In rather gonzo news, I had to have a toilet replaced
because a chunk broke off of it. And I didn’t do anything to abuse it.
I replaced the little rubber flap inside the toilet tank that
controls the flushing because the old one disintegrated. If you haven’t had to
do this, be thankful. It took a lot of scrubbing to get the black rubber gunk
off my fingers. So I decided to replace the handle at the same time. It was held
on by a hex nut inside the toilet tank. Using a monkey wrench, I gently turned
it a sixth of a turn experimentally. To my great shock, a chunk of the toilet
tank fell off.
As you can see, the upper left corner is gone. No, I didn’t
hit it with the wrench, and I didn’t
crank on it really hard. It didn’t even make a cracking sound. It just
fell off.
I stared at the chunk that came off for several seconds,
stunned. I suppose experienced handymen would take it in stride, but I just
gazed at the impossible.
I think that certain incompetent plumbers a year or two ago
must have whacked it, but I have no way of proving that. I was actually thankful
the chunk fell off while I was there and had the water to the toilet turned
off. It’s hard to believe, but the bottom edge is above the waterline. But if
things had been different and I hadn’t been home, it could have been a water
disaster.
The thing was too old to just replace the toilet tank. So I
had a reputable plumber replace the toilet and haul the old one away. All told,
it cost a little over $700.00.
Needless to say, I learned a lot more about toilets than I ever
wanted to.
Well that's what you get with a Mexican toilet. Indeed the overwhelming majority of basic toilets are made in Mexico and that crack was most likely due to a weak spot in the porcelain.
ReplyDeleteAt least you weren't sitting on it and have the bowl breakout from underneath. I've seen that.
You use the word "Indeed" while describing toilets? Pshaw.
ReplyDeleteA harrowing experience!
ReplyDeleteI hope things are moving smoothly now.
I suggest in the name of decay and everything-wears-out-anyway that you just superglue it back together and forget about it.
ReplyDeleteAnd you do have to be careful with the locking hex nut. A) I can't remember but they might be reverse threaded because the flushing motion will unscrew them, and B) there's a square lock nut (not threaded) that anchors the handle axle to the toilet (part that broke), and if you get hold of that with your wrench... (which I've done).
I just did a gentle one-sixth of a turn--in the reverse direction. I was very careful to watch what was happening. And then that corner just fell off.
ReplyDelete