Last week was kind of "the week from hell." I stayed at our family's cottage while the bathroom refit happened. That way I could do some writing (pipe dream) and be on hand to answer questions about the face lift. Only it happened to be extremely hot and HUMID, making it uncomfortable for everyone. (Yeah, where were those lake breezes the entire week?)
From day one, everything went wrong. Old medicine cabinet also contained a light and a plug. Light and plug had to be rerouted. Medicine cabinet was a different shape. Lots of problems there. Well, at least we won't have to replace the toilet.
But we did. Not only did it sweat a lot, but it was cracked. So hubby bought a new one and brought it down.
That sucker was HEAVY--or at least too heavy for me to lift out of the backseat of Hubby's car. I left it to the contractors and went back to work. (Cough, cough.) A couple of hours later, the guys were ready to leave for the day and asked me to come and look at the work done. And -- whoa! What was that tiny (eco-friendly) toilet doing in our bathroom?
"Go ahead, give it a flush!" he encouraged. So I did.
Instead of the WA-SHOOM! I was used to hearing, this thing went "Blurt!"
(So that's what I've named it, Blurt. Hubby calls it toy-let.)
Blurt's not very good at his job. Old toilet (which had no name) went about his business (and very well, I might add) with a three gallon tank for at least 30 years. Blurt's been a pain in the behind in just a week. You see, Blurt doesn't like to flush anything but water. Blurt's purpose was to save water, but when you have to flush two--three--or even four times, it seems to be using a lot more water than our old toilet.
I'm going to be watching our water bill to see if we actually do use less (hard to tell, they charge you a minimum whether you use that amount or not).
What eco-friendly things have you found that aren't as good as their predecessors?
Isn't it ironic how the very thing that's supposed to have been good for the environment.....isn't? I've often wondered which is worse: cloth or disposable diapers...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh on a dreary morning. I'll be chuckling about Blurt all day.
ReplyDeleteI know Blurt's cousin and she lives in my bathroom.
ReplyDeleteThose CFL (or whatever they are) lightbulbs they try to make everybody use now. I'm sorry, but they do NOT give enough light for me or my parents to read by. And it is getting harder and harder to find decent "regular" lightbulbs these days. So, I guess we give up our eyesight to be eco-friendly. (Sorry, but I REALLY get mad about the light bulb thing! My eyes are precious to me.)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Blurt's apparent inability to do more than ... um ... I think I'll leave the next few words to the imagination. We, too, had to replace our elderly toilet a couple of years ago, and we did so with an 'energy-efficient' Eljer model. (Don't ask me ... just went and checked. That's the name on the bowl.) We had to have a tall one (knees just don't work like they used to!) and we had to make sure it was really sturdy (we also don't weigh what we did in high school ::sigh::) so we weren't sure how this new critter would work. Well ... pleasant surprise! DEFINITELY not Blurt's cousin! Small amount of water, pretty darn good flush. (Large sigh of relief.) Maybe Blurt will grow into his/her new responsibilities? Keeping my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThe new engergy saving lightbulbs!!! I HATE them...they do not give off enough light!! I just buy the old fashioned ones...at least I can see
ReplyDelete