When you’re traveling, it’s difficult to always be able to find a toilet. This is why people usually carry around the necessities when they travel. Here are some tips on how you can fit your poop-making needs into your suitcase or backpack.
Stuck In An Airplane Bathroom
Have you heard about the 85 plumbers who were stuck on an aircraft with a faulty toilet? Surely you can’t be serious, you would think.
I’m serious about this. Don’t call me Shirley, either.
This isn’t a joke, even though it sounds like something out of the 1980 film Airplane! A Norwegian aircraft from Oslo to Munich transporting a platoon of plumbers to a business event was forced to reroute owing to toilet issues a little over a month ago, in a weird but real incident.
Frank Olsen, general director of Rrkjp, the plumbing firm that hosted the event, recognized the situation’s intrinsic hilarity. “We didn’t want to take the chance of sending a plumber outdoors at 10,000 meters [about 6 miles or 30,000 feet],” Olsen said. “With the comedy of the faulty toilets, there was a pleasant vibe on the aircraft.”
The plumbing issue could not have been fixed from within the aircraft, as Olsen claims. With no plumber capable of a Mission: Impossible-style mid-flight repair, the plane was forced to land.
Despite the story’s potty-humor appeal, we’re guessing you’re not working on airline plumbing (although if you’ve ever wondered how they accomplish that super-suction, or where the trash goes, check this out). So, without further ado, here are the top three obstacles that DIY plumbers on the ground face.
1. Overflow And Clogging
It’s the flush of terror: you lift the handle, and the water rises… and rises… and rises… and rises… and rises… and rises… and rises… and rises… and rises… If you’re fortunate, it will come to a halt before spilling over the bowl. If you aren’t, it’s time to get the mop out.
This is usually caused by a blockage in the waste pipe; it may be a buildup of that bottom-cushioning two-ply, or it could be because your child wanted to check whether a Lego Man could swim. In any case, a plunger, dish soap, or a vinegar/baking soda mix will generally clear the blockage.
If the blockages persist, you should hire a plumber who can evaluate your pipes using high-tech video inspection equipment for clogs, corrosion, and other damage.
2. Toilet Water That Is Always Flowing
Is the toilet flushing? Get out there and catch it! A running toilet is wasteful, regardless of the jokes. Running toilets that aren’t fixed may cost you hundreds of dollars in water each year, and it might all be down to your toilet flapper.
The flapper is a rubber valve in the tank that rises and falls with each flush, controlling the quantity of water that flows into the bowl. A worn flapper, on the other hand, cannot work as intended, enabling leakage and seepage to keep the water going. Flapper valves, thankfully, are affordable and simple to install; check for them at your local home improvement or hardware shop.
3. Troubleshooting Partial Or Sluggish Flushes
It’s terrible enough when it occurs at home, but have you ever flushed at a friend’s house only to be confronted with the agony of a half flush?
An over-saturated flapper impeding flow between the tank and the bowl is the most common cause of a partial flush. Over-saturated flappers cover the water flow pipe prematurely in around 80% of cases, shutting off bowl flow. It may be fixed with a simple flapper replacement.
Is a flapper not the answer? A sluggish bowl might indicate a clog or blockage in your plumbing system. Fill the toilet bowl with a five-gallon pail of water and flush as rapidly as possible to check for obstructions. Your pipes are usually alright if the flush needs more force; but, if the flush remains slow, there’s possibly an inaccessible blockage in no-land man’s that only your plumber can reach.
Is It Time To Hire A Plumber?
Plumbing issues may occur everywhere, whether you’re in the skies or on the ground. Some problems may be solved on your own, but others will need the services of a professional plumbing firm to assess and repair your broken, clogged, or underperforming toilet.
One issue that will require your attention is a leaky ceiling. Find out how to handle this in 3 Ways To Fix A Leaking Ceiling (+ Tips For Preventing Severe Damage).