by Pete Mariano
© 2008
Links2Prosperity
Have your ever seen a picture of the famous bronze and marble sculpture named “The Thinker”? This work of art depicts a man seated and hunched towards himself, right hand supporting his chin, mind totally engrossed in deep thought. Well, whenever I see an image of this artwork, I cannot help but picture it as a man seated on a toilet, just like what you and me would probably do every morning, pondering on his activities for the day. Friends often narrate how many great ideas come to mind whenever they are seated on their toilet seats, that we jokingly call it ‘The Throne.”
A toilet is basically a plumbing fixture that we use to collect and dispose of our bodily wastes. It usually comes with a tank that stores water that is used to dispose of the collected waste. These wastes are eventually “flushed” down and collected onto an isolated septic tank or disposed onto sewers and transported to a wastewater treatment plant. Toilets come with another fixture called toilet seats that are basically seat and lid combinations that cover the toilet bowl when not in use. The seat is ergonomically contoured to make it comfortable for the user to use and sit on. It can also be raised or lowered to facilitate cleaning. Great debates would usually break out in homes regarding this, as women would always prefer the toilet seats to be down for aesthetic purposes in-between use, but wants men to raise it up upon use. Males usually could not care less whether it is a raised toilet seat or otherwise – as long as he could aim and shoot (or sometimes shoot and aim, which usually triggers these debates).
There are two categories of toilets based on the disposal method. The DRY toilet requires no plumbing and does not need water for disposal. It uses a certain type of chemical to collect and sanitize the waste material. Some malls and public toilets are already using this type to save on water. The dry method is also used for portable toilets. The second type is the WET toilet, which requires plumbing and a water input used for evacuation of the waste material.
Toilets come in three basic types. The squat toilets, which are used in some parts of Europe and Asia, have bowls that are recessed at ground level and could be used by squatting on top. It may or may not have a water input. The more common type is the seat toilet, or the flush toilet, which are preferred in Western countries and other parts of the world. Another type is the urinals, which are mainly used to dispose of urine and are usually installed in restaurant, malls and other public places.
Toilets are commonly made of porcelain, while the more expensive models are made of ceramic. These usually come in white but they can also be manufactured in different colors. There are also toilets made of metal like in some portable toilets, or those used in prisons.
Toilet seats on the other hand are made of different types of materials like porcelain, plastic, steel, molded wood or even ivory. They come in different styles and colors. A Kohler toilet for example has toilet seats that can come in 3,000 different variations of colors to complement the bathroom design for which it is intended to be installed. These are usually priced from US$ 20 to US$ 100 depending on the material.
The most popular toilet manufacturer is American Standard. An American Standard toilet has cost effective designs which ranges anywhere from US$ 200 to US$ 500. This brand is very popular in the US and other parts of the globe. Another famous manufacturer is the Kohler Company, which have slightly more expensive products than American Standard. A Kohler toilet is fast becoming the fixture of choice in more expensive housing projects. There are also several manufacturers of toilets and toilet seats but these two mentioned have become the standard for most western homes.
There are also high tech toilets, which originated in Japan where they integrated advanced technology into toilets to give it more automatic functions. Some of these features include automatic flushing, water jets and blow dryers. The biggest maker of these types of toilets is TOTO of Japan. These toilets cost from around US$ 200 up to US$ 5000 depending on the added features.
Old toilets are designed with tanks that dispense 7.0 GPF or Gallons Per Flush of water. To save on water and natural resources, it is now mandated for manufacturers to build toilets with a lower GPF. New models now come in 3.5 GPF but there are even newer innovations that use only 1.6 GPF. That could save the user considerable dollar amounts per year from their water bill.
In order to save on water, users should ensure that there are no leaks in the toilet system. Water can leak from the tank to the bowl. You can detect this when you see water being ejected onto the bowl in various degrees and the toilet appears to flush on its own. This is definitely a water leak and may be caused by a defective valve. Most toilets have a rubber flapper valve. When you find such leaks, it would be best to have your toilet repaired. Minor toilet repair can be done by the user himself, as there are available repair kits in Do-It-Yourself shops. However, if the damage is severe, it would be best to call a qualified plumber to do the job.
There are a lot of literature regarding toilets, toilet seats and other plumbing fixtures. It is wise to educate ourselves in these materials so we could choose the best system for our homes. It is also advised for homeowners to learn how to do minor repairs in their bathroom fixtures, including the toilet. Those quick repairs that you can perform on your own could save you a lot of money, and help Mother Earth save on water.
shalom,
© 2008
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Peter Allan C. Mariano
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