Other flow restrictors...

Glenn9643 · Dec 25, 2004

I guess Pete's broken pipe got me to thinking about plumbing this morning.
A “bah humbug sort of post not really suitable for Christmas, but sometimes I think the powers that be have completely lost it!
Two things that really aggravate me every day are 1.6 gpf toilets and 2.5gpm flow restrictors in showerheads.
I realize that water is precious and generally favor conservation measures within reason, but do we save water if we have to flush the toilet twice for it to go down? Doesn’t seem rational to me.
And as for showers, I recently had to replace the hardware on our bathroom tub/shower. Went for a good name brand because I didn’t want to have to replace it anytime soon. The showerhead was terrible. I’ve sweated more water many times during our hot summers.... Then I started shopping for an aftermarket showerhead and quickly realized that none of the plumbing supply places were set up to demonstrate the flow in their offerings. I bought one anyway, hoping for the best but it was not better. Then I did a little searching on the net and discovered why. The powers that be have proclaimed that we can only have 2.5 gallons per minute flowing through our showers!
In about 15 minutes I had removed all the flow restrictors and drilled that sucker out. Now I have a good shower. Please don’t report me to the shower police.
I haven’t figured out what to do with the toilet tank yet though. Any suggestions?

Cliff_Johns · Dec 25, 2004

( In about 15 minutes I had removed all the flow restrictors and drilled that sucker out. Now I have a good shower. Please don’t report me to the shower police. )

I did the same thing. Before I did that, it just took too long to get wet. In the end, I doubt I use more water because a shower takes much less time. On the other hand, I never water the lawn except when I've just planted something, so I figure I'm way ahead over all.

They restrict flush and shower water, but they're willing to let you spray hundreds of gallons of water all over a lawn which would be healthier in the long run if you didn't water it (roots get deeper).

It is strange.

Cliff

v8dave · Dec 25, 2004

Amen, I have fixed my shower heads too!
Regarding toilets. Assuming you have gravity feed and not a pressure tank. Take a look inside the tank(s), changing the weight of the flapper valve (water/air in flapper) by changing the length of the pull chain will change the volume of water per flush. Make the chain shorter, it will pull the flapper higher. Less captured water in the flapper trap will make it float longer and the water will flow more.

PineRidge · Dec 25, 2004

I'm with you on the commode problem. Two flushes, beats a straight flush any day even though it kinda defeats the purpose of a water saver toilet. Unfortunately if you don't flush twice most of the time it plugs up anyway.

And the worst part about it is you can't buy the old style toilets any longer as none of the manufacturers make them.

It has alyays bugged me as to why you need to conserve water if you had your own well anyway? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Some of this conservation stuff is way out in left field.

Freds · Dec 25, 2004

I'm not sure if this applies to your toilet, Glenn, but the one in my house is a cheapie and constantly requires either two flushes or holding the handle down longer so the water coming in also runs down the toilet. The one I bought for my business is also a water saver, but it was on the pricey side and flushes MUCH better. There's definitely a difference between the way a better quality toilet flushes.

There is also some kind of air pressure gizmo you can purchase for the tank that allows a toilet more pressure with the same amount of water. I don't remember what they're called, but I think they run about $300. Ouch.

GerardC · Dec 25, 2004

I believe that American Standard has a new toilet out that WILL flush 11 golf balls. Don't know the cost though. G

Junkman · Dec 25, 2004

( I believe that American Standard has a new toilet out that WILL flush 11 golf balls. Don't know the cost though. G )

I don't know what you have been eating, but if you are putting 11 golf balls into your toilet, please don't invite me to your home for any meals......

I believe that the toilets sold in Canada use more water per flush than there American counter parts. There is also a good market in used toilets that were made before the 1.6 GPF law went into effect. One of our toilets has holes drilled in the back of the tank so you can't over fill the tank by raising the float level. Those engineers thought of everything to keep my cousin Rube Goldberg from finding a way to defeat what they have designed.
We have a shower valve by American Standard that has the flow restriction inside of the mechanism, but I wasn't able to see how to defeat it. I looked it over very closely, but there was no way to get at the innards that I could see without destroying the valve itself. I let the wife use that shower and I still use the one that was installed in 1980. I use an old fender propped up against one wall and a spare tire on the other to keep her out. It is known as Junkman ingenuity. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I got one of those refrigerated toilet seats that makes strange sounds to keep her from using my 3 gallon per flush toilet. A man has to have a few things that he doesn't share with the Lil woman.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GoodGuy · Dec 25, 2004

<ul type="square"> I believe that the toilets sold in Canada use more water per flush than there American counter parts [/list]
Junk....
Are you saying that we're more full of it here in Canada ??
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Junkman · Dec 25, 2004

I wouldn't say that, but I will say that your Canadian sanitary engineers knew that it would take more than 1.6 gallons to flush what you put into the toilet down the drain. Who better to know how much **** comes out of a Canadian than another Canadian, and what it takes to get rid of it....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Come to think of it, your Imperial gallon is larger than our U.S. gallon....... You folks up North must use one heck of a lot of water per flush.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ROFLMAO...

GoodGuy · Dec 25, 2004

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

HickoryNut · Dec 25, 2004

Used car dealer near me makes a mint selling old 3 gal toilets. He pays $100 for any make or color I bring him, sells them for $200-300. I've found dozens that people just put out with the trash.

heehaw · Dec 26, 2004

hey, i've got a neighbor that has one in a flower bed as decoration...$100 would be worth takin the risk and stealin that "piece of art".
heehaw

heehaw · Dec 26, 2004

i made a trip to England backin 98: and i noticed that the toilets in the b&bs where we stayed, would flush as long as
you held the lever down: and most flushed out the back, not thru the bottom...so i naturally pulled the lid off to see what was going on inside??? they are made totally different than any that i have worked on?? maybe we could have some shipped over, and sell them for some real high prices...i think they would flush golf balls as long as you could pour them into the toilet!!!
heehaw

v8dave · Dec 26, 2004

( i made a trip to England backin 98: and i noticed that the toilets in the b&bs where we stayed, would flush as long as
you held the lever down: and most flushed out the back, not thru the bottom...so i naturally pulled the lid off to see what was going on inside??? they are made totally different than any that i have worked on?? maybe we could have some shipped over, and sell them for some real high prices...i think they would flush golf balls as long as you could pour them into the toilet!!!
heehaw )

Maybe one of our Canadian readers can comment here. I thought I once read a tongue-in-cheek comment that Canada's exports to the US were wood products and 5 gallon toilets. A lot easier for most folks to get 'em in Canada than in England.

Henro · Dec 27, 2004

Our basement toilet never flushed right from the beginning...

The tank had a styrofoam liner, to keep condensation down during summer I guess. Had one until yesterday, that is. I cut it into pieces and pulled it out, perhaps as the result of this thread??? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now the toilet flushed MUCH better. I guess the extra half gallor or so of water that is in there now in place of the styrofoam really makes a difference. Problem is I keep going in there to experience the improved performance!

I remain proud though, to live in a country that sees regulating toilet tank size as important... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Priorities are key... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Freds · Dec 27, 2004

Great solution, Henro! That's exactly why the liner is in place... to keep the tank from sweating, but I'll bet it does add quite a bit more flush taking it out. I never saw a tank sweat that didn't have a running water problem anyway.
I'm going to file taking the liner out in the memory banks.

Junkman · Dec 27, 2004

I have seen many sweat during humid weather where there is a well pump supplying very cold water and high usage because of lots of people in the home. I have found that it is just as easy to raise the float level on insulated toilet tanks and not have any problems flushing. I had to raise one overflow tube by putting on a small piece of hose, but that was all that was necessary.

Henro · Dec 28, 2004

I have found that it is just as easy to raise the float level on insulated toilet tanks and not have any problems flushing. 

Junkman,

That certainly is the first thing to try but it does not add too much unless it is quite out of wack to begin with.

Seems like with these little tanks every little bit helps!

Unexpected things can hurt too. One time I noticed something strange about the way our first floor toilet was flushing, and when I finally get interested and take the tank lid off, I find a couple bricks inside. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Seems the wife saw something on TV saying you could reduce water consumption that way... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

"Yes, honey, that's true, but now one flush became two..." /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Freds · Dec 28, 2004

( and when I finally get interested and take the tank lid off, I find a couple bricks inside. )

And you were wondering where those wheel choks went /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Junkman · Dec 28, 2004

( Unexpected things can hurt too. One time I noticed something strange about the way our first floor toilet was flushing, and when I finally get interested and take the tank lid off, I find a couple bricks inside. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Seems the wife saw something on TV saying you could reduce water consumption that way... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

"Yes, honey, that's true, but now one flush became two..." /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
)

I have heard or someone "********* a brick" as a colloquial expression, but I never heard of them saving it in the toilet tank. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif