Clogged Toilet: The Easy Way To Get It Working Again

A clogged toilet is always bad news, but you should stay confident that most of the time the problem can be solved quite easy and simple, without the need to call a plumber. Find out how to unclog a toilet by following the next easy steps.

First check the problem by flushing the toilet. Do not flush more than once as this is not needed. Check if the water drains from the bowl and at what speed. Get yourself some rubber gloves to stay free from any dirt and germs and place some newspapers on the floor next to the toilet to prevent any over flooding accidents.

Turn off the valve that lets the water into the tank of the toilet and pour a bucket of water into the bowl. Try not to do it too fast as it may overflow, instead pour it slowly and let it drain then again and again for a couple of times.

Use a plunger, preferably a big heavy-duty one, not the cheap suction-cup types as they usually do not work in this case. The plunger must be large enough to assure that water does not escape and that all the pressure pushes the water and the dirt down the drain and not back into the bowl or eventually on the floor. Try buying an integrated pump plunger that uses water not air with better and faster results as the regular ones. Unclogging the toilet with this type of plunger only requires a couple of pumps.

Submerge the plunger completely under water; you can even add more water if necessary, and start pushing it down slowly making sure to cover the entire hole. Pull and push using as much water as possible and avoid using air, going faster and faster to create pressure that in time will dislodge the blockage. Start with a pull, to make sure not to compact the blockage further.

You can use a metal wire hanger if the blockage is near the exit of the drain. Just disconnect the ends of the hanger and stick it into the clog then move it with circular motions to dislodge it. Remember to flush or pour more water if you suspect that the blockage is loosening.

If you can, use a plumbing snake. This tool is a coil of metal wire that you can screw into the clog then rise and push until the drain is clear. Unclogging toilet this way may prove to be more easy that any other way. Also you can try using a chemical cleaner. Be aware that those chemicals are extremely powerful and harmful to the environment and your hands. Use them with caution.

Last word: call in the plumber. It is possible that the blockage goes well inside your plumbing pipes and only a trained specialist can help you at this point.

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Running Toilet: Repair It Yourself

Is your toilet running all the time and never stops? It overflows often or gets stuck when pulling the handle? Is the noise of your toilet keeping you awake in the night? Don't call the plumber yet. Toilet repairing is not that hard as it looks if you know a little more about how to fix a running toilet.

The toilet tank, when open, will reveal the valve and float (in the left), overflow tube and flapper and the handle that is connected to the toilet lever and chain.

What is in your toilet? All the toilets have the same principles of work, even if the way they do it can be different. Try flushing and watch the tank components at work.Pushing the handle will bake the chain lift a flapper and the water will fall from the tank into the bowl from an opening. When the water level gets lower then the flapper drops and the opening will be close.

The floater sinks with the water and releases the valve that lets more water into the tank, filling it again. That in turn makes the floater rise and it should stop the valve when the tank is full, ready for a new use.

The middle tube is an overflow safety that takes all the excess water from the tank if the water level is too high and drops it into the bowl.

See it for yourself. If, after the flushing, the toilet runs for too much time, lift the lid and look into the tank.

The whole mechanism must work together. Be sure that the components they do not tangle each other.

Manually close the flapper. The tank is not filling and it is not full, while the water escapes into the bowl? Then the flapper is stuck open. All you have to do is to reach it with your hand and push it down to close it. If this problems is repeating then look for the problem.

Look if the chain is tangled, or the flapper is not aligned with the opening. The chain and the flapper can be stuck together or the flapper is stiff from wear and it needs to be replaced. These are the most common issues for this problem.

Manually adjust the float and valve. In case of overflowing, when the water keeps running over the top of the overflow tube and the toilet is running for ever you can adjust the float that connects with the valve. Rise the float with your hand. The water should stop pouring into the tank. Adjust the float so that the water will fill the tank close to an inch (2.5 cm) below the overflow tube opening. Don't let the tank fill more, as that will cause a leaking flapper from the excess pressure. That can happen even on a just bought item, when you fix running toilet.

To modify the float height move this clip. If the float gets around the valve then move the metal clip and get the float down on the wire. For this valve style you must screw in the blue screw or bend the rod. For the float that has a ball on an arm, turn the screws from the top. Bending the arm down may also work.

Change the flapper. The toilet stops and starts again and again? Then your toilet has a slow leak. To be sure try to place ink or some kind of colored liquid into the tank. You may use dye tablets from your hardware store. After some time, one or two hours, check the bowl. If it is colored then you are sure of a slow leak. This means that slow amounts of water flows into the bowl. This is a common issue with the old flappers. They get stiff in time from the wear and catch minerals from the water. The best thing is to replace the flapper. Remove the old one from your tank and go to the closest equipment store and compare it with the new ones. Be sure to buy a replacement that matches for size.

Turn this valve like a faucet, clockwise, to close it. To replace the old part, close the valve that is next to the wall under the tank of your toilet. Empty the toilet by flushing. With the valve closed the tank will stay empty. Get the old flapper from the hinges and release the chain then place the new part in the same spot. Get any dirt or minerals from the rim where the flapper rests. Those may be the cause for the slow leak. Let the water in by opening the top valve.

Flush for couple of times. Check if the chain has the right length and if all the parts are connected properly. Trim the chain by hand if is necessary. Check if the new flapper closes the opening and the water stops pouring after the flushing is done.

Sometimes there are other causes for the slow leak. The overflow rubber tube that connects the overflow tube with the valve may be too low. Rise the valve or the tube height or get the water level lower by lowering the float.

If any other components are broken, like the valve himself or the metal or plastic arm that connects the float with the valve, then it is the time for a replacement of the respective components. If the problem does not seem that serious you can work out a temporary solution using some super glue until you find some time to buy the new part.

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Survival China Travel Tips and Tricks

These China Travel Tips, Survival Techniques, will help you get around and make your trip to China easier, so you will be able to experience the real China with a little less stress. China is an odd beast that needs to be respected; the major cities, Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian, all have their own personalities.

Some complex situations that you think would be an organizational disaster turn out to be great and you wonder afterward what all the fuss and worry was about. Then the simplest of tasks can turn out to be a major calamity.

This is when you have what we call here a "China day".

These days come and go and are part of the experience of everyday travel in China. One needs to have an open mind when travelling China. It is a place with thousands of years of history and culture that is trying overnight to adapt to Western ways of living.

You need to have a very open mind when you Travel in China. I have listed below a few China Travel Tips that will make life that wee bit more bearable on your Travel China experience.

1. China Travel Tips - Be Toilet Wise

* Never expect a clean toilet 100% of the time.

* Be prepared; Carry some tissue.

* You may have to use a squat toilet, again if you know this beforehand it is not a shock. If you don’t know how to use a squat toilet, try the following experiment at home.

While holding onto something for support with both hands, lower your body down into a low squat position, so that the cheeks of your bottom is almost touching your heels or the back of your calf. Now, let go with your hands. See if you stay in this position for at least 1 minute. If you fall backwards or you cannot get up, then a squat toilet could be a problem for you! Practice, you will be happy you did.

* If you see a clean toilet, Go… it may not come again for a while.

* There are many public toilets around the cities, usually the ones you pay for are OK, (RMB .5), and the others best to stay away from if you can. You will soon notice them as you walk around the cities.

* Be warned that public areas like bus and train stations are usually what I class as “tough toilets”, however if got to go you got to go.
* Outside of the major cities, the toilet systems are old or have very narrow plumbing/pipes and get blocked easily. In these cases a small basket is usually beside the toilet, this is for your used toilet paper.

One of the best China Travel toilet Tips I can give you, is use hotel lobby toilets; these are everywhere and are always clean. Still they may not always have toilet paper. It depends on the class of hotel that you are using.

I do not wish to scare you. However, of all the China Travel Tips in all the other web sites I have read, this is a topic not often mentioned, but it is very important to us all.

So outside of the major cities conditions can be tough. But most of the time everything will be fine, especially if you book a tour; everything will have been checked out before hand. However even the best laid plans can go wrong, so be prepared, the toilets in the smaller cities, towns and villages can be scary.

2. China Travel Tips - The Food

* The food is great and the variety is overwhelming. Most of the time you get to choose what you eat, or you can recognize what you're eating, however sometimes you do not get a choice. Carry a chocolate bar or something; this will keep you going until some food that you can recognize turns up. Drink bottled or boiled water, as the tap water is NOT safe to drink, this is for the whole of China. Even boiled water, while sterilized can
contain a lot of minerals and iron deposits that you probably do not want in your system. The safest bet is to drink bottle water. Tap water in most big cities is OK for brushing teeth.

* Eating habits - Most Chinese people have a great habit of being very noisy when they eat and lunch and dinner times can be a wonderfully noisy celebration, food tends to go in all directions, it’s just part of being in China.

* People also smoke at the table while everyone is eating, so some restaurants get very loud and smoky.

* If you get stuck what to order as most of the menu's are in Chinese just look at the table next to you and point to the dish you fancy and ask how much it is, this system works really well and know seems to mind.

* I have a basic menu that will help you order safe food, (no Cats or Dog) this will enable you to visit a larger selection of restaurants, not just the tourist ones with high prices. You can carry it with you and use it in the local restaurants where most will be able to serve what is on it. This way you will know what you are eating.

These local places are very cheap and the food it great. Contact me if you would like me to send it to you.

3. China Travel Tips - Taxis

* Taxis are an experience that can have you griping the seat and gasping for breath; however you soon get used to it, after the first few rides, you're an old hand.

* The taxis in Shanghai are, overall, quite good. Try to get the Blue, Blue'ish Turquoise, Gold and White taxis, these are the best… these are the four major taxi companies and are generally recognized by their single color paintwork. The others are OK, just older and a rougher ride (the others also may have faulty meters). No drivers will speak English.

* Carry your hotel or accommodation business card with you, written in Chinese, this helps if you get lost walking around town.

* In all the taxis around the country you will see the drivers name and taxi registration number in plain sight. If you have any problem, or if you think you have been over charged etc, just take this number down, make a big fuss about it, and the driver then should wake up and fix whatever problem you have. Even better is to take the receipt. This has all the trip details on it and you can ring the taxi company if you want to take things further or if you’ve left something in the taxi.

* The government takes rip-off drivers in all cities, Beijing and Xian especially, very seriously and if you complain they will lose their license. This is their livelihood. So far I have had not one driver in 3 years that has not backed down and we have then agreed a price for the trip or solved our problem.

* In Shanghai, it is common practice for taxi fare increases after 11pm. However, one can usually bargain for a 20% discount, which will get the fare back to the pre-11pm rate. Be strong with the taxi drivers, never-the-less, keep your cool, smile and negotiate.

About the Author

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Not Maintaining Your Toilet Could Put Your Whole Home In A Stink

We've all had to deal with an overflowing toilet before and depending on what the contents of it is at that time, it might be just a little more unpleasant to.

Overflowing toilets can be a real source of water damage over time if they are let to overflow like this on a regular basis, so you need to do your best to not put anything in the toilet that does not belong there.

If you have toddlers that like to play around in the bathroom, one of the things that you can invest in to keep them from putting objects in the toilet is a lid lock.

These are pretty inexpensive and can save you a lot of time cleaning up after a toilets overflowing that was caused by a toy car or even a small stuffed animal. They are designed so that an adult can easily open them, but a child cannot.

Your first instinct when a toilet overflows after you try to flush it is to simply try and flush it again. The water should return to its normal level before you try to flush it again and you should make sure that the rest of your household knows this, as well.

As soon as the toilet starts to overflow, turn the stop tap underneath the tank off. If this does not work, you can lift the lid of the tank and pull the cup or the float ball up. The main stop tap should be turned off next and this should be underneath the kitchen sink or wherever the water service pipe goes into the home.

Finding what is causing the block is the next thing to do. If you can manage to retrieve the object from the toilet with your hand, thats good. If not, you might need to get a plunger or a plumbing snake to try and unclog it.

If you need to use a plunger or a plumbing snake, bale out as much water from the toilet as you can first. The clog should be removed after one of these two methods and when you think it is gone, take a bucket full of water and pour it into the toilet before attempting to flush. If the blockage has gone, the water should go down normally.

If none of this worked, then you should call in an expert. There are a number of emergency plumbers that can be called in, depending on where you live. If a blocked sewer is the problem, then calling the water company is about the only thing that you can do. If it is a private sewer on your own property, then you need to find a drainage engineer to help you.

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Decorating Toilet With Plants

Toilet is a humid environment. Having plants will soften up the atmosphere of your toilets. It offer challenges in terms of what houseplants to put in the area. Decorating houseplants for the toilet help generating ventilation and creating desirable atmosphere. Plants bring the freshness of the outdoors into your bathroom.

However, toilets also offer great opportunities for houseplants that may not do well in other areas of your home. For example, a toilet usually will have higher humidity levels from waters; therefore a houseplant that requires higher humidity levels will do very well in a toilet without you having to mist it.

Light (natural sun light)

Light is probably the most essential factor for plant growth. The growth of plants and the length of time they remain active depend on the amount of light they receive. Light is necessary for all plants because they use this energy source to photosynthesize. In order to choose the best plants for your toilet you have to consider the environment your toilet offers. Most importantly is lighting. If your toilet has low light levels, which many do, be sure to choose a plant with low light requirements. Like mentioned above, many houseplants require high humidity levels, therefore do not choose a plant that does not like high humidity levels. Choosing toilet plants can benefit from the extra humidity of the bathroom. Excessive light is as harmful as too little light. When a plant gets too much direct light, the leaves become pale, sometimes sunburn, turn brown, and die. Therefore, during the summer months do protecting plants from too much direct sunlight.

Drainage

Indoor planting often result in drainage problem. The solution is to have the drain system separated from waste water that come from cleansing and waste water that come from gardening activities. This will prevent from clogging up due to pieces of rocks in the soil.

Ventilation

Having large toilet is an ideal for your plants. The plants can get enough sun light and air to survive. Some plants are very sensitive to drafts or heat from registers. Forced air dries the plants rapidly, overtaxes their limited root systems, and may cause damage or plant loss. You should have good ventilation plans to provide increased humidity are by attaching a humidifier to the heating or ventilating system in the toilet or placing gravel trays (in which an even moisture level is maintained) under the flower pots or containers. This will increase the relative humidity in the vicinity of the containers. As the moisture around the pebbles evaporates, the relative humidity is raised.

Maintaining

Examine plants thoroughly for insects before purchasing. Avoid buying toilet plants that are not healthy. Some insects can be removed by cleansing the leaves with a mild detergent solution. Care should be taken to avoid wetting the soil.

Plants have differences in maintenance processes. Some toilet plants like drier conditions than others. Differences in soil or potting medium and environment influence water needs. Watering as soon as the soil crust dries, results in over-watering.

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A Unique Toilet Seat Makes a Fine Gift Idea

Got someone to buy a great gift for, but they've already got everything? Have you considered a unique toilet seat?

A toilet seat isn't the first thing you'd think of if you're looking for a great gift idea. Let alone a unique toilet seat that is different from anything else they've ever seen. But an unusual toilet seat can be quite a different, and interesting, gift.

There are stacks of unique gift ideas for the home. All sorts of unusual items that make a home look different. That differentiate your home, or someone else's home, from all those others out there. A gift idea that says look at me, I'll be you've never seen one of these before.

And if you're looking for a gift that's outrageous, different, startling and quite out of the ordinary, then you've got your work cut out to come up with something really - unique. After all, just about everything in the way of outrageous and different gift ideas have really been done, haven't they?

But not a unique and outrageous toilet seat. There's stacks of novelty toilet seats that you'd never believe existed. Ideas so outrageous and fun that when you see them you just have to laugh. Toilet seats that just stand out and say wow, look at me.

And what are you giving a unique or funny gift for other than to get someone to see it and say wow, look at that? To give people a good laugh, to make them smile and stop in their tracks just because the object is so - unique.

And it's not just the recipient of the gift that gets to sit back and go wow either. Because of course they might do that the first few times they see it, but after a few times it's lost a little of it's impact.

However give someone an outrageous toilet seat for a gift and it's a gift for everyone who comes to visit them too. Every time there's a new guest in the house the owner can just wait with baited breath for the first time they go to the toilet and see the reaction when they come out. And a gift that makes people laugh like that will make guests laugh for years to come.

So if you're looking for a fine gift idea, an outrageous funny gift that will make everyone go wow and laugh out loud, then consider a unique toilet seat. It's fun, it's outrageous, it's unique. It'll make their toilet a fun place to visit.

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Unblocking A Toilet

A stopped-up toilet is no fun to deal with, but it is not exactly an unusual problem. Luckily enough, this is often a problem that you can easily fix yourself, without using the services of a professional plumber.

Toilets tend to be unsanitary, and a broken or stopped toilet can be especially unclean. Don't forget to put on a pair of rubberized gloves before starting and eye protection if you have it available. Protect the floor around the toilet with a few layers of newspaper or an old towel that you won't mind throwing away once you've successfully unblocked the toilet.

Pour half a bucket of warm water into the toilet, slowly. If you notice that the toilet begins to drain, but is still slow, repeat this twice. If that doesn't unclog the toilet, you'll have to get to work with a plunger.

Grab your plunger and try pushing forcefully in an upward and backward movement. You are basically trying to force water through to break up the clog. Your choice of plunger may have a lot to do with your degree of success. Ask someone at the hardware store which is the plunger that works best. I remember picking out a plunger once that looked very effective only to have the hardware store salesperson steer me to a more standard model. A plunger with bells and whistler is probably not what you need to unstop a toilet.

If your toilet stops up and you have no plunger available, an old rag head mop will work as well -- use a push-pull motion like you would with a plunger. If the water starts to drain after using the plunger (or mop), you have succeeded!

But if you still have stagnant water, straighten a wire hanger, leaving a small L shape at one end. Place the end of the wire hanger into the S-shaped bend in the toilet, and push through the blockage. You are basically trying to bust it up.| A straight wire hanger can also be employed as a hook to help you fish items out of the P or S bends if you know what's caused the blockage to occur.

To stop the growth of bacteria and refrain from spreading germs, you should clean the toilet and any tools that you used once the toilet is in proper working order again. If your toilet remains blocked or clogged after following these steps, you should probably run through them one more time. If that still doesn't work, call a plumber.

Even though too much toilet paper, toilet bowl fresheners, and small toys are the culprits in most clogs, there are still numerous ways by which a toilet might become clogged or blocked that you can't deal with on your own. For example, it may be the sewer line rather than the toilet itself that is blocked. To avoid further problems that may be more complex, use your best judgment, as any problems you create may be more difficult (or more expensive!) to reverse.

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Portable Camping Toilet – A Hunter’s Sanctuary

The portable camping toilet is making waves in the world of camping. Fishermen, hunters and camping enthusiasts are making the choice to go it alone when it comes to their camp toilet requirements. What is driving people to take along their own personal portable camping toilet on their trip?

For me I began to entertain the thought of purchasing a personal camping toilet after having my fill of unsanitary campsite restrooms. I had endured this undesirable side of camping for too long. A fellow camper brought me up to speed on a new kind of portable camping toilets taking the camping world by storm. After researching the variety of camping toilets available I narrowed the field and ordered my now prized portable camping toilet. It arrived in the mail in just a few days and boy was I excited.

Wow my fellow camper was right and I am so grateful he pointed me towards this amazing range of portable camping toilets . My wife and I were so pleased with the model we chose and couldn’t wait to break it in, next time we went camping of course. It’s not like I unpacked it set it up at home just to try it out or anything, anyway moving on…

This portable camping toilet of ours is great it fits conveniently in the boot of the car leaving plenty of room for luggage. We cannot believe that now wherever we roam no matter how far into the wilderness we have a toilet at our disposal. It even flushes.

The portable camping toilet we selected is lightweight, is easy to store and transport and is a fully functioning toilet. It is really one of the best purchases we have made with regards to camping. We also bought a camp toilet tent which is specifically designed to function as a place for your portable camping toilet. It provides a personal outhouse no matter where we are located. Now we have a clean and sanitary private sanctuary no matter where in the great outdoors we go…Awsome.

Portable Camping Toilet Who Needs It?

This amazing little contraption could be useful in a variety of ways such as for camping, hiking, on your boat, in RV's, even as an emergency back-up at home. People who frequent festivals or any off the beaten track places like secluded beach spots can now travel with peace of mind knowing they always have somewhere to go. No more picking out a tree to make your own or disgusting campsite amenities. Camping is all about appreciating nature but our days of roughing it are well and truly over. If ever there is a time when you appreciate a little home comfort it is that time…

For people who may be concerned about the environment and how it may be impacted by these new camping toilets fear not. They are used with green earth friendly cleaning products.Just one more reason to take your camping to the next level of luxury and get yourself a portable camping toilet.

By: Simon Paul jr

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Commercial Toilet Paper Information

Every year in America billions of dollars are being spent on restroom supplies and sanitary products. The largest expense in restroom supplies is toilet paper. Americans' use millions of rolls of toilet paper every year without a second thought. The toilet paper industry is so large that it is very difficult sometimes to get a grasp on new products, updates and company mergers. There are considerations to make when choosing a toilet paper, some of these considerations include cost, style, size, color and softness. Do you want toilet paper that you don't have to replace often? Do you want to save money and go with a sand paper grade toilet paper? How cheap can I buy it for without my employees complaining? Hopefully this article will give you a basic understanding of toilet paper terminology.

The style of toilet paper usually refers to how it is wound onto a roll and the size of the roll.. There are three main types of toilet paper rolls; standard, jumbo, and jumbo junior. Standard toilet paper is the type of toilet paper you see in residential restrooms and is usually packaged 96 rolls in a case. Jumbo toilet paper is the type of toilet paper you would see in a public restroom, usually the rolls about 12 inches across and measure about 4000 feet when unrolled. Jumbo junior toilet paper is a smaller version of the jumbo roll and usually measures about 9 inches across and about 2000 feet when unrolled. Jumbo junior toilet paper rolls are sometimes called JRT rolls and are great when dispenser size is an issue.

The softness of a roll of toilet paper usually rates in correspondence to the ply of the toilet paper. When we talk about the ply of the toilet paper we are talking about how many layers the toilet paper contains. The two most common plys of toilet paper are 1 ply and 2 ply sheets. 1 ply toilet tissue means that the toilet tissue has one layer and two ply tissue means that there are two layers bonded together. The type of material used in making toilet paper can also be a factor in the softness. Some toilet papers use finer paper material to make the toilet paper softer. In general 2 ply toilet paper is more expensive than 1 ply, but if your concerned about price and quality is not a factor 1 ply is definitely the way to go.

Commercial toilet paper comes in two colors, white (sometimes called bleached) and natural (brown toilet paper). White or bleached toilet paper goes through a process where the pulp material is bleached to give the toilet paper a nice white clean look. Bleached white toilet paper is usually more costly due to the manufacturing process.

Commercial toilet tissue dispensers are fitted to the type of toilet paper you are using. Jumbo and jumbo junior toilet tissue dispensers can usually hold up to two rolls and have automatic feeders to replace the first roll when it runs out. When purchasing bathroom tissue be sure to make sure that the dispensers fits the toilet paper and vice-versa.

The 4 largest commercial manufacturers of toilet paper are Georgia Pacific, Kimberly Clark, Scott, and Windsoft. In my opinion Georgia Pacific and Kimberly Clark rate the best for softness and quality. If your looking for a bang for your buck toilet paper Windsoft is the way to go. With Windsoft toilet tissue you can expect a good product at a great price.

About the Author

Great cleaning tips and cleaning information by Lee Harris can be found at http://www.monsterjanitorial.com. Lee Harris is an expert in the cleaning industry and can answer all your questions about toilet paper. Our information is concise and will give anyone basic information about the right cleaning tool for any job. On our cleaning site we also have a cleaning forum where our users can assist each other with their own questions. A cleaning services directory is readly available for cleaning companies to advertise their site by the state in which they are located.

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Novelty Toilet Seats Make a Fun, Unique Gift Idea

Isn't it difficult coming up with fun gift ideas now. Everything has been done, there's nothing new. Have you considered a novelty toilet seat for a fun gift idea that will really make the recipient smile, over and over?

Now of course a novelty toilet seat isn't a new idea, unique and unusual toilet seats have been around for some time, you may have even seen one in someone's toilet. But have you ever thought of a novelty toilet seat for a gift?

It's not quite a gag gift, but it's certainly one to consider giving to someone who appreciates a laugh. You probably wouldn't give one to your mother. Well not unless she loves a gag. But it's a great gift idea for the right person.

It's a gift for someone who likes things a little out of the usual. A little abnormal. Who likes a house that has individuality. That's shows some personality.

And a novelty toilet seat is a gift for someone who would love to see the look on the face of a house guest who goes to the toilet and comes out looking - amazed.

There's all sorts of unique and unusual novelty toilet seats. The range is massive, and they're not that expensive. Shop online in the right place and you can pick one up for less than $50, often a lot less. I'm looking at some in my store right now. How about a handcarved oak toilet seat with a hand painted black bear. Or a toilet seat with a pair of red female underwear embedded in fiberglass on top? Or a toilet seat with a Garfield biker cat on it?

There's so much choice that you can find a novelty toilet seat to suit the tastes of anyone. And make anyone smile, every time they go into the toilet. And kids love them.

So if you're stuck for a great gift idea and would like something out of the ordinary, consider a novelty toilet seat. It's a fun way to keep your friends smiling.

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Heated Toilet Seat

It is not often that we as a people stop and think about the plumbing in our house. It has truly came a long ways from the outhouses of our grandparents, or even further back if we wanted to go there, but anyway. It is now possible just to walk into a certain room in our home and use the toilet. But did you know, now we can use a heated toilet seat? Can you even think of another way to show friends and family just how much you care. This is a gift that can be used day or night.

This heated toilet seat is designed to be around twenty to twenty five degrees higher then a room that is around the average of seventy degrees. The technology and development of the heated toilet seat is designed to meet all safety precautions. Just follow the simple installation instructions from the manufactures and you will be warm and comfortable in just a few short minutes. The easy of the instructions allow most people to be able to do this with out the need of a licensed plumber.

Safety is a big concern any time electronics is used close to water. The manufactures of the heated toilet seats have used all of the safety precautions to assure there is no danger. But do take a few minutes to follow the manufactures safety list. The heated toilet seats use a very low voltage and are extremely safe.

If you need the basic white toilet seat it is available, but if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, think different colors. The bold statement that a black toilet seat makes can only be the opposite of the pink toilet seat that a few of the females might like to decorate their bathroom with. Or what about the very calming effect a blue toilet seat may have?

In the beginning of toilets the round toilet seat was all that was available for use. Now the elongated toilet seats are very popular too. Both of these styles are ready and waiting for you to exchange to the wonderful world of heat, both in all of the great colors you may need to choose from.

But the technology did not stop with just the heat. Oh no far from it. Personal hygiene and heated toilet seats have met, liked each other and merged to create the bidet toilet seat. Just think a toilet seat that can help to save the trees with no more need for the toilet paper. If your like me, you just can not wait to see what is next in the world of toilet seats.

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Snaking Out A Backed Up Toilet

Many problem toilets can be cleared using a plunger, but occasionally you can get a super clog. The only solution then is to break out the snake.

The majority of clogged toilets can be cleared by using the old pumping action of a plunger. Every once in awhile, there is going to be a clog that resists. The next step is to apply a snake or auger. The snake is a tightly coiled piece of spring steel with an auger tip on one end and a cranking handle on the other. There are two basic types. One is called a drain auger. The other is a closet auger.

The closet auger is shorter and has a stiffer coil. It is actually designed for use in the toilet. Many closet augers come with a protective, rubberized collar over the insertion part of the tool. This prevents scratching of the enamel of the toilet bowl when inserting it. The drain auger can come in many different sizes and also can be powered. On some, the crank handle can be attached to an electric drill to provide the turning power. Other models, designed for the use of professional plumbers, are self powered and can be quite expensive.

The coil of the snake is inserted into the mouth of the toilet drain. Slowly insert the coil into the drain. It is important to move the grip of the snake as close to the opening of the drain as possible. Continue to reposition the grip as the coil moves deeper into the drain. Eventually, the tip should reach the clog. When the clog can be felt or the coil will go in no further, you can begin to turn the handle, rotating the coil.

The rotation of the coil causes the auger tip to chew into the clog. It is usually necessary to move the auger tip back and forth during the part of the operation. In some cases, the clog might be broken up. You will be able to tell this because the tip will advance further into the drain. In other cases, the clog might be snagged on the tip. In this case, it will be possible to pull the clog back out of the drain. This is the preferred method. When the clog is not removed, it may reform deeper in the drain clogging it again.

If you do manage to pull out the clog be prepared for a mess. A toilet clog is not going to be the most pleasant thing. It is a good idea to prepare the bathroom, and yourself, for this mess. Make sure there is an ample supply of old towels and rags handy to protect the bathroom floor and to clean the snake coil as it is withdrawn from the toilet. Snaking a toilet is not a job that is done best in your best clothes either.

Fred Linson is with PlumbingStop.com - providing basic plumbing information and more resources.

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