Dear Ed, I never thought I'd get hooked on a plumbing column but here I am every week waiting for my next lesson! The good news is that I don't have a plumbing problem, just a plumbing question. I have heard that now there are electric toilets you can buy for your home, is this true? Also, how do they work?
Jane, Pennsylvania
A: Thanks for being such a loyal reader. We get many letters from people who simply enjoy learning about plumbing. I treat each question like a mini plumbing lesson, and believe it or not we're going into our seventh year of syndication with our column.
So, if you started reading with me from the beginning, you may be ready to take your plumbers test by now. OK enough talking about the past, let's get back to work and discuss electric toilets.
Yes, electric toilets have been around for years and are sometimes referred to as power-lite toilets. When they first came out they looked very close to a traditional toilet. As matter a fact they were basically a traditional toilet with a special submersible electric pump mounted inside the tank to assist with extra flushing power.
Between the gravity "pulling" and the pump "pushing" the water, electric toilets deliver one of the strongest flushes on the market today. Plus, since a two stage electric switch can control the pump, some models may offer dual flush features where you can have a full flush for solids and a water-saving half flush for liquids. Another advantage is that because these toilets use electricity, features like heated seats can be added to create the feel of having a luxury sedan in your bathroom. Many new models have been redesigned with no visible water tank that gives the illusion of the fixture being a piece of furniture rather than an exposed toilet.
For a power supply, most electric toilets simply plug into a specially installed ground fault circuit interrupter electrical outlet. So, installation is not really a big deal, but the price of these super duper poopers can get into the thousands. Remember, since the toilets are electric, if you lose electrical power in your home the toilet cannot operate properly. So, it's recommended that you have at least one standard non-electric gravity toilet somewhere in your home. But, all in all it's a cool concept and I believe in the near future more and more people will get charged up about installing an electric toilet.
Dear Ed, I just moved into an older small house and I have two questions: How can I increase the well water pressure in my home? What should I do to make sure my septic tank is OK so we don't have trouble down the road?
Mark, Florida
A: If you just moved in, hopefully there was a home inspector and he should have checked things like water pressure and the septic system. I would find out the inspector's name and ask those questions. Hopefully the inspector can supply you with the proper information and test results. That way if the water and septic meet local standards you will not have to spend extra money for a second opinion. If not, you can call a licensed well company to test the well and set the pump switch to increase the water pressure. Also, have the company test the water quality. As far as the septic, same deal. Have a septic company determine whether or not you need a pump out so you can start fresh with a newly cleaned out tank.
Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.
Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.