Tuesday, August 12, 2008

They Don't Sell Magic

What a surprise. The part I need for my toilet tank mechanics isn't something that's sold by itself. And wouldn't you know it, all the major parts that I can buy are not similar to my own toilet, so I can't just buy the whole flush valve and only use the cap for the overflow tube because most of them don't have one. That's right, the part that seems to be so vital in my toilet isn't so vital in any other toilet because the part doesn't even really exist. Probably why mine committed suicide. It felt alone in the world.

I thought that I could just get a longer refill tube and stick it down into the overflow tube and all would be well. I mean, that's how all normal toilets seem to work. But, alas, no. I don't have one of those float ball type of toilets. No, mine has a different mechanism for stopping the water, and it broke. It's part of the flush valve. That is why the back of my toilet tank overfloweth, flooding the floor of my bathroom, and causing a super special leak into my basement.

So, I did what anyone would do in this situation. I made my own solution to the problem. I have fashioned something that seems to work, and work well. The troubling question is - how long is it going to work? I know I'll panic every time I have to flush in the next few days, but if it works, I'll forget about this mishap and then when I least expect it, my toilet will explode again.

I wish you could have seen my bathroom. Water sprayed all over the walls from the refill tube. It was like a cartoon hose flipping all about under pressure. Everything got wet, including me. It was pretty awesome.

Man, where is Hermione Granger when you need her? At least it's working now, albeit, not through magic.

My own ingenuity saves the day!


End Blog.


PS - The propane tank on my gas grill leaks. I'm afraid to fix it because it really MIGHT blow up, but I think all it needs is a new valve thing-a-ma-jig or some rubber gaskets or something. Did I think to look for anything to repair my grill? No. Of course not.

I wonder if I could hire a handyman who would also be a maid. That would be a splendid service.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't you love being a homeowner? =)

You might be a brilliant toilet fixer, but please don't try to fix a propane tank. XP Open the valve and empty it if you can, (in a safe place, preferably ) and then go trade that old tank in for a full, inspected, working nicely, one. $20 tops.
All you will get is wet from trying to fix the plumbing. Propane tank? OoO

Nikki said...

But I only used my grill a couple times. There's probably lots of propane still in the tank that would go to waste. Plus, where's the fun in that?

Don't worry, I won't even try to fix it myself.

B Fuhr said...

Don't forget to mention fixing the Rock Band drum pedal.