NIAGARA CONSERVATION N7799 283551 0.8 gpf Stealth Watersense High-Efficiency Elongated Toilet Bowl with Rear Outlet, White

How to buy a toilet: 13 steps

Throughout your life you will pull your toilet chain an average of 140,000 times. Your toilet will also account for around 30% of the water use in your home, so replacing an old and defective toilet or buying an eco-friendly toilet can benefit both the environment and your bottom line. While most people are familiar with the standard gravity-operated toilet with a rear tank, details such as heavy discharge, water conservation, and model design should be considered.



NIAGARA CONSERVATION N7799 283551 0.8 gpf Stealth Watersense High-Efficiency Elongated Toilet Bowl with Rear Outlet, White

Part 1
Consider the different types of toilets available


    1
    Understand the mechanics of a toilet. When pulling the chain from a standard toilet, the lever pulls a chain that lifts a flow valve. Then, this flow valve drains at least 7.5 liters (2 gallons) of water from the tank into the cup for approximately three seconds, which activates the siphon to suck the contents of the cup into the sewer or septic tank system. [1] However, unlike what many people believe, the tank is not the most important part of a toilet's technology. Actually, you could separate the tank from the toilet and pour two gallons of water into a bucket by hand, and the toilet will still work. [two]

    2
    Consider a toilet that works by gravity. This type of toilet is the most common in North America. These toilets use the weight and height of the water in the tank to facilitate the flow. The tank is then refilled through an effluent tube (usually plastic) until a float closes the flow. If it is not possible to obtain the level of discharge from the discharge of the jet, an internal manual movement, or even an earthquake, or a narrow tube of overflow will solve this type of problems. So, as long as the toilet is working properly, the water should not spill out of the porcelain tank. We refer to the basic, simple, effective and durable type of toilet. [3] The discharge sound of toilets that work by gravity is also not particularly high and is easily solved. However, if many people use the toilet (say an extended family) or excessive use will be made of their flow system, this type of toilet does not have enough strength to discharge consistently after each use. [4]
        If you have a small family or the bathroom will have minimal use, think about acquiring a standard toilet that works by gravity.

    3
    Consider the possibility of acquiring a pressure-assisted toilet. Unlike toilets that work by gravity, pressure-assisted toilets have an "active" rather than a passive mechanism. This type of toilet adds pressure to the force of gravity exerting more force than the traditional unit. The water displaces air inside a sealed cylindrical tank, usually metal or plastic, inside the larger ceramic tank, which helps generate more force. [5] However, because the water in the tank is stopped by pressure, the rinsing occurs much more strongly, producing a loud discharge sound. In addition, a greater amount of pressure through the toilet can generate tension in old plumbing and household plumbing, which can cause a leak or burst a pipe. [6]
        Choose a pressure-assisted toilet if you live in a new building or house with new pipes and in good condition and with low water pressure.

    4
    Consider the use of a toilet with an aspiration system. This type of toilet is a novelty among standard toilets that work by gravity. Use a vacuum cleaner that sucks the water in the cup more tightly through the holes in the rim of the top of the toilet bowl. Toilets with a suction system produce a cleaner and less sound discharge compared to other models, making them ideal for a bathroom near the bedroom or in a quiet area of ​​your house. However, unclogging this type of toilet requires a little time and skill. To disconnect the cup, you must remove the lid and place your hand over the opening in the tank for the emptying to work. Also, the toilet with suction system costs approximately $ 100 more than a toilet that works by gravity. [7]
        Think about how to get this type of toilet if you are looking for one with a strong but silent drainage and are willing to spend a little more money in advance.

    5
    Consider the use of a toilet that works with electricity. This type of toilet uses an even greater force than toilets with a suction system. Actually, pressure-assisted toilets are also known as the only "toilets with steamboats". [8] These toilets feature a 0.2 horsepower steam engine in the tank to pump waste into the drain, making it the ideal toilet if your bathroom has old pipes. Toilets that run on electricity can also save an average family 2,000 gallons of water per year. However, these toilets have a pump that must be plugged into an outlet, and they are known for their incredible high discharge sound and are currently the most expensive type of toilet on the market. [9]
        Think about buying a toilet that works with electric power if you need a model with a super discharge power, regardless of maintenance or cost.

    6
    Consider the use of a double flush toilet. These toilets have two buttons in the tank, one for an average discharge of the tank, the other for a complete discharge of the tank (obviously, you use one of the discharges depending on your needs). Originally, they were invented in Australia to respond to the constant cycle of drought in the country. [10] Double flush toilets have begun to gain popularity in the United States, and have the best water conservation system of any other model. In fact, there is research that has shown that a double-flush toilet uses an average of 6.9 gallons per day, compared to 9.5 gallons of a low-flow toilet and 19 gallons in older models. [11] This type of toilet can save 2,250 gallons of water per year at home, and because there are two discharge options, you can choose between a light sound or a louder sound. [12] However, this type of toilet has a high price and high installation costs. [13]
        Choose a double flush toilet if you are looking for an easy-to-use and eco-friendly toilet alternative. Remember that the long-term benefits of a double-flush toilet relative to water savings may be worth the initial cost.

Part 2
Look for the proper system of cistern operation


    1
    Determine the flushing force of the toilet. Finding a toilet that performs a discharge effectively without getting stuck is important. However, a toilet that uses less water does not always mean that it has less discharge force than another model. [14] The ideal toilet has a great capacity to eliminate waste and a high resistance to clogging.
        To learn about the operation of a specific toilet flow, use the Maximum Performance Test (MaP) from the Water Efficiency Alliance website. [fifteen]
        Most hardware stores and home supply stores label their assortment of toilets with a numerical score based on their discharge performance, taking into account the capacity for waste disposal and resistance to clogging. [16]

    2
    Check the gallons of water the toilet uses in each discharge. Current toilet models use 1.6 gallons in each flush (GPD), which is approximately half the amount of water used in old toilets.
        The toilets with the Water Sense seal used 1.28 GPD and were approved as a high-efficiency toilet by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More information about the WaterSense program is available on the EPA website. [17]

Part 3
Decide the best model for your bathroom


    1
    Compare the one-piece and two-piece models [18] . Your preference for each model will depend on the configuration of your bathroom, and the aesthetic or preferred design.
        The one-piece models are designed so that the tank and cup are integrated as a compact unit, making them easy to clean and ideal for smaller bathrooms where it is needed to save space. However, these models may be more expensive than the standard two-piece model.
        The two-piece toilet models are the most traditional designs consisting of a bowl and a separate tank. They are more affordable than one-piece models, and their installation is less expensive. However, they take up more space and are more difficult to clean.

    2
    Evaluate the shape of the toilet seat. Most toilet seats come in two forms: elongated and round. The elongated seats are more comfortable because their shape provides space and comfort, especially for adults. The round seats are approximately 5.1 cm (2 inches) shorter, and can work best in tight bathrooms or with smaller people and young children. [19]

    3
    Choose a toilet height that is easy to use. Toddlers will feel comfortable with the standard height of 35.6 to 38.1 cm (4 to 15 inches). Toilet models with comfortable height are 43.2 to 48.3 cm (17 to 19 inches) from the floor and are 5.1 to 10.2 cm (2 to 4 inches) taller than regular height toilets. [20] Toilets with comfortable height comply with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ideal for the elderly and people with disabilities. [twenty-one]

    4
    Always buy a toilet with an adequate internal installation. This is the distance between the outlet tube for the toilet and the wall behind the toilet. Toilet models come in various sizes to suit different facilities, so choosing the right size is important.
        To determine the size of the internal installation of your toilet, measure from the wall behind the toilet to the caps of the screws of your current toilet. Do not include the sockets in your measurements. [22]
        Most toilets come with an internal installation of 12 inches, which is the standard distance, one of 10 or 14 inches may be necessary for some homes.

    5
    Consider any other preference before your purchase. For example, a toilet with an antibacterial enamel finish will inhibit the growth of bacteria within the bowl. And if you can not stand the sound that comes from lowering a standard toilet seat, a toilet with an automatic closing seat [23] may be a good option. As always, there is the alternative of a fully customized toilet or a bidet. [24] Keep in mind that choosing a unique color design can give your bathroom a different look, but it will cost more than a standard white model.

Tips

    Always look inside the box before buying a toilet. A complete package will consist of a seat, a wax ring and the necessary equipment necessary for its installation. If you have to buy these things separately, they will be added to the total cost.

Swiss Madison St Tropez Wall Hung Toilet Bowl Dual Flush Wall Mount (Soft Closing Quick Release Seat Included)

Dry toilets, toilets without water

Human excrement is not a usual environmental issue. In fact, when in the nineteenth century began to implement (after a patent by Thomas Crapper of 1857 that improved a well-known but little used before it) the WC ( water closet ), the toilet with water or toilet, this ingenuity improved the hygiene in the cities, but left rivers and streams in ruins.



Swiss Madison St Tropez Wall Hung Toilet Bowl Dual Flush Wall Mount (Soft Closing Quick Release Seat Included)

The treatment of faecal waters for environmental reasons will not be implemented in Europe before the mid-twentieth century and in Spain it will not be until the eighties. The fact is that the toilet with water as an invention left without research another invention coetanium, the treatment of human faeces and urines in dry or composted.

How sad it is to use clean water to turn it into putrid black water when more than a century and a half ago the dry earth closet was invented, hardly anyone knows. The current custom is that urine and feces, along with large amounts of water, go down the toilet and are pumped into water treatment systems where the organic matter is devoured by bacteria stimulated by the injection of large amounts of air into the water. The whole process is expensive.

The composted human excrement is not only a fertilizer for the earth but can also become an energy source. In the first case, the composting of human faeces and their use as fertilizer suffices that this has rested for about two years to completely eliminate any pathogenic organism evacuated in the faeces. The biogas coming from the methanisation of human excrement is a reality hardly considered, although this process in addition to obtaining energy also produces fertilizer.

The world of so-called dry toilets or composters is more a curiosity for reports than a daily reality, even so, some families, owners, businessmen, etc. They have opted for this dry technology of human waste. We have the technology so that in the treatment of human feces we put something more intelligence than simply dissolve our droppings and urination in water.

More than a third of the world's population does not have access to such a basic innovation as a sewage system, consisting of a toilet to evacuate and subsequently treat excreta and urine, thus preventing infections and environmental contamination. Black water, as the waters are called with dissolved faecal waste, becomes the main focus of epidemics in urban areas in developing countries. Dry toilets or composters are a solution.

Vignettes of the book The Humanure Handbook , an obligatory reference for those interested in the composting of human excrements, together with the toilet bowl of a sanitary compost of self-construction type "Clivus Multrum".

The history of the earth closet
Human excrement is a source of nutrients just like horse feces or cow dung. The only problem is that just excreted, human feces can be loaded with pathogenic organisms. Therefore, both animal excrement and human feces must be composted to hygienize them.

The first evidence of the connection between certain collective epidemics and human feces did not occur until the late eighteenth century. Towards 1850 the English Reverend Henry Moule (1801-1880) devised the toilet with earth or dry earth closet in response to the water closets that dissolved human faeces with water but according to many detractors of the time were precisely the cause of epidemics such as anger. Moule believed that if the earth closet had been implemented massively many epidemics would have been saved and the health of everyone would have been improved.

In 1860. Henry Moule, together with James Bannehr, considering that the Water closet was a mistake, he patented a dry toilet that soon after began to be manufactured. There was no lack of reason for these visionaries since the earth close t mixing the human excrement with earth, ashes or wood sawdust was more hygienic than the sanitary with water. In 1865 the Dorset County School with eighty-three students changed their water closets for earth closets and not only to save the high cost of maintenance with water but also to eradicate the bad odors that occurred in the septic tanks where they accumulated sewage. Also the Indian government implanted at one time the earth closet in hospitals and prisons in some areas. In 1880 Henry Moule tried to convince the British government that the earth closet was the system of the future. Unfortunately, in spite of the hard battle between the liquid and dry toilet system at the beginning of the 20th century, the water closet was imposed as we conceived it.

Henry Moule did not understand the composting process of human excrement despite his invention to treat them. The first composting toilets with two chambers did not develop until the 1930s with devices such as the Clivus Multrum by the Swedish engineer Rikart Lindstrom developed in 1939 to prevent pollution of the Baltic Sea. Later, towards the Eighties, a provision of the Swedish government prohibiting the septic tanks in the dispersed houses located in the natural places encouraged the commercialization of composting toilets in that country. This also allowed the emergence of commercial models based on plastic fiber as we know today, such as BioLet, Sun-Mars, Clivus, etc.

In China decades ago human feces were composted to be used as fertilizer. The need to avoid polluting the waters was the first goal that encouraged human stool composting enthusiasts. Today, in addition to this exposed reason is added another no less powerful that is to avoid the contamination caused in the manufacture and application of chemical fertilizers. There is a clear certainty that the composted nutrients from human manure could save up to 15% of synthetic fertilizers. This highlights the importance of compost toilets as an essential device in the design of the sustainable city.

In our country there are still too many taboos regarding human feces. Remember that one of the first warnings made to children is: "poop, do not touch." It is evident that from an ecological point of view, the dissolution of feces prevents us from having a useful resource for agriculture and to improve the soil quality of the soil. Currently, various models of composting toilets or dry treatment of human feces are commercialized throughout the world. All these systems achieve that the faeces are composted, that is to say, that they undergo an aerobic degradation process in which a succession of microorganisms not only mineralizes the human organic matter, but also pasteurizes and destroys all the pathogenic microorganisms that we excrete when defecating. Although they are practical in everyday use, the current toilets with water that enjoy the water closet type are an environmental irrationality, because to treat the residue of the digestion of the food that the land has given us, we first contaminate the water and then consume energy to clean it up

The composting toilets with external storage
One of the most extended models or variants of the same is the toilet Clivus Multrum type. The main characteristic of this is that it needs an area outside the house, where the compost is stored. Until recently the typical clivus multrum was self-constructed. Today there are a couple of manufacturers who have designed a separative and compact toilet that separates urine from feces based on a model by the Swedish scientist Matts Wolgast. This type of toilet starts from an old idea that is the use of urine in the fertilization cycle (see a detailed monograph -pdf of 4 Mb- in English about it).

Among the models that exist in the European market of separative toilets we will comment the Ecodry by Wostman , the one of the German firm Separret with its model Villa and finally, the one of the French firm Ecodomeo .

In the Ecodry dry toilet, the separation of urine makes it possible to obtain a completely odorless residue and use the urine as fertilizer. The stool is collected in a container under the floor. The fecal matter falls into a container, where it evaporates and dries. A fan in the container so that this residue dries and bacteria and viruses are eliminated. A deposit below the 80-100 liter toilet allows family waste to be stored for about three months. When it is full, the stools are usually dry enough and weigh only 10-20 kilograms. Its operation is very simple for the user as shown in his manual . The deposit must be ventilated. There is the possibility of connecting a water tap to it if necessary. The Separret is similar in operation.

Wostman 's Ecodry porcelain dry toilet with separative system of urine and feces, one of the most affordable systems.

In the dry toilet of the firm Ecodomeo this has a more sophisticated mechanism because at the bottom of the cup there is a conveyor belt driven by a pedal, which makes a slight slope. The urine slides to the front, where it is collected by the drain and stored in a tank, then mixed with ten parts of water per unit of urine, this can be used as fertilizer. The faeces remain on the tape and, together with the paper, they are transported to the composting warehouse located outside. This toilet is also plugged although the consumption of the tape and the fan is minimal, about 15 Wh. By separating the urine from the fecal material, it prevents a doughy mass from being created and that does not produce the characteristic bad odor of the mixture of faeces and urine. In addition, since it is well aerated, fecal matter can not evolve into an anaerobic process that is responsible for causing bad odors.

Vater dry type separative Ecodomeo and its side the installation scheme of the same with the storage chamber.

The sanitary composter par excellence
Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting toilets for collective health facilities is that of Clivus Multrum. This offers dry toilets that include storage tanks from 650 liters capacity. It is a sanitary composter that follows the design scheme of Lindstrom, with a camera where urine, feces and organic waste produced by the family are processed together. It consists of a composting chamber with a sloping floor, air ducts and, at the lower end, a storage area. A tube connects the pedestal toilet bowl to the reservoir receptacle. Often also has a special mouth to pour kitchen waste. This sanitary composter system therefore includes the permanent air circulation thanks to the natural current that originates in the air ducts of the storage chamber of the material to be composted. The air comes out of the vent of a small chimney.

Diagram of operation of a Clivus Multrum toilet, together with two toilet facilities, one of very elaborate and the other more conventional.

Al Clivus Multrum not only reach the faeces and urine, but also the toilet paper. They also recommend adding a handful of sawdust after each service and some models have a hole to pour waste into the same sanitary tank from the kitchen: vegetables and pieces of meat, shells, bones, egg shells, garbage that comes out when sweeping, paper napkins and cut grass (not so cans, glass, plastic or large volumes of liquid, of any kind). Due to the slope of the floor of the Multrum sanitary container deposit, the fresh falling material slides little by little, from the part where it is deposited, to the lower part where it is stored. The composting process decreases the volume of the pile, reducing 90%. Finally, it must be borne in mind that for the installation of the Clivus Multrum toilet, depending on the model, at least it requires a storage space below the bathroom floor (of 1.3 m for the small family model M100).

Biolet, a classic
This composting toilet has the advantage that it does not require installations since the storage tray is incorporated in it. The Biolet includes various models of toilets manufactured in Sweden, a country in which for reasons of legislation has driven the commercialization of this technology. Among its main design advantages we note that it has a secondary lid that does not open unless we lean on the toilet seat. The other characteristic is that it has a heating system with a thermostat that allows the composting chamber to work with the right temperature for the process. Finally, between its peculiar design highlights the rotation platform that separates the stool from the drop point with which the next user can not see not smell anything. The forced ventilation system allows bad odors to go outside, although in general this type of dry toilets hardly smell. Every three weeks the tray is removed with the feces converted into "earth" or humus. The toilet itself is a bit bulky, but very comfortable, although it needs to be plugged into the power grid. A family of three consumes between 30 m 3 and 40 m 3 of water per year for the toilet. If we make calculations in the case of water consumption that we would save to install a dry toilet or composter, we would see that in 15 years it has been amortized. When constructing a new house, one could consider not foreseeing any infrastructure for a water toilet. If the house can not be connected to the sewerage network and it must be poured into a septic tank, the fact of avoiding the maintenance costs of this also reduces the time of amortization of a dry toilet like the Biolet.

The composting cube
Undoubtedly, it is the simplest sanitary composting system that works as a collector of human excrement for later composting. It is widely used in camping and summer homes in the middle of nature where it is not advisable to make septic tanks and there is space available to deposit the collected waste. In this type of toilets it is essential to use sawdust or wood shavings, as in addition to absorbing excreted liquids, it also contributes to facilitate composting. There are a few manufacturers in Europe of which we stand out for their proximity Lecopot , and Ziya, both firms are based in France , a country in which there is a good marketing of these simple dry toilets.

The key to the proper functioning of these composting toilets is the use of vegetable cellulose (sawdust, wood chips, etc.) which inhibits the enzymatic reactions that mineralize the organic matter in the excrement. These reactions are precisely the origin of unpleasant odors. For this reason it is necessary to add vegetable cellulose, especially in the form of wood chips in the excrement in order to block the enzymatic reactions and in this way neutralize the odors. The shavings of wood or sawdust therefore means intervening in the carbon-nitrogen ratio of our excrements, which facilitates aerobic composting in the open air. An important detail: the blocking of enzymatic reactions takes place only if there is moisture, so this type of dry toilets do not separate the urine from the fecal material.

Its operation is thus very simple in this sense. A bag of compostable bioplastic is placed inside the bucket or toilet. At the bottom of this bag a sawdust bed is placed and after each use it is sprinkled again with sawdust. Once the bag is full, it is deposited in a composting container. The maintenance of the toilet is like that of any other. The stainless steel bucket facilitates its sanitization.

On the left two Lecopot models, one of which incorporates the deposit for the sawdust and on the right two models of Ziya, the last one of which made with recycled cardboard available in Label Verte .

This option is recommended for single-family homes or located in natural spaces. It is a minimum maintenance sanitary because it is enough to handle it properly so that the necessary balance is provided for the good progress of the composting process.

Pipis to grow plants
One would think that urine has nothing particular about it. But it is a liquid rich in potassium, one of the nutrients that provide the heart with its ability to regulate blood flow. Our body can not accumulate potassium because in the bloodstream it is a toxin. That is why it is excreted as quickly as it accumulates when ingested with the diet. Urine should not be thrown away, but returned to the nutrient cycle. In times of the Roman Empire, the emperor enjoyed the privilege of collecting the urine of his subjects to use as a cleansing agent.

In the capital of France have already installed several urinals (unfortunately only for use by people of the male) of the company Uritrottoir that combine two very interesting aspects, on the one hand give a different image of the public urinal and another give a new focus on the utilities of urine. His motto "Civiliza los pipís" can not be more direct to give the ethical touch on the problem of peeing incisively on public roads. It is undoubtedly a curious street urinal whose first units have been installed near the Gare de Lyon railway station. Its operation is very simple. The urine is collected in a container filled with straw that can later be composted and returned as fertilizer for urban public green. Each planter can receive up to 500 pipís with a volume of 240 liters. When the tank is full, an alarm is activated which allows the specialized company to collect the straw for composting that is in the tank below. Its promoters, pose it as an alternative to combat the incidents of urine, something very common in certain neighborhoods of many cities. Hopefully in the future there will be a version also for the feminine pee, although at the moment, according to the clothes that the woman uses, she can use the peeing adapter as the Shewee.

Basic tips for composting toilets
In those dry toilets that do not separate the faeces from the urine, a bed of cellulosic material such as wood shavings, sawdust, straw (preferably pitted), hay, dry leaves, crushed branches or even shredded cardboard should be used. In these toilets toilet paper can also be placed inside.

As a complement to the dry sanitary toilet, it is necessary to have a conventional composting container for those used for the composting of garden waste or domestic organic waste. There are many models of composting containers in the garden. The most recommendable are those that have manual rotating hand systems of the material to be composted. In these we can mix both the dry toilet material and household organic waste of the house.

There are no restrictions on the use in gardening or horticulture of composted material extracted from dry toilets as long as the compost has totaled a composting time of two years to eliminate the pathogenic organisms in the feces. In 1979 trials were carried out by the Department of Microbiology of the Norwegian University of Agriculture on problems that could lead to the development of fecal composting of people taking antibiotics. The results showed that this does not lead to a significant or prolonged alteration in the compost, and never, except in cases of massive doses of truth, there is no need to worry about it.

In dry composter-type toilets it is better to use not very large cubes, from 15 to 20 liters is enough and in a family of four this will allow you not to have to remove the material more than every two or three days. It is recommended that the bucket be made of stainless steel, as it is easier to clean, stains less easily and is not impregnated with odors. Galvanized buckets should be avoided because they are quickly attacked by urine and corrode easily. Anyway, we want to remember that on the subject of dry toilets there are good ideas and many options of do it yourself, which are very useful to consider and applicable in certain areas of the planet's impoverished.

Technology for the future
There is no doubt that the technological improvement of the toilet-toilet, toilet, toilet, toilet, or whatever you want to call it is a field that still has possibilities. Suffice it to see the development of the so-called Nano MembranoToilet , a complex ingenuity but with interesting ideas and that its authors have put at their disposal. Currently, research, many of them funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation work to improve health quality in developing countries seeks:

• - eliminate germs from fecal waste and recover useful resources once sterilized: energy, clean water and nutrients (which can be used as fertilizer or "humanure", "human manure");
• - operate without electrical energy and other than water installations;
• - operate at a cost of less than 0.05 cents per person per day.

American Standard 3128.001.020 Toilet Bowl, White

Toilets or WC - Superintendence of Sanitary Services

Toilets or WC

Between the different types of toilets are the current toilets that have a capacity between 12 to 18 liters of water and the silent toilets that have a capacity between 24 and 36 liters of water.



American Standard 3128.001.020 Toilet Bowl, White

Types and parts

Between the different types of toilets are the current toilets that have a capacity between 12 to 18 liters of water and the silent toilets that have a capacity between 24 and 36 liters of water.

The current toilets are those that are placed at 1.60 meters in height, measuring from the edge of the pond lid to the floor level. The toilets have a pond that is mounted on the toilet bowl. The two types of toilets have the following appearance:

It is important to know which are the parts that make up the tank of a silent type WC, since they will allow its repair in a better way:

•     Overflow tube
•     Drive shaft
•     Float rod
•     Float
•     Sopapa or flipper
•     Soup seat
•     Regulating drain nuts
•     Drainpipe
•     Muffler tube
•     Intake
•     Water inlet valve
•     Discharge actuating handle
•     Handle of the shooter

How do they work

The running WC works in the following way:

•     The water enters the pond with pressure, pushing the rubber of the intake valve.
•     The filling process starts, raising the water level and thus lifting the float.
•     When reaching the maximum height, the float presses the rubber of the intake valve and cuts the water flow.
•     When the discharge handle is activated, the chute is lifted and the water is discharged into the toilet bowl.
•     Once the water has been discharged, the soup again settles down and the process starts again.

The operation of the silencer is similar to the current pond. The variation is in the silencer tube, which is screwed to the intake valve and prevents water noise and, in the priming pipe. When the filling of the pond begins, the water goes through the priming leaving at the level of the cup. It is normal to see water running through the toilet bowl while the filling process occurs.

Faults and how to solve them

•     Valve rubber in poor condition: it is exchanged for an equal
•     Broken valve packing: it is exchanged for an equal
•     Rod of the broken float: it is changed by an equal
•     Broken hammer: is changed by an equal
•     Open float: it is exchanged for an equal float
•     Perforated overflow tube: it is exchanged for an equal one
•     Broken muffler tube: it is exchanged for an equal one
•     Broken priming pipe: changed for an equal
•     Conical rubbers in poor condition: it is changed by an equal
•     Broken handle: it is changed by an equal
•     Arm of the broken shooter: it is changed by an equal one
•     Bent rods: straighten
•     Broken soup: it is exchanged for an equal
•     Broken Flipper: it is changed by an equal one
•     Sopapa or flipper with tartar: clean
•     Broken drain pipe: changed by an equal one
•     Inlet tube broken: it is exchanged for an equal one
•     Oval soup: it is exchanged for an equal
•     Golilla lead metallic valve: it is exchanged for an equal
•     Guide clamp off center: it is changed by an equal

Toto CT437FG#01 MH Wall-Hung D-Shape Dual-Flush 1.28 and 0.9 GPF Toilet Bowl with CeFiONtect, Cotton

Dry baths: what are they and how to build one?

Today I present an article on a little-known subject: dry baths . And what better to tell someone with experience in the matter. Jose Antonio Sánchez Colín, Self-Sufficient Bioconstructor , shares his experience here with all Ecosocial Water readers.



Toto CT437FG#01 MH Wall-Hung D-Shape Dual-Flush 1.28 and 0.9 GPF Toilet Bowl with CeFiONtect, Cotton

DRY BATHROOMS

One of the purposes of Agua Ecosocial for this year is to bring external guests to share in the BLOG their experiences with practical ideas and relevant information that may be useful to all of us.

For this, the category "GUESTS" was recently inaugurated.

Today I bring you a special guest, Jose A. Sánchez Colín , who gives us an article loaded with practical information where he tells us his experience to build a dry toilet .

Jose Antonio Sánchez Colín, is a restless and multi-faceted self-sufficient bioconstructor, who does not conform to the theory and who feels comfortable taking action.

The best example is the facts and the best way to learn and improve is "doing" . Jose Antonio Sánchez is a living example of this affirmation.

I leave you with him and his post about dry toilets. Enjoy it!


After traveling through different countries and seeing how the health and life expectancy of a population determine the use and customs of water , it made me aware of the importance of water on the planet and specifically in our health and questioning how it affected me. that process and what I could do to improve it.

All this brought me closer to life in the countryside , self-sufficiency and permaculture . After a few years of travel, experiences, courses and conferences, I took the leap to experience it myself building my own house and my own installation and water treatment.

Therefore, I will tell you as much detail as possible, what is a dry toilet, how it can be built and what benefits it brings to our health and that of our planet.


Sketch of a two-chamber dry bath

A dry bath is a common bathroom like that of any house with the particularity that we separate the gray water from the fecal matter in order to avoid polluting the water and then having to invest time and money in purifying it ... Go ahead to the process to avoid then use energy in debug.

Basically, it has a toilet with two compartments, a part where the urine falls and a chamber where we dehydrate the feces.

For the construction of the dry toilet, it is important to provide the bathroom with a certain height so that it is more convenient to access the dehydration chamber, therefore we will start with the foundation as in any construction. In this case a ditch 30 cm deep with some stones and concrete will be sufficient for the structure that will support.


Foundation of the dry bath and the dehydration chamber

About 60 cm high are enough to build a good dehydration chamber . The dehydration chamber consists of a cubicle where faeces fall and that with the contribution of dry matter (ash, sand, crushed dried vegetable material, etc.) and a small updraft of air we manage not only to dry the feces with the destruction of its bacteria and parasites but also create a current of air that does not cause bad odors in the bathroom.

Therefore, we will build that cubicle where we will make a hole to place the cup and the separation of fecal waste, and we will place a door to isolate it from possible insects (although under my experience if it is used well and maintenance is not a big problem ).

Through that lid we will introduce and change the cube where the faeces will fall.

Next, we will puncture the cubicle at the top with a cut that is slightly smaller than that of the toilet lid.

Now comes the most artisanal part, which would be to build your separation of gray water and feces manually or buy a ready-made cup and install it in the cubicle

I encourage you to build it because all you have to do is split the hole in two parts, finishing with tile or some non-porous material the part of the urine so you can wash and pour water so you do not smell.


Dry bath hole: separation of urine and fecal matter

You can always attach a rubber tube with holes to a hose with a small tap that will perform the function of cleaning when urinating.

The only drawback, if that is how you can call it, (which for me is not so) is to sit down every time you have to urinate (unless you have a great aim!)


Dry baths: plaster and lid

Once the cubicle is finished, you have to make a hole the size of a chimney pipe at least 10 cm in diameter and place a black chimney pipe that will help suck the air out of the dehydration chamber when it warms up with the sun.


Mix of ash and sand for use in dry baths

The operation is very simple: one makes his needs sit down, the urine goes in front of the gray water (sinks, showers, etc.) and the faeces fall in a bucket placed in the dehydration chamber. Once finished, a bit of dry organic material is added with a shovel (I recommend a mixture of ash and sand ).

After 6 months of use, a new bucket is placed and the one that is full is allowed to compost further inside the chamber for at least another 6 months.

When a year has passed we can already take out the first bucket and use it as a good compost for the field .

It is very beneficial not to contaminate the waters of our environment with bacteria when mixing it with feces and the saving in water is very considerable .


Finished dry bath

Building a dry bathroom with your own hands opens doors and gives you enough self-confidence to undertake another, bigger, new project.

If you need more information or advice, you can contact us through Agua Ecosocial and we will help you with your project.

American Standard 3705.216.021 H2Option Dual Flush Right Height Toilet Bowl, Bone (Bowl Only)

Dry bath, how not to waste water and help the Environment

In the context of a family home we can save considerable amounts of water and at the same time avoid the production of sewage, using toilets that run without water.

There is a wide variety of designs and proposals on "dry" or "composting" bathrooms, all have in common, that a conventional toilet bowl is not used, that depending on the type, consume between 3 and 20 liters of water in each use.



American Standard 3705.216.021 H2Option Dual Flush Right Height Toilet Bowl, Bone (Bowl Only)

The different proposals for toilets that work without water, we can divide them into two groups: Those that act by dehydration and those that compost the excrements.

Sanitary systems based on dehydration (dry baths)

Something becomes dehydrated if all the water it contains is removed. In a dry bath the content that falls in the treatment chamber is dehydrated; This is achieved with heat, ventilation and the addition of drying material.

You have to reduce the humidity of the content to less than 25% as soon as possible, since at this level the elimination of pathogens is accelerated, there are no bad odors or flies production. The use of a specially designed toilet bowl, which bypasses urine and stores it in a separate container, facilitates dehydration of the stool.

Urine contains most nutrients and is generally free of pathogens, so it can be used directly as a fertilizer, that is, without further processing. In general, it is more difficult to dehydrate excrement mixed with urine, although in extremely dry climates dehydration is facilitated

features

•     A special urine separator cup is used - there are both home and industrial models. They have a urine deposit in the front of the cup. From this collector, the urine flows through a hose to an absorption well below or next to the toilet, it can be used as fertilizer in the vegetables (mix 1 part of urine for 5 to 8 parts of water)
•     Ashes and lime are used to help dehydrate and neutralize odors.
•     Due to the strictly dry handling, little organic matter is produced, therefore, the chambers can be of a smaller size than in the composting toilet.
•     The toilet paper is stored in a separate container and subsequently burned.
•     Sufficient ventilation must be provided to the solid deposit boxes, for example with a 4-inch chimney, which rises directly without elbows or deviations up to 1m above the roof of the house. The odors of the urine separating cup can be controlled by adding a little water inside the collector after each use.
•     The organic matter obtained is harvested annually, does not present any kind of smell, the presence of lime and ash dried and compacted a bit the earth, so it is recommended to mix it with topsoil and sand, before using it as fertilizer For fruit trees do not use this type of fertilizer in vegetables.
•     It is usually built with double chamber, which alternates in its use, each one of them has an approximate volume of 60 cubic centimeters and they go roundabout so when one is filled it is left closed to finish the process, while it is filling the other .

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The dry toilet with solar dryer.

It is a variation of this first model. Humidity is the most important risk factor in a sanitary system based on dehydration; but adding a solar heater to the process chamber reduces that risk. This concept was developed in Mexico and systems have been installed, for example, in the Sierra Gorda de Queretaro.

Dry solar wc is used in the same way as dry baths. (There are drawers with prefabricated fiberglass solar dryers) The material in the treatment chamber is human excreta and ashes, and / or a mixture of earth and lime in a ratio of 5: 1. Urine is channeled to an absorption well located near the toilet (or processed as fertilizer). The used toilet paper is placed in a box or bag that is placed near the cup to burn it periodically. It is also built as a double chamber system.

Sanitary systems based on decomposition (composting baths).

Compost is an aerobic biological process subject to controlled conditions in which bacteria, earthworms, fungi and other organisms decompose organic substances to produce humus.

In a composting toilet human excreta and other organic materials are deposited, for example pieces of vegetables, straw, peat, sawdust and coconut shells. It is a treatment chamber where soil microorganisms are responsible for decomposing solids, as happens in a natural environment with all organic materials.

To achieve optimal conditions for compost, you must control the temperature, air circulation, provide some moisture, and ensure a good combination of materials.

The humus produced in the process is an excellent soil conditioner, free of human pathogens, but this depends on achieving the right conditions and that the material is stored for the necessary time in the chamber. To maintain aerobic conditions, sufficient oxygen must circulate in the accumulated material; the compost chamber must have 50 to 60% humidity, a carbon / nitrogen ratio (C: N) of 15: 1 to 30: 1 must be reached, and the temperature must be above 15ºC.

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A great diversity of organisms contribute to the decomposition of faeces and other materials in the sanitary composter. They vary in size, ranging from viruses, bacteria, fungi and algae to worms and insects. All of them play an important role in mixing, aerating and decomposing the content of the material stacked in the treatment chamber: its activity is positive and must be maintained. You can even place earthworms in the sanitary: if the environment favors it, multiply, make holes in the compost material and consume odors and organic matter, transforming them into enriched organic soil.

In general, there is no separation of urine, and a possible excess of nitrogen is balanced by the use of high carbon materials (sawdust, ground straw). Nor does it have to separate the toilet paper, since it is organic material and can be added without problems.
The toilet "clivus" or "clivus multrum".


More than fifty years ago, composting toilets were introduced in weekend homes in Sweden. To date, a wide variety of models have appeared, which are used in different parts of the world.

This type of sanitary has become quite popular in several parts of the world as Mexico for the inclusion of the design in the book "The Barefoot Architect" something like a guide in what refers to Bioconstrucción, it is available to download in our Library as well as more materials on the subject.

It is a compost toilet with a chamber where urine, feces and part of the household's organic waste are processed.

It consists of a compost chamber with an inclined floor, air ducts and, at the lower end, a storage area. A tube connects the pedestal sanitary cup to the receptacle and generally has a special conduit for kitchen waste. There is permanent air circulation thanks to the natural current that originates in the air passages of the compost chamber. The air exits through a vent, sometimes implemented as a fairly complex system of interconnected PVC pipes. Clivus multum not only stool, but also paper
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Commercial dry toilets
There are many models of dry toilets on the market. There are those who compost in the same sanitary and others who compost in different receiving cavities that change shape and volume according to our needs and whose mission is to receive or accumulate, ferment and allow a comfortable and harmless withdrawal of the result.

There is no design limit in the supply of industrial dry toilets either. There are those that consist of a simple composting drum with the cup or seat, and when the bag is filled simply pulls, to the complex systems with rotary reception containers, temperature detectors, aeration systems and electronic control.

These models usually carry aeration systems and even solar collectors, which facilitate the fermentation and drying of organic matter.

In addition, practically all models use the use of microorganisms that collaborate and accelerate the decomposition process of organic matter, also reducing its volume considerably and making an important step of composting within the toilets themselves. Remember that almost 90% of our excrement is water, so the remaining 10% becomes clean and dry organic fertilizer.

Almost all manufacturers are from the United States, Australia, Canada and northern Europe. But the good thing is that they are already distributed all over the world, even here in Spain.

It is very important, also, the work performed by these toilets to reduce the risk of disease transmission that does occur with its discharge to natural channels, as microorganisms also break down bacteria, fungi, pathogenic organisms, etc ...

In summary, the advantages of dry toilets over conventional sanitation can be specified in:

•     They do not use water. It is only necessary for occasional cleaning.
•     They do not pollute the soil or groundwater.
•     They can be integrated into any existing home, including a block of flats.
•     They are cheap, because they can self-build.
•     They are hygienic and innocuous.
•     They do not produce bad odors if they are well designed.
•     They do not depend on centralized services.
•     They suppose a great saving in canalizations and purification stations.
•     They provide resources: fertilizers and fertilizers.
•     They allow populations with few resources to access safe sanitation that keeps their waterways clean.

Kohler K-4380-0 Memoirs Comfort Height Elongated Bowl, White

The toilet of the 21st century

Every day we go on average six times to the bathroom. When talking about the ideal space to eliminate our waste, we think of a comfortable white toilet, that pulls effectively, cleanly and with privacy. This option is much less accessible and modern than it seems. We have been using the same toilet design for a century and urgently need to change it.



Kohler K-4380-0 Memoirs Comfort Height Elongated Bowl, White

It is not known with certainty who invented the first artifact to urinate and defecate. For a long time no one was deprived of dumping their bodily waste on the ground, behind some small tree maybe. This method was unobjectionable until poops began to appear everywhere. Then it was necessary to create a more private and hygienic method. Thus emerged the latrine, which remains the toilet of 12% of the world's population. The latrines are holes in the ground (approximately two meters deep) on which a base is placed to sit. The waste goes to the bottom of the hole, where they are integrated into the earth. No matter how deep the hole, at some point it fills and you have to do another ... and another and another. According to Time magazine, the Knossos palace in Crete, built around 4,000 years ago, was one of the first places with latrines. But in addition to the lack of space to create new holes, latrines have other disadvantages such as bad odor and contamination of groundwater. These deficiencies motivated the design of new systems.

The first toilet was invented by a poet: John Harrinton. He designed it in the sixteenth century for Queen Elizabeth I of England. His idea was to join a seat to a water cistern, all in an enclosed space: water closet, from which the acronym WC comes. The pestilence was the main problem with this design, because it had no way of preventing the backflow of contaminated water. It was the Scottish watchmaker Alexander Cumming who put an end to the problem of bad odors. He achieved this by adding a siphon: an S-shaped tube in whose curvature is retained a volume of clean water that functions as a stopper to prevent the gases from escaping. It was Cumming who first patented the toilet in 1775. Almost a century later, the English plumber Thomas Crapper began the larger-scale manufacture of toilets, and soon, in Canada, Thomas Avity added the flow of self-cleaning vortex (the fall of water in spiral to the interior of the cup that drags with more force the waste). Avity patented this model and thus led to the final design of the contemporary toilet. Now we find them in many colors, materials and styles, but all are based on this model from more than 100 years ago.

sewage water

What a pleasant feeling to get home running in a state of urgency and finally be there: the toilet in front of us, as salvation to our full bladder. And even better, a minute later we pulled and it's as if nothing had happened. Nothing? We dirty and waste between six and 13 liters of drinking water that will go to another place where they will continue their polluting effect.

The maximum volume of urine that we can generate in 24 hours is two liters, which are distributed in about five or six trips to the bathroom. If each discharge is six liters, 30 liters of water are used to discard only two liters of urine. The waste is stratospheric. The figure becomes overwhelming when we multiply it by families, communities and immense populations around the world. And the worst thing is that it is drinking water: water that we could drink.

The common toilet works as a "disappearing" waste: just pull a lever so that they leave our sight. What happens next? The toilet is the beginning of a long journey. With those six or 13 liters of water, the waste passes into a pipe that normally ends in bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. This, in addition to being an important environmental problem, degrades the quality of life of those who live in areas surrounding the contaminated spaces.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) of 2007, in Latin America only 14% of wastewater is treated, and of these, only 6% is treated appropriately. That is, the urine and excreta of 208 million people go directly to the environment without receiving treatment.

Goodbye excrement, hello diseases

In addition to the enormous waste of water and environmental pollution there is a less visible problem, but equally important: the proliferation of diseases associated with lack of hygiene. While the conventional toilet has been for many the perfect method to eliminate waste, for 2.5 billion people in the world the toilet is an inaccessible and even useless option, since they live in areas without water or drainage. So, in what conditions do these people urinate and defecate? According to WHO data from 2014, 18% of the world's population defecates outdoors (in 1990 the proportion was 31%), 12% does it in inadequate conditions, such as latrines, and 8% uses shared spaces. In any of these conditions, good sanitation is not met. This is a central concept that refers to the correct elimination of human excreta to prevent diseases and promote privacy and dignity. In order for sanitation to be adequate, the person must not have contact with their waste, on the contrary, they must be hygienically separated from the human. Currently 2.5 billion people have contact with their waste when urinating and defecating. The most affected countries are concentrated in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Mexico is classified as one of the countries with good sanitation; however, there are still many communities where waste is not disposed of properly. This produces foci of infection and diseases, especially gastrointestinal. These diseases are transmitted through the fecal-oral route, so called because it occurs when the microorganisms in the feces pass into the mouth. This mechanism of infection continues to have a negative impact on public health worldwide.

What happens when defecating in the open air illustrates how diseases are transmitted if sanitation is lacking. Anyone who defecates on the floor is likely to also have no toilet paper, water or soap, so the hands can be contaminated by direct contact with the excreta. With contaminated hands we manipulate the food or we take them directly to the mouth. Meanwhile, the flies will come to visit the feces and then they will fly to the food, carrying with them excreta particles. In addition, the direct contact of the poop with the soil can contaminate nearby waters, including those used for cooking. Either by drinking this water, by consuming food with excreta or by taking dirty hands directly to the mouth, finally someone ingests feces that can be accompanied by viruses, bacteria and parasites. If we multiply the effect by millions of people defecating outdoors daily, the result is a serious public health problem.

Diarrhea is the second cause of mortality in children under five years of age worldwide (WHO 2013) and its origin is the mechanism described. Most of the microorganisms found in feces are harmless, but some affect us terribly. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella, viruses such as Rotavirus orCalicivirus, or parasites such as Giardia or helminths are agents that can cause diarrheal diseases. The 760,000 deaths of children that occur due to diarrhea annually in the world could be avoided by improving sanitation and other hygiene practices. To achieve this, a toilet design is needed that adapts to the varied living conditions, including the lack of water and drainage.

In search of the perfect toilet

So, it is urgent to reinvent the toilet. The water-saving toilets (which use six liters per flush instead of 13) have meant an important advance to reduce the cost of the liquid, but they do not eliminate it completely and do not address the public health problems. Until recently it was almost unimaginable to think of a toilet that would work without water. Today there are already dry toilets, which many countries are considering as a viable option. In Mexico the architect and businessman César Añorve, from Cuernavaca, Morelos, has been dedicated to the production of dry baths for almost 30 years. On the other hand, Cristian Corcuera and Óscar González, industrial designers graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), created a toilet design that works without water and uses solid waste to make compost.

In several Latin American countries such as Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador and Haiti, the dry toilet has meant the possibility of improving the sanitation of many communities. But not only the developing countries have paid attention to this new option; the interest in changing the toilet is worldwide. Finland, for example, has a dry toilet association that seeks to promote the development and dissemination of sustainable toilets. But the biggest project on a large scale to reinvent the toilet is the one promoted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which in 2011 undertook the challenge of reinventing the toilet, allocating millions of dollars to the best designs. The essential motivation of the contest was to improve the living conditions of the 2.5 billion people without access to safe sanitation and reduce infant death from diarrhea. One of the requirements of the contest was that the toilet will work without water. The winner was the California Institute of Technology, with a toilet design that works with solar energy and generates hydrogen and fertilizer. It is an extremely complex model; it requires solar cells and extensive equipment to transform waste. This challenge has reached more countries; recently they were called China and India. For now, the models born of the contest are very complicated and expensive. However, there are designs of dry toilets that have been around for years and that we could adopt.

The dry toilet

Some dry toilets are designed to integrate them into rural areas, but there are also for urban dwellings. They can be adapted to a department. In general, the operation of a dry bath, as they are also known, is based on separating urine from excreta, which are dehydrated. The cup is divided into two sections, one for urine and another for excrement. It is covered with a mixture of dry earth and lime (some mixtures may include ash or sawdust). The goal is to dehydrate the excrement, and at the same time avoid infectious microorganisms and bad odors. Lime is an alkalizer that is added to the soil to lower the acidity of the excrement. It is included in a proportion 10 times smaller than that of land. Lime also works as a deodorant. The section where the mixed excreta are stored should be emptied after several months. It is important to respect this time to allow them to be transformed and integrated into the earth.

Combining the excreta with the drying mixture results in the formation of a compost that can be used to enrich the soil (it can be added to gardens or pots inside the house), which closes a natural cycle.

Dry toilets have very clear advantages: saving of drinking water, reduction of environmental pollution, generation of useful compost for the land and above all, the possibility that all communities have appropriate sanitation to improve public health. To enjoy these advantages, we must take care different from those we are used to, since a bad use of the dry toilet can lead to serious problems, including bad odors and proliferation of undesirable microorganisms.

The key points to make a good use of a dry toilet are: place it in a well-ventilated place, keep the space always dry (remember that the principle of operation is dehydration), always urinate in the corresponding section to avoid getting wet section of excreta, use a good mixture of lime and earth and meet the emptying times so that the excreta are dehydrated and incorporated into the soil.

The time we spend in the toilet is a valuable moment of privacy. While we sit there, our thoughts flow freely until they are paused when pulling the lever, but in reality there the story begins. With each discharge of the toilet we affect the environment. But for those who do not have an adequate toilet, eliminating their needs means putting their health at risk. Reinventing the toilet represents the possibility of decreasing water waste and, more importantly, of improving public health throughout the world.

-Marra del Carmen Climent Palmer is a veterinary veterinarian from the UNAM, a master in production sciences and animal health; He is currently pursuing a master's degree in science communication at the University of Sheffield, England. In 2014 he won the National Prize for Journalistic Disclosure in Sustainability.

Kohler K-4387-0 Memoirs Comfort Height Round-Front Bowl

How to detect and repair the most common toilet breakdowns

In this post we explain how you can detect and repair the common faults of the toilet . The toilet is composed of a tank that contains water and two mechanisms inside:

The discharge , which empties the toilet tank when the button is pressed, and the water inlet , which is responsible for automatically filling the tank when empty.



Kohler K-4387-0 Memoirs Comfort Height Round-Front Bowl

It is common for the discharge to spoil every two or three years, as it is a plastic mechanism that is used daily. A damaged discharge is constantly throwing water into the drain and can cause high water costs, so it is very useful to know when to break it and repair it right away.

We recommend that you periodically review the correct functioning of both the discharge and the feeding mechanism, thus saving you scares with the water bill at the end of the month.

repair faults toilet

Here are some irregularities that can occur when the flushing or flushing of the toilet is broken:

•     Water comes out from inside the cup constantly
•     The shooter does not work
•     The toilet button is broken
•     No water comes out when pulling the chain
•     The input key does not close

1. Water comes out from inside the cup constantly

This is one of the first warnings given by the discharge when it breaks down and means that it does not close well the water flow. If this happens, it may also be due to the failure of the water inlet mechanism inside the tank.

To know which of the two pieces is failing it is essential to open the toilet tank by the lid that usually has on the top. You will have to remove the button or handle from the toilet and pull the lid upwards. With the lid already removed, you can see the water level inside:

If the water level exceeds the discharge

rock mechanism feed low odorless metal thread It means that the water inlet mechanism is broken: if it does not close properly, it makes it fill more than necessary, exceeding the level of security that all the discharges incorporate.

To solve it, the simplest thing is to replace the mechanism with a new one. To do this you have to look at whether the water reaches the toilet tank on the side or below.

We recommend that you close the water passage whenever you are going to replace the mechanism and while it is damaged, with this you will avoid wasting water.

Find input mechanisms here .

If the water level does not exceed the discharge

universal rock double loading mechanism It means that it is the discharge that is broken.

Again, the simplest solution is to replace it with a new one. Today you can find many universal downloads that allow you to make the change easily.

Here is the guide Choose the download for a toilet and if you already have it clear, here you will find toilet downloads of various brands and models.

2. The shooter does not work

If the discharge is a shooter and it has stopped working, it may be due to the release mechanism that is inside the tank. To know, you have to remove the lid of the tank and look at a rod that makes a union between both parts: if it is broken you can find a spare part or acquire a new discharge.

3. The toilet button is broken

If the discharge is a pushbutton or double push button and it is broken, you will have to remove the lid of the toilet tank. There are downloads that connect the button by cable and others directly with a plastic rod. Check if the cable is stuck or broken. If it's broken, you'll have to replace the entire download. In the case that it is the plastic rod that has been broken, you will have to replace the complete discharge.

4. No water comes out when pulling the chain

Two things may be happening:

•     The water tap is closed and for this reason no water enters the toilet.
•     The water inlet mechanism has broken down or is clogged. This mechanism has spare parts but it is always advisable to change it for a new one as it is an inexpensive piece that is easy to replace.

5. The input key is very hard and can not be closed

It is very common for these types of keys to be obstructed by lime and stop working when they are most needed. To avoid this, it is necessary to open and close the key regularly. If it has already been obstructed, it can only be replaced by a new one. Before dismantling anything, remember to close the general passage water of the house to avoid flooding.

We show you through this video how you can install the download mechanism yourself:

TOTO C744EL#01 Drake ADA Compliant Elongated Bowl, Cotton White

The siphon effect and the invention of the toilet

Toilet, bombonera, water, latrine ... Many are the names that it receives and nevertheless it has not changed much since Alexander Cumming patented the tube in the form of S in 1775 . Its design allowed to seal the pipes and prevent the entry of bad odors coming from the sewers: the odors that rise through the pipes do not penetrate the stagnant water of the toilet. Later the hydraulic closing was incorporated in all the hydraulic systems of the home, allowing the modern bathroom free of bad odors. Let's see how they got it.



TOTO C744EL#01 Drake ADA Compliant Elongated Bowl, Cotton White

The toilet turned odorless

Toilet: that does not smell . The toilet or latrine became toilets thanks to the design patented by Alexander Cumming. The S-shape of the tube does not allow the complete evacuation of the water, always leaving a certain amount of stagnant water. The water, which is odorless, seals the air from the pipes and does not allow its entry into our home. But not all was good news: stagnant water must be pushed effectively or else our creations will remain in the toilet for our personal enjoyment.

To evacuate the toilet, it is not enough to pour more water: when it is flushed, the water level rises and it rushes to the side of the pipe. Any solid object can not overcome the S-shaped tube because gravity prevents it . Even by pouring a lot of water, we would not always get to evacuate effectively. This is where the siphon effect comes into play.

The siphon effect

Imagine that the S-tube was filled with water. The water column on the side of the pipe falls due to gravity. The cohesive forces of the liquids -we will speak of them in another article- hold the column of water together , pulling the rest of the water in the cup. The siphon effect does not stop until air enters ; At the moment when the water level of the cup lowers enough, air begins to enter the siphon. At that moment the effect is broken, and the water in the cup stops being sucked. In the following video of Discovery MAX is explained very graphically:

The critical step is to fill the siphon and then gravity does the rest. To fill the siphon quickly, part of the water in the tank is diverted : instead of falling into the cup, it goes inside and pushes the stagnant water directly to the siphon . This is how you get to fill the tube quickly and activate the siphon effect. The rest of the water that falls through the cup prevents the water level from lowering and maintains the siphon effect until the cistern is completely emptied.

The problem of water consumption

drought

The toilet allowed to avoid odors and the integration of the bathroom in the modern home . However, it brought with it a remarkable increase in water consumption. According to the EPA , toilets are responsible for around 30% of household water consumption . Most toilets have a larger cistern than necessary and putting a closed water bottle helps reduce the amount of water consumed per flush. If you are thinking of buying a new one, keep in mind that many already incorporate a double drive system ; they allow to discharge little water when it is not necessary to drag solids.

TOTO CST784EF#01 Eco Clayton with Elongated Bowl, Cotton White

How is it and what does the ultramodern toilet cost more than US $ 12,500

A hot toilet is not an especially nice idea for most people, as it usually indicates that it has just been occupied by someone else.

And turning aside when you're sitting on the toilet and there's no toilet paper, just smooth walls and a remote control, it may seem like hell.

But the remote control we are talking about has washing and drying options .



TOTO CST784EF#01 Eco Clayton with Elongated Bowl, Cotton White

    The smart toilet that you only have to clean once a year

You hit a button, and a robotic arm slides underneath you and offers you a variety of water jets at different speeds and angles, followed by hot air at the end.

When you get up, the toilet closes its lid, pulls the chain and is cleaned using ultraviolet lights.

The Toto Actilite series with Washlet (the robotic washing hand) costs about US $ 12,500.

It is a Japanese brand, but since opening its offices in London, UK, in 2009, it has tried to open up to the European market, and has many competitors .

They may now be a luxury, but these high-tech toilets could one day improve healthcare around the world.

But how do they work?

Maybe you're worried about a robot approaching your most intimate parts, but Floyd Case, director for the UK of Toto Europe, says there's nothing to fear .

It's not like a car wash; You do not have to sit down and hope for the best. When you sit down, there is a sensor that detects that you are there "

Floyd Case, Toto Europe

"It's not like a car wash, when you sit down, there's a sensor that detects you're there, " he tells me.

"In any case, you note that the seat is hot, which is nice, and that the deodorant works, so it smells good."

"If you want to wash, you have a remote control with two options: rear or front wash, which is sometimes called 'washing for women'," he explains.

The robot rod then leaves its closed chamber and releases a spray of "about 70 water droplets per second".

"You can adjust its position, the intensity of the water and, of course, the temperature, there's also a drying function to shoot hot water," says Case.

In addition, it is very hygienic .
Copyright of the Toto image Image caption Toto's Actilite line includes a "wand" with hose and dryer that is operated by remote control.

The chain "electrolyzes" the water , which generates dissolved salts to produce a slightly acidic solution that will kill the bacteria.

In addition, it contains ultraviolet lights that activate when the lid is closed, which interacts with a "photocatalytic surface" in the ceramic container to undo anything biodegradable.

Toilet Hacking

The Satis G-Type, manufactured by Lixil (another Japanese firm) has many similar functions , although it prefers the term "pulverizador" to "rod", and is, something cheaper: it costs about US $ 5,000.

It has Bluetooth connection and you can control your personal washing functions (spray, water and air pressure) using the mobile application "My Satis" (my Satis), which includes a " toilet newspaper " so you can perform - if so you want it- a follow-up of your bowel movements and thus monitor your health.

As with any device based on the internet of things, Lixil had to consider the possibility of hacking. What happens if someone gets control of your sprayer?

"Many steps are required to control a Satis toilet remotely," says Martin Mizutani, director of product development at Lixil Water Technology.

"Operating a Satis toilet using a smartphone involves completing a pairing process, which establishes a direct connection between the toilet and a specific telephone."

"Then it only works when the toilet lid is open, while the 'My Satis' application can be used by only one person at a time, which prevents a third party from accessing the system at that time ."
Copyright of Garv Toilets image Image caption Garv toilets, used in some of India's most impoverished areas, are sustainable in terms of energy use, maintenance and disposal of waste.

Both Toto and Lixil are very popular in Japan.

According to Lixil, some form of hot toilet is used in more than 80% of Japanese households .

But international consumers are proving to be more difficult to convince.

"Of course, there is the comic factor," admits Case. "Europeans are not used to intimate washing."

A "memorable experience"

That said, Toto has sold more than 40 million toilets with wash rods -whose minimum price is US $ 1,870- worldwide.

And besides the mansions of the very rich, they are popular in hotels and restaurants .

"It's one of the last things where hotels can still be more luxurious (than homes)," says Case.

" The washing experience is quite memorable, there was a criticism of a restaurant recently where they talked more about it than about food."

It may still sound like something very exclusive, but there is a real need in the world for more "smart" toilets.

Garv toilets are free to use in poor parts of rural India and are designed to be self-sufficient in terms of energy use , waste disposal and maintenance , with technologies such as sensors and integrated radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems.

Of course, there is the comic factor. We Europeans are not used to intimate washing "

Floyd Case, Toto Europe, on why the concept has not penetrated the continent

Made of vandal-proof shiny stainless steel, LED lights and exhaust fans turn on automatically when users open the bathroom door.

When the visit ends, the same automatic technology automatically activates the systems of washing the floor and the toilet.

A remote control board records data on the number of users and how many times they pulled the chain and used the soap dispensers.

Smart toilets can also be a key element in the future of healthcare.

According to the Toilet Board Coalition, a commercial network that promotes better health, your toilet could save your life.

(The toilets) will go from being simple containers that eliminate waste to smart medical devices that collect health data and synchronize us with our doctors "

Toilet Board Coalition

"They will go from being simple containers that eliminate waste to smart medical devices that collect health data and synchronize us with our doctors."

How far is that future? According to Floyd Case, Toto is already doing it.

"We have sold thousands of toilets in hospitals in Japan that wash and dry you, but they also weigh you and analyze your urine, " he explains.

Over time, he says, domestic toilets will do that too, loading the data onto your smartphone.

But they do not want to launch this technology to the market before consumers are ready.

"At the moment, people are still surprised by a technology that came to Japan 30 years ago ."

American Standard 3483001.020 Cadet Right Height Elongated Universal Bowl in White

Your toilet, its 5 most frequent breakdowns and how to repair them

Many times we ask in HomeServe what is the best invention of the house. As usual, each professional usually throws to his guild: "what would we do without running water?", "Why do not you go without a refrigerator?", "Okay, okay, but what about the doors and locks, what?" Conclusion: we live surrounded by comforts that we already perceive as totally necessary. Facilities that did not exist a century ago. Or 50 years. Or even a little more than a couple of decades, like the internet.

American Standard 3483001.020 Cadet Right Height Elongated Universal Bowl in White

"Well look, as much as I look, I can not find the problem in your toilet ..."  Today we have to talk about one of them: our toilet. This very civilized contraption consists of a tank containing water and two mechanisms: one of discharge , which releases it by the toilet when we press the button or pull the chain, and another water inlet, to leave the toilet ready for next visit.

The discharge is usually the most fragile of these pieces, breaking regularly every two or three years , since it is used daily and is usually made of a plastic that must withstand thousands of beats. If the discharge deteriorates and begins to let the water pass during these "dead times" between use and use, it will become a daily leak of liters and liters of the precious liquid that, even more than in our bills, will weigh on our consciences and in mother nature itself. That is why it is important to pay attention in a very simple way: by watching if the slightest trickle of water falls through the toilet in a state of rest, and listening if you hear filling the water tank without stopping.

There are 5 basic problems that usually reproduce sooner or later in almost all the WC in the world:

Yours, just like mine, is very special, I know. But you will not be free from going through one of these trances, so make a mental note of the solution to each problem in your toilet:

1. Water constantly comes out

The dam has cracks, my friend. We're throwing water, so it's time to take action immediately: open the toilet tank by the top lid, and check the water level inside. If the water level exceeds the discharge, the water inlet mechanism is broken. That's why it fills up more than necessary and, to repair it, the most comfortable thing is that you replace the whole mechanism with a new one (cut the toilet water, remove the mechanism, go to your usual hardware store and request an equal one). If the water level does not exceed the discharge, it also indicates breakage and the solution is identical: replace it at the moment.

2. The shooter does not work

Sometimes, simply, it is that the inner mechanism of discharge has been released. You only need to remove the lid of the tank and see if the rod that joins both pieces is whole, but loose, or if it is broken . In the first case, hook it to regain its function. In the second, it replaces the mechanism.

3. The button to press is broken

It happens exactly the same as in the previous case: you will have to open the lid of the tank to see if the cable or the plastic rod that connect the button and the discharge are broken or just loose. Reconnect in one case and replace the entire mechanism in the other.

4. When you pull the string, no water comes out

Are you sure that the water supply to the toilet is open? Ok, checked the most obvious, maybe it is that the water entry mechanism is broken or clogged. Since it is a very economical piece, it is always worth changing it for a new one in case of doubt.

5. The entry key is very hard

The ads of detergents can exaggerate a little, but do not lie: the lime makes real havoc and can damage and block mechanisms like this. That is why it is recommended to rotate them from time to time to keep them free of traffic jams. Once these are produced, you can only change the whole key with a new one (and here, please remember to close the general water pass of the house, if you do not want to cause a small flood with this task in principle so simple). Is not it that hard? If you still have doubts and prefer to see how a professional plumber repairs a dripping cistern, take a look at this video that we have prepared for you. And if you still have doubts about what is happening, do not hesitate to contact a plumbing professional or hire a protection for your toilet.

How does the toilet work?

• TOTO C744E#01 Drake Elongated Bowl, Cotton White

How does the toilet work?

The toilet is the device that is used in the bathroom to collect and evacuate human excrement and urine to the septic tank , the cesspit or the sewer , as appropriate to the installation made at the place of use.

The operation of the toilet is very simple. It consists of a large amount of water discharge in a short time, which allows to take the contents of it to the pipes that lead to the aforementioned destinations. This water is usually housed in a place called the backpack of the toilet , which consists of a floating that maintains the optimum level of water for each discharge.



TOTO C744E#01 Drake Elongated Bowl, Cotton White

The installation of the toilet is completed with a drain pipe in the form of an elbow, called a siphon , which produces water inside it, thus preventing the entry of bad odors from the pipes.

The system works very well under normal conditions and is one of the least polluting methods to evacuate excreta. However, there are opportunities in which there are problems with the toilet that are not easy to solve and that require the presence of specialists who perform the work. For example, if the toilet is clogged , it produces as a consequence that the water rises to the edge of the toilet with each discharge, instead of being evacuated by the drain, this is usually produced by the fall of something solid that clogs the siphon.

On the other hand, if the level of the water of the drain rises when the shower or the lavatory is activated, surely the problem is not of the toilet, but of a secondary pipe. In addition, when the sewer is covered , the toilet water passes well with each discharge, but the water rises from the drain.


History of who, how and when it was invented

Behind each going to the toilet , there is a physical phenomenon that makes life easier every day. Its origins are very diffuse, but those who perfected this practice appear in some points of history.

The toilet already appeared in the royal palace of Cnossos , it was a cistern with a cup and drainage channel, which did not have a system of treated water like the one currently developed. Before performing the disposal of these physiological materials, it was in public places, since the drainage networks were for private places.

John Harington

It is the name of the inventor who revolutionized going to the bathroom . In 1597 he made the valve water closet , named it Ajax and settled in the palace of Elizabeth I in Richmond, England .

In 1775 John Cummins took out a patent from a cistern, which was further perfected by Samuel Prosse in 1778, with the ball valve. Seventy years later, in the act of English Public Health, it is forced to put in all the houses a toilet service and in 1890 this practice had already spread throughout Europe.

It is not a fart

A sixteenth-century humanist scholar by the name of Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote a book of etiquette about behaviors for the " bathroom ." There he says that it is impolite to greet someone while urinating or defecating and regarding "letting go," suggests that a cough be dispelled with a cough called "explosive roar", from here comes the "tactic" of simulating a fart with a cough.

The bathroom

It was born in Scotland ten thousand years ago due to the toxicity of human waste. It was installed in some natural source of running water and it was the inhabitants of the Oreadas Islands, off the coast of Scotland, who made the first latrines so as not to have waste near their homes.

Later, in order not to have to leave the house, they adjusted the latrines inside the houses with a primitive channel that directed the waste to the rivers.

Hygiene was very important in the East and in 3,000 BC, the ancient Hindus had bathrooms in their private facilities. In Pakistan, precisely in the Indus Valley, public toilets were found that had clay piping in the brick works, with taps to spill water.

The Minoan royal families in the palace of Cnossos , Crete, for the year 2000 BC, had bathtubs that they filled and emptied with vertical pipes. Then they used ceramics, similar to the current ones. The connections dragged the waste and in addition the toilet had a tank above with water, which was the first water closet with a cistern in history. That cistern collected rainwater, if not filled manually, when discarding that water, it would carry the waste.

In 1,500 BC, the Egyptian aristocrats had copper pipes where cold and hot water passed, the full body bath was a religious ritual, the priests demanded a cold bath a day. The Jews performed these baths, since the Mosaic Law dictated that full body bathing was equal to moral purity.

David and Solomon, from the year one thousand to 930 a. C., built complex public works for the water supply.

Who invented the modern toilet

In 1884 Thomas Crapper made the "floating", which allows to automatically close the flow of water when the tank is full, at present the version of Crapper is still used. The inventor registered nine patents related to the toilet.

Tomas Turifed used porcelain to make the toilets , material that is still used for toilets.

How does a toilet work?

With a drain in the form of an elbow, it retains water in it and forms a closure called siphon that prevents the passage of bad odors, the organic matter is dragged through the discharge of a flow of water in a short time, leaving only clean water in the elbow of the closing.