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daveonBack in the UK, a toilet cistern is driven by a siphon system. Pulling on the handle, generates a siphon that empties the toilet water. A float, on the end of an arm, drops, allowing water into the cistern, which then shuts off the valve when it reaches the top. Occasionally the siphon breaks and you have to replace it, or the float springs a leak, or the valve might break, but in many many many years of living in the UK I can think of precisely one time that's happened.
In the United States, they have a flapping valve thing on a chain, pull the handle, the flap is lifted and water flows out, the flap then 'flops' down and is held in place by water pressure. Does it form a good seal you ask? Does it fuck, I reply. Besides, the failure mode is even more amusing that the flap gets stuck open and the toilet keeps running. You replace the chain bit inside, it still does it. You replace the flappy bit. IT STILL FUCKING DOES IT.
You ask your plumber friend what the secret is to keeping it working. They shrug and smile and explain that's how they put their kids through college. GOOD GRIEF THIS TOILET IS DRIVING ME NUTS!
Anyway. This rant has been brought to you by the plumbing of the United States of America and the word ARGHHHHH!
In the United States, they have a flapping valve thing on a chain, pull the handle, the flap is lifted and water flows out, the flap then 'flops' down and is held in place by water pressure. Does it form a good seal you ask? Does it fuck, I reply. Besides, the failure mode is even more amusing that the flap gets stuck open and the toilet keeps running. You replace the chain bit inside, it still does it. You replace the flappy bit. IT STILL FUCKING DOES IT.
You ask your plumber friend what the secret is to keeping it working. They shrug and smile and explain that's how they put their kids through college. GOOD GRIEF THIS TOILET IS DRIVING ME NUTS!
Anyway. This rant has been brought to you by the plumbing of the United States of America and the word ARGHHHHH!
