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Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

A plumber replaced the toilet (which was operating fine but looked dated) and now the water level in the bowl is too low. I can't provide the specs because the boxes have been thrown away, but the bowl itself says "Crane Plumbing" and there's a sticker that says "CP2."

What's the remedy for a toilet that acts like a gas station toilet? Obviously, there needs to be more water in the bowl. Thanks.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4756 Location: Bath

The water level is set according to the pan and non-adjuctable.

Not sure what your trying to say, does smells come from the pipe, if so then the pan is probably faulty

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

What I'm trying to say is the level of water in the bowl itself is low. This is unsightly, not to mention not functional when one's "business" is actually being done.

If I were to buy another toilet, what's the optimum measurement, if there is one, of the pan?

Since I'm not a plumber, please explain it to me like I'm a two-year-old. Thanks.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4756 Location: Bath

The depth of water is governed by the trap in the pan. Shocked

Ok, if you take a ? mark and lay it on its side, the bit that dips down represents the trap, and is normally approximately 3".

Would then have 6" of water in the pan.

What is the depth in yours.

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

It's only four (4) inches! Yes, I can understand where an additional two inches would solve the problem. How, then, can the problem be solved? By purchasing another toilet? Aren't they all supposed to have 6-inch pans?

Thanks for your help.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4756 Location: Bath

What does the plumber say about it, it could be a faulty pan.

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

Incredibly, the plumber didn't see anything wrong with it but it's most certainly unsanitary. I'll ask him about the "pan" and if he sounds like he doesn't know what I'm talking about, I'll call another plumber!

Many thanks.

mark6266 · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:41 pm Post subject:

I have a question for you can you tell me was the old w/c a syphonic w/c ?
the reason for this question is that a syphonic w/c workks differently from an ordanary splash back w/c and you would notice a difference in the water level had the old w/c been a syphonic. it maybe that there is nothing wrong with the new w/c but you maybe acustomed to useing a syphonic w/c. please excuse the spelling mistakes as i am busy dyslesic plumber. regards mark

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

Hi Mark ~

I don't know what "syphonic" means but the toilet I took out was over 20 years old.

I called the company that makes the toilet. They said that, by law, all new bowls must have a maximum water capacity of 1.5 gallons. That's not much but, still, the bowl is very unsanitary, so I must keep asking questions until I figure out what's wrong.

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4756 Location: Bath

I think you mean Cistern and not bowl.

WHy not post a pic of the inside of the pan.

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

This isn't the bowl I have, but the water level on my bowl looks like the photo on the left.

http://www.briggsplumbing.com/products/powervac.amp

mark6266 · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject:

sorry the link does not work

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

Hmmm...it worked for me. Here it is again, but you may have cut and paste it into your browser.

http://www.briggsplumbing.com/products/powervac.asp

cleverdick · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 44

Hi all,

It's possibly not widely known [in the UK] that most toilets bowls sold in the US still work on the single-trap syphonic principle. Hence the high 'loop' with restricted area in the trappage arrangement. These were once a familiar sight here, but were generally superseded by double-trap bowls from the '60s onwards (although that design was first patented by Twyfords in the 1930s!). Both single and double-trap pans generally have a much higher (and wider) water area than basic 'washdown' types and are arguably superior. Neither are available here now (which is a retrograde step as far as I'm concerned), but Trent made both single and double trap versions of the Astura until the early '90s, and I believe the last double-trap design sold here was the Armitage Shanks Liberty in the late '90s.

It could be that Mrs Batty has purchased a modern Europen toilet with a basic P-trap! Alternatively, there may be an issue with the soil pipe itself, requiring a breather valve (on the basis that too much water is being 'siphoned' out of the bowl). Slowly filling the bowl from a container of water will prove how high it can go.

Interestingly, the cutaway view on the left looks like a double-trap design, but with the second trap underneath the first, instead of behind as would have been seen in the UK.

What's even more interesting is that it claims to flush on 6L of water, the requirement for which, I believe, was what killed off syphonic WCs in this country because nobody could make one!

Mrs Batty · Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Southern CA

Thanks for responding, cleverdick. I don't know nuthin' 'bout no English toilet bowls, living in Southern California (USA) as I do. I was hoping to avoid calling a plumber, but it looks like I'll have to. This toilet is simply unsanitary; if I can't get the water level to rise, I'll have to buy a new toilet. Thanks.