Clogged Toilets
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have a lot of luck with toilet plungers. They don’t seem to be shaped right. When I “plunge” all that happens is toilet water goes everywhere (remember, it’s clogged, so it ain’t the best water!). Furthermore, after plunging the cup is now inverted and I must touch the thing to get it right-side-out for the next plunge. Frustrated, I try a snake. But it marks up my bowl and can’t seem to navigate the bends of the commode. The fact that toilet makers can’t make a toilet that works every time is one of my pet peeves, since I am the one who somehow always gets the job of unclogging the latrine (“Daaaad, it’s not flushing again!”…).
What to do? Well, if your charges are willing to listen you could sheepishly suggest you do one “process”, flush, then do another “task” (such as the toilet paper). Remember, toilets are mandated to only use 1.6 gallons per flush—not much, really—fine for a “#1” but for “#2”?...well…the typical toilet is challenged. HERE IS WHAT I DID: Fed up, I spent the $450 and went to Home Depot and bought the American Standard Champion (bowl, tank, lid—separate boxes—make sure they match) and installed it (add $ if you need to hire a plumber). It’s the only toilet I have ever come across that 100%, no matter the load, flushes ALL OF IT past the trap the first time, every time, and in over two years use now has never been clogged, no matter how hard I try! I installed the first one in my public use powder room and since it worked as advertised, I installed another one in the master bath. Next, the kids' bath!
Check it out at http://www.americanstandard-us.com/tools/bestflush/default.aspx (nope, no affiliation, and not paid to advertise for them…I just love a good product when I see one). What makes it so good? It really just comes down to a throat (“trapway”) that is bigger (2-3/8”) and a proprietary flushing mechanism that sends all 1.6 gallons of water into the bowl in record time, creating a good force.
The Champion isn’t cheap but it does solve a clogging problem inherent with most other toilets. It comes in various heights, one-piece or two-piece, elongated or round.
If you do install one yourself, be aware that the tank to bowl fit is a little tricky and seemingly too tight—maybe they have changed that by now. Also, the original proprietary flush mechanism had some leakage issues. My second Champion has a newly designed valve/flusher and it works flawlessly.
Jeff Bakewell, Bakewell Home Inspections, LLC...August 2008