Professor Toilet » toilet flush

Common Toilet Problems and the Likely Culprit

Professor Toilet — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:17:19 +0000

It’s often necessary to call in a pro when dealing with plumbing woes around the house, but the Professor also appreciates occasional the money-saving, highly satisfying D.I.Y. repair. Even those who don’t believe they are particularly handy can find great resources online to help guide them through the process of making simple repairs.

A lot of things can go wrong with toilets, from “phantom flushing” to leaks to running. Unsure of what’s causing these various problems? The Professor recommends you read through this page on toilet repair up at doityourself.com that can help identify the cause of many common toilet troubles. Very often the problems can be solved by replacing the toilet handle, a piece that tends to wear out over time.

To spare yourself these troubles in the first place, the Professor recommends that when shopping for a new toilet, you research the durability of this important piece in the models you are looking at. One particularly impressive example of toilet handle testing is this video of the durability testing that American Standard’s Champion 4 toilets are subjected to – watch and learn!

AIA Survey: Architects see increased consumer demand for water saving toilets

Professor Toilet — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:17:28 +0000

Even as architects report doing more modest kitchens and baths, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported demand for certain products had risen significantly, particularly for those that promote energy and water efficiency.

Professor Toilet thanks Supply House Times for pointing out that demand for low-flow (high efficiency) toilets showed a particularly impressive jump in demand – requested in 63% of 2009 bathroom remodels; up from 57% in 2008 according to the AIA 2009 Home Design Trends Survey.

Once viewed with skepticism, as we learned a few lessons ago in The Day Bad Flushing Began, low-flow toilets have greatly increased in popularity as homeowners become more economically and environmentally minded. Those who try out the latest models know that double-flushing is not at all necessary, and enjoy significant savings on their water bills immediately.

American Standard, for instance, recently conducted a test retrofitting of its newest low-flow toilet, the H2Option, in the Chastain Lakes neighborhood of Kennesaw, GA and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. The H2Option offers a dual-flush system that allows users to choose between a 1 gallon and a standard 1.6 gallon “turbo flush.” Chastain Lakes homeowner and real estate agent Peg Grady said she told her guests to “trust [her] on the turbo flush!” and noted that there was “no comparison” between her old traditional toilet and the H2Option. Neighbor Rene Merritt agreed, telling us she was “super satisfied by everything that has happened.”

Replacing a standard toilet with a dual flush system can save more than 29,000 gallons of water per year, which can translate to big savings on water bills. With so many new low-flow toilets available on the market, it’s no wonder that more and more consumers are embracing siphonic dual-flush toilets.

The Virtually “Child Proof” Champion 4 Toilet by American Standard

Professor Toilet — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:49:26 +0000

Friday is a good day for a video about kids who are fascinated by toilets.

Plumbers Who Get It: “Don’t Hire the Plumber with his Pants on the Ground”

Professor Toilet — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:56:16 +0000

Leave it to a plumber to make Professor Toilet laugh out loud. (The Professor does not LOL.)

Anderson Plumbers of San Diego does a great You Tube video that cracks wise about plumber butt cracks…and other customer service no nos:

Anderson Plumbers was San Diego’s first licensed GreenPlumber®. A shout out to our friends at GreenPlumbers USA for letting us know about this clip.

Greenversations Green Plumbers Combat Climate Change and Plumber Perception

Professor Toilet — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:25:31 +0000

Came across an interesting post about GreenPlumbers® on the EPA’s blog: Greenversations Green Plumbers Combat Climate Change.

It strikes the Professor that media coverage about GreenPlumbers doesn’t include the usual “cracks” about plumbers. In this article, Greenversations equates GreenPlumbers with superheroes–albeit Luigi of Super Mario–but still, recognizing the plumbing profession as a critical and valued link the fight to preserve freshwater resources. Greenversations lists the actions that superhero GreenPlumbers take:

- Water audits
- High efficiency product and equipment upgrades
- Installation and maintenance of greywaterand rainwater catchment systems.

Georgia’s first certified Green Plumber, Nick Marine, of Marine Plumbing, does all the above, as well as solar installations across the Southeast.

Not Enough Water in the Bowl? Scout, the Toilet Drinking Dog Tells All

Professor Toilet — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:01:27 +0000

With some water saving toilets, there isn’t enough water in the bowl.

Then there’s Scout’s bowl. Scout, the Toilet Drinking Dog, is quite satisfied with the water spot on the Cadet® 3 FloWise Toilet which saves 20% more water than Scout’s previous favorite water hole, an older 1.6 gallon per flush.

If you’re reading this, the Professor assumes that you do not drink out of toilets. The benefit of larger water spots for humans is a cleaner bowl with less streaking.

Mandy Moore Fights For The World’s Right To Clean Water | PerezHilton.com

Professor Toilet — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:59:31 +0000

Perez Hilton has American Standard water saving toilets on his website.

The toilets’ brush with celebrity, so to speak, was thanks to the clean water advocacy work of Mandy Moore and Alexandra Cousteau, that included Congressional visits on March 23. More on on Moore, Cousteau and water at PerezHilton.com.

More coverage for World Water Day activities of Moore and Cousteau.

Mandy Moore, Alexandra Cousteau, Toilets | Celebrity-gossip.net

Professor Toilet — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:54:50 +0000

At the World’s Longest Toilet Queue today in Washington D.C. as part of World Water Day activities. More about the American Standard involvement in an earlier post.

Learn more: Mandy Moore | Celebrity-gossip.net.

More images of toilets taking on Capitol Hill in this album on the American Standard Facebook Page.

Water Saving Toilets & Urinals of the Future | GreenBiz.com

Professor Toilet — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:55:08 +0000

The American Standard Pint Urinal is among the advanced technologies featured on today’s GreenBiz.com blog.

The Water-Saving Toilets of the Future | GreenBiz.com.

Toilets Take a Stand for World Water Day in Washington, DC on March 23rd

Professor Toilet — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:20:09 +0000

Toilets will take a stand on the steps of our nation’s Capitol to draw attention to the lack of access to clean water.

American Standard water saving toilets will be used to stage the World’s Longest Toilet Queue in the park between Union Square and Capitol Hill on Tuesday March 23.

It’s a funny visual for a deadly serious issue: Lack of access to fresh clean water. The world’s largest environmental health crisis, poor sanitation kills 4,500 children every day. Read more at American Standard.

Submit your name and contact information to be considered for World Water Day Capitol Hill visits.

Download more information about the World’s Longest Toilet Queue in Washington D.C.

Google Maps to to World’s Longest Toilet Queue in Washington D.C. on March 23, 1 pm.