I was thinking about your delima but not to seriously when a thought came to mind. When I worked at an eating disorder facility some girls were given donuts (inflatable tubes) to sit on because they were so thin an bone on hard wood hurts. Possibly this could assist in dangle challanged situation.
If you just want a toilet that works well (EVERY time), get a "pressure assist" toilet.
Since the low flush (1.6 gallon) code went into effect 8 or 10 years ago there's been some VAST improvements in toilet design. I remodel kitchens and baths for a living (along with just about any other part of the house, but baths are sort of my mainstay) and have used just about every design out there, and the pressure-assist models are still my favorite.
They have a small pressure tank inside of the porcelain tank of the toilet. The water for the flush cycle is pressurized by the incoming water, and when you trip the lever SHWOOOSH!, things happen. They're a little noisy, but damn, they work. Still only 1.6 gallons, but they work better than anything you've used previously, I promise.
American Standard makes one called "The Water Miser" that I usually use, but that's only because I have an account with their local wholesaler. Kohler, Crane, Elger all have a pressure-assist model and all the brands use the same pressure tank (made by Sloan).
Briggs also has a model called the "Vacuity" that works a little differently, but is still very effective.
Whatever you do, don't buy a cheap toilet. The $70. or $80. models that are always on sale at the chain stores aren't worth the time to install them. They are junk. Plan on spending $200. - $250. and you'll get a pretty good unit.
Add a Toto "Washlet" toilet seat bidet (about $450. - $600.) and your wife will love you even more.
I can't say I have ever heard of anyone with your dangle problem. geesh, maybe your only answer is to use the john only when you have an erection.
Have you tried a "comfort height" toilet? They are 16, 16 1/2 or 17" from the floor to the top of the rim, as opposed to the 14 1/2" standard. They are also sold as ADA compatible. (to accomodate those with need to move from wheelchair to stool., or with difficulty getting up from that awkward squat poistion) Many of my older clients are requesting them when I remodel their bathrooms. You could try them at virtually any public privy which is equipped with wheelchair accessible toilets. They are all over the place.
I believe the extra height should also increase the distance to the water from the seat, but I admit I never checked that. You might also consider an elongated rather than a round one (bowl). The water reservoir is often further back in the bowl, where it is needed.
As far as brands, I feel you were misled by that website. There is difference in the flush action, as well as the bowl reservoir design, especially now with the 1.6 gal max usage requirements. Manufacturers are trying hard to counter the concern some folks have about the early versions not cleaning themselves well. They are improving the action with each new model.
My experience has been American Standard and Kohler do much better than Eljer, and that Kohler seems to install easier. (although there is no rocket science to putting any of them together.) Cheaper brands have a tendency to not be as well cast, and often have an uneven bottom, which makes installation harder when you try to prevent a rocky base.
American Standard makes a "power flush" model which uses some sort of a forced pressure to flush the system. They work incredibly well, but are rather loud. My clients have been very happy with them in spite of the loudness.
I dunno if any of this will help you with your dangling participle, except the ADA seats. Do you live near Ms. Bobbitt? (ouch)
Poor cleaning of the bowl can have many causes, from a clogged wax ring, corroded/crusty inlet holes in the bowl, improper water level, or bad/weak flapper valve (where the water leaves the tank to go to the bowl) My first guess is the flapper valve, second the wax ring. You should never set the float valve to fill the tank above the water elevation mark which is cast into the back of the tank. It's a waste of water and does little to increase flushing capability.
Out here in the arid west, we can't waste any water more than necessary.
Oh, regarding installing used 3.5 or 5.0 gallon toilets. Its a bad idea unless the area has soft water. You are buying someone else's problems most likely, but most contractors would give them to you so they don't have to haul them to the dump. Licensed plumbers cannot install them for you (at least in my area).
I guess plumbers need to know more than that water flows downhill and payday is on Friday.
quote: Whatever you do, don't buy a cheap toilet. The $70. or $80. models that are always on sale at the chain stores aren't worth the time to install them. They are junk. Plan on spending $200. - $250. and you'll get a pretty good unit.
Add a Toto "Washlet" toilet seat bidet (about $450. - $600.) and your wife will love you even more.
More expensive than a condom, but sounds like it's worth it! :D-->
Galen, I'm not trying to be funny here but am raising a son so feel I know something. Could you maybe hold the dangling part a little from the top so it doesn't dangle and you can go from both ends at the same time if need be?
Re: “Actually I just ‘raised’ the level of water in the water-closet by 2 more inches. Which had an immediate effect on flushing characteristics.”
That has nothing to do with what I suggested. A toilet holds water in two places, the tank and the bowl. You raised the water level in the tank, which helped flushing by increasing the amount of water dumped from the tank to the bowl when you raise the flapper with the flush lever. What I suggested was decreasing the water level in the bowl, thereby increasing the distance from the seat to what you call the puddle, which is what you say you want.
Something else I should have noted, you should be sure to get a toilet with an "elongated front" rather than a round front. It gives the men in the house a little more "equipment" room.
Unless space is really limited, it's the only kind of unit I'll put in a bath anymore. Round fronts are icky.
At the risk of following Galen into the land of TMI, the "room" is only necessary when one is seated on the appliance. Personally, I don't care for bumping into the rim of the toilet seat. But, then, that's just me...
George is right. The round-front toilets are a curse unto mankind.
Ladies: For those of you who get annoyed that men sometimes "miss" the toilet, you have to understand how men are built. Now, you know perfectly well that as you urinate, the pressure gradually drops until you stop. It's the same with us, except that our bladders are larger than yours and the pressure is higher. Since you pee straight down, the pressure doesn't matter to you. Since we pee "out" more or less, the stream is going to jet out for a distance proportional to the pressure at any given instant. That's why we have to stand back a bit from the toilet and can't stand completely over the bowl to catch drips--we'd whiz all over the tank if we did. So, when we're close to finishing we have to lean in a bit as the stream gets shorter. Sometimes the pressure can stop abruptly through flexing of the urinary sphincter, and oops, some can hit the floor anyway. It's not intentional, it's just bio-physics.
Recommended Posts
Top Posters In This Topic
22
5
5
7
Popular Days
Jun 27
37
Jun 26
34
Jul 5
5
Aug 15
5
Top Posters In This Topic
Galen 22 posts
excathedra 5 posts
Mary Cate 5 posts
dmiller 7 posts
Popular Days
Jun 27 2004
37 posts
Jun 26 2004
34 posts
Jul 5 2004
5 posts
Aug 15 2004
5 posts
imbus
Galen,
I was thinking about your delima but not to seriously when a thought came to mind. When I worked at an eating disorder facility some girls were given donuts (inflatable tubes) to sit on because they were so thin an bone on hard wood hurts. Possibly this could assist in dangle challanged situation.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tom Strange
I know you mean it to be serious Galen... please forgive us our levity... it's been so hard to resist...
Link to comment
Share on other sites
pawtucket
Wear a condom
Link to comment
Share on other sites
George Aar
If you just want a toilet that works well (EVERY time), get a "pressure assist" toilet.
Since the low flush (1.6 gallon) code went into effect 8 or 10 years ago there's been some VAST improvements in toilet design. I remodel kitchens and baths for a living (along with just about any other part of the house, but baths are sort of my mainstay) and have used just about every design out there, and the pressure-assist models are still my favorite.
They have a small pressure tank inside of the porcelain tank of the toilet. The water for the flush cycle is pressurized by the incoming water, and when you trip the lever SHWOOOSH!, things happen. They're a little noisy, but damn, they work. Still only 1.6 gallons, but they work better than anything you've used previously, I promise.
American Standard makes one called "The Water Miser" that I usually use, but that's only because I have an account with their local wholesaler. Kohler, Crane, Elger all have a pressure-assist model and all the brands use the same pressure tank (made by Sloan).
Briggs also has a model called the "Vacuity" that works a little differently, but is still very effective.
Whatever you do, don't buy a cheap toilet. The $70. or $80. models that are always on sale at the chain stores aren't worth the time to install them. They are junk. Plan on spending $200. - $250. and you'll get a pretty good unit.
Add a Toto "Washlet" toilet seat bidet (about $450. - $600.) and your wife will love you even more.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
HAPe4me
Galen-
I can't say I have ever heard of anyone with your dangle problem. geesh, maybe your only answer is to use the john only when you have an erection.
Have you tried a "comfort height" toilet? They are 16, 16 1/2 or 17" from the floor to the top of the rim, as opposed to the 14 1/2" standard. They are also sold as ADA compatible. (to accomodate those with need to move from wheelchair to stool., or with difficulty getting up from that awkward squat poistion) Many of my older clients are requesting them when I remodel their bathrooms. You could try them at virtually any public privy which is equipped with wheelchair accessible toilets. They are all over the place.
I believe the extra height should also increase the distance to the water from the seat, but I admit I never checked that. You might also consider an elongated rather than a round one (bowl). The water reservoir is often further back in the bowl, where it is needed.
As far as brands, I feel you were misled by that website. There is difference in the flush action, as well as the bowl reservoir design, especially now with the 1.6 gal max usage requirements. Manufacturers are trying hard to counter the concern some folks have about the early versions not cleaning themselves well. They are improving the action with each new model.
My experience has been American Standard and Kohler do much better than Eljer, and that Kohler seems to install easier. (although there is no rocket science to putting any of them together.) Cheaper brands have a tendency to not be as well cast, and often have an uneven bottom, which makes installation harder when you try to prevent a rocky base.
American Standard makes a "power flush" model which uses some sort of a forced pressure to flush the system. They work incredibly well, but are rather loud. My clients have been very happy with them in spite of the loudness.
I dunno if any of this will help you with your dangling participle, except the ADA seats. Do you live near Ms. Bobbitt? (ouch)
Poor cleaning of the bowl can have many causes, from a clogged wax ring, corroded/crusty inlet holes in the bowl, improper water level, or bad/weak flapper valve (where the water leaves the tank to go to the bowl) My first guess is the flapper valve, second the wax ring. You should never set the float valve to fill the tank above the water elevation mark which is cast into the back of the tank. It's a waste of water and does little to increase flushing capability.
Out here in the arid west, we can't waste any water more than necessary.
Oh, regarding installing used 3.5 or 5.0 gallon toilets. Its a bad idea unless the area has soft water. You are buying someone else's problems most likely, but most contractors would give them to you so they don't have to haul them to the dump. Licensed plumbers cannot install them for you (at least in my area).
I guess plumbers need to know more than that water flows downhill and payday is on Friday.
Good luck-
HAP
Link to comment
Share on other sites
dmiller
More expensive than a condom, but sounds like it's worth it!
:D-->
Link to comment
Share on other sites
HAPe4me
yeah, what George said. I didn't see his post while I wrote mine. Good explanation Geo
~HAP
Link to comment
Share on other sites
vickles
As other ladies have posted before, I just couldn't resist reading this thread for men.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
vickles
Galen, I'm not trying to be funny here but am raising a son so feel I know something. Could you maybe hold the dangling part a little from the top so it doesn't dangle and you can go from both ends at the same time if need be?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
dmiller
Vickles -- don't you have to pack for that trip west, or sumpthin??
:D--> 
:D-->
Link to comment
Share on other sites
dmiller
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ckeer
Galen wrote:
Is that what submariners call "blowing sanitary"?
Sounds like a great way to leak test your drains. Ever forget to block all them before that exercise?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
LG
Galen,
Re: “Actually I just ‘raised’ the level of water in the water-closet by 2 more inches. Which had an immediate effect on flushing characteristics.”
That has nothing to do with what I suggested. A toilet holds water in two places, the tank and the bowl. You raised the water level in the tank, which helped flushing by increasing the amount of water dumped from the tank to the bowl when you raise the flapper with the flush lever. What I suggested was decreasing the water level in the bowl, thereby increasing the distance from the seat to what you call the puddle, which is what you say you want.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
George Aar
Something else I should have noted, you should be sure to get a toilet with an "elongated front" rather than a round front. It gives the men in the house a little more "equipment" room.
Unless space is really limited, it's the only kind of unit I'll put in a bath anymore. Round fronts are icky.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
The Girl From Oz
"Equipment room"???
I don't mean to be crude, but if you can find your way into a woman, surely you can aim without missing a 12 inch hole?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
George Aar
G from O
At the risk of following Galen into the land of TMI, the "room" is only necessary when one is seated on the appliance. Personally, I don't care for bumping into the rim of the toilet seat. But, then, that's just me...
Link to comment
Share on other sites
The Girl From Oz
Thanks George, now I understand what you meant
:o-->
Still, it doesn't solve the problem of little puddles on the floor....
-->
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Refiner
G from O.
When your stacked like George and me, you need a bit more room at the front there.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Zixar
George is right. The round-front toilets are a curse unto mankind.
Ladies: For those of you who get annoyed that men sometimes "miss" the toilet, you have to understand how men are built. Now, you know perfectly well that as you urinate, the pressure gradually drops until you stop. It's the same with us, except that our bladders are larger than yours and the pressure is higher. Since you pee straight down, the pressure doesn't matter to you. Since we pee "out" more or less, the stream is going to jet out for a distance proportional to the pressure at any given instant. That's why we have to stand back a bit from the toilet and can't stand completely over the bowl to catch drips--we'd whiz all over the tank if we did. So, when we're close to finishing we have to lean in a bit as the stream gets shorter. Sometimes the pressure can stop abruptly through flexing of the urinary sphincter, and oops, some can hit the floor anyway. It's not intentional, it's just bio-physics.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
The Girl From Oz
--> George perhaps but you.... 
:P-->
Edited by PriscaLink to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Refiner
Ahhh. comfort and functionality. Along with anxiety free sitting.
Bliss
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Shellon
No, Steve, we women have nothing that dangles.
Thought this was for fun.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
excathedra
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.