Instead of talking about GI-Tract issues that cause toilet problems, today's focus is on the more mundane - a toilet flapper. RQS and I were ready to go out and get a mani-pedi together, and then we had a problem. The toilet wouldn't flush, and water was continually running. This could only mean one thing: The toilet flapper was stuck in the up position and wouldn't close.
I've been dealing with this problem for ages. It was not because the flapper wouldn't make a good seal. It was because the chain connecting the flapper to the flush handle kept getting stuck or disconnected. I jury rigged some solutions, but hoped I'd replace my ugly yellow toilet before having to deal with the flapper. You may say that replacing a flapper is easy. And so it usually is. But I couldn't get the darned thing off of its mount, and I refused to call for expensive help. To make things a little worse, I couldn't turn off the water to the toilet (a problem which will require a plumber's help to deal with a frozen shut-off valve). So I knew that whatever solution I chose would need to be done while water was flowing into the tank.
This was not a task I wanted to do on a Saturday when everything was going to be expensive. I'd rather be getting my Mani-pedi. So, I rushed to the hardware store and bought 2 flappers to be safe. After 30 minutes of half-assed work, I got the new flapper installed and ready to use. Yes, I expect a few problems with the chain. Now, it's much better than it was a day ago, and that's what counts. And I did get a pedicure later in the day - a nice way to end the afternoon....
