation?

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
BTW the toilet is an "American Standard".
End of quote


Yeah, but it was the Irish who refined it by fitting a seat....and the English made it practical by making a hole in the centre.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Shi...shi... shit 'appens   
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
BTW the toilet is an "American Standard".
End of quote


The toilet in question is by brand, that is