THE LOW FLOW TOILET

The pride and joys of the low flow toilet. We feel good having made a very conscientious choice in owning a low flow.  We know that it is in the best interest for the environment.  We know that with each flush we do not deplete our precious drinking water supply as every flush uses roughly a gallon of water thereby saving us from our wasteful selves.

But did you ever realize how much trouble they are?  Say, for is instance, you finally realize you need to use it.  Not just for urination but also for that dreaded bowel movement.  Now, if this is your first ownership and this is its first use, you are in for some unknown and unforeseen surprises. 

You approach your low flow with delirious fervor and the pride that comes with ownership.  With mounting anticipation you take a seat. There’s nothing like the feel of using your new low flow for the first time.

Nature takes its place into the low flow. For the sake of your pride I hope natures movement is a small one.  But what nature cannot do for you is where that soft roll of toilet paper comes in. Perhaps you wad or maybe fold but whatever the choice you will still need to flush.

The amount of paper you use is a matter of preference but the low flow cares not about that.  Once you have finished with the paper and are feeling nice and clean, you flush. Probably and reasonably so you are still seated when you reached for that flush lever.  The water comes forth not in a fast rush but more of a slow rolling motion.   It is quiet as the water swirls round and round the bowl.

 But wait, something sounds amiss.  Your intently listening to the low flow supposedly doing what it was meant to do. It sounds flooded.  As you find yourself contemplating this sound you’ve come to realize all too late that you are up to your butt cheeks in overflow.

What went wrong?  It’s brand new.  How could this have happened?  These are probably just a few of the questions that are taunting you now.  Frustrated, you retrace your steps. It was installed properly and tested well, although it was empty of debris at the time. While these questions are fresh in your mind you go and get the plunger just the same.

With plunger in hand you carefully dip it into the overflow of the low flow.  Slowly you plunge up and down trying not to spill out any more of the overflow onto the floor.  Up and down and up and down and finally a whooshing sound is heard.  It has unclogged.

Grateful to have cleared the problem you tend to the task of cleaning the floor.  Angrily you start daubing up the water questioning what went wrong with the toilet.  And, of course, nothing obvious comes to mind.

Next time the low flow is called upon you have forgotten about the last incident.    Once again nature calls and the same procedures of cleanliness follows.  And once again the low flow overflows.  Sighing with loathing contempt for this wonderful environmental friendly toilet you plunge in it madly.

What possibly could have gone wrong again?   Thinking it through you try a few ideas that come to mind.  Taking up a small wad of toilet paper you thrust it into the low flow, then flush.  It went down!  It actually went down without backing up. How can that be? Let’s retrace what was just done.  A small amount of paper was added to the toilet and went safely through yet a normal amount overflows.  Thus the mind has become overwhelmed when the meaning of low flow looms to mind.

Although instructions did not come with the new low flow you now know what to do when Mother Nature calls on you for that special movement.  Eliminate but do not wipe, flush instead.  Then wipe and flush. Wipe again if necessary, flush and so on.  This is done to avoid any possibility of the low flow overflowing again.  But it still may happen on occasion, as the low flow is so unpredictable.

Let’s not forget the whole purpose behind the low flow is in saving water.  So, in the long run, we may have been better off with the old standard one that Crapper invented to begin with.

And remember that as a proud owner of a low flow you must always be prepared by having a plunger close at hand.