Help – my toilet flooded my entire apartment on the day I moved in!

[Allen Scotby]

We moved into an apartment which had a rubber toilet flapper with a rubber line attached to it. On the day we were moving in, my son urinated in the toilet, flushed, and left to help us move more boxes from our old apartment. When we returned 3-4 hours later, our entire apartment was flooded with water (water was actually running out the front door). We turned off the water and called the manager. He came in with a plunger and plunged the toilet. Immediately the water in the bowl drained out. We looked into the tank and saw that the rubber line attached to the flapper had folded onto itself and prevented the flapper from sealing the drain in the bottom of the tank. The rubber flapper and rubber line appeared old, frayed, and rust-stained. For weeks after we moved in, the flapper line continued to fold, and we ended up just leaving the tank lid off and manually replacing the flapper after flushing the toilet. QUESTIONS: Why was the toilet clogged up, if we had never used it before and my son had only urinated in it (ie, nothing went into the toilet to clog it)? The apartment had been empty for around three months – does non-use cause some sort of blockage or air clog or something? Also, would the toilet have spilled enough water to flood our entire apartment if the flapper and line had not malfunctioned? Ive had clogged toilets before, and they usually only overflow one tankful onto the bathroom floor before the flapper seals the drain to the bowl. Please offer us advice in this matter. P.S. The new flapper that the landlord finally installed doesnt seal either!) Thanks, Emily Cameron (360) 956-1620

[Emily CameronParticipant]

Emily, It sounds like the toilet was plugged before you got there.All toilets require work over the years. The flappers should be replaced every five years or sooner. A lot of wasted water goes down the drain in old toilets. Show your apartment manager the information on low-flow toilets while you are at it. Changing to a water saving toilet will cost him less in the long run. Terry

[Emily CameronParticipant]

: All toilets require work over the years. The flappers should be replaced every five years or sooner. A lot of wasted water goes down the drain in old toilets. Show your apartment manager the information on low-flow toilets while you are at it. Changing to a water saving toilet will cost him less in the long run. : TerryThe link below has new toilet information with pictures.

[Emily CameronParticipant]

: We moved into an apartment which had a rubber toilet flapper with a rubber line : attached to it. On the day we were moving in, my son urinated in the toilet, flushed, and : left to help us move more boxes from our old apartment. When we returned 3-4 hours : later, our entire apartment was flooded with water (water was actually running out the : front door). We turned off the water and called the manager. He came in with a plunger : and plunged the toilet. Immediately the water in the bowl drained out. We looked into : the tank and saw that the rubber line attached to the flapper had folded onto itself and : prevented the flapper from sealing the drain in the bottom of the tank. The rubber : flapper and rubber line appeared old, frayed, and rust-stained. For weeks after we : moved in, the flapper line continued to fold, and we ended up just leaving the tank lid off : and manually replacing the flapper after flushing the toilet. QUESTIONS: Why was the : toilet clogged up, if we had never used it before and my son had only urinated in it (ie, : nothing went into the toilet to clog it)? The apartment had been empty for around three : months – does non-use cause some sort of blockage or air clog or something? Also, : would the toilet have spilled enough water to flood our entire apartment if the flapper : and line had not malfunctioned? Ive had clogged toilets before, and they usually only : overflow one tankful onto the bathroom floor before the flapper seals the drain to the : bowl. Please offer us advice in this matter. P.S. The new flapper that the landlord finally : installed doesnt seal either!) Thanks, Emily Cameron (360) 956-1620

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