Taking the Plunge(r)

WARNING: this blog contains potty talk ;-)....
I wonder where this blog is going for me... but i took the plunge this weekend.

The toilet in our bathroom has been running for much too long. Of course we have one of those "pressurized" toilets - so i have no idea how to fix this (not that i know how to fix anything...). So it finally drove me crazy enough to fix (but not call a plumber - i must be getting cheap in my old age).

So i found out the brand/model (flushmate) and found the company's website. Found the .pdf owners manual for our toilet and located the needed part ($30). I figured if i broke the toilet i could call the plumber on monday and have them fix it - so i went for it.

Long story short, bought the part at a wholesale supply store, spent 30 minutes installing the cartridge and to fix the tank seal to the bowl (a different leak) and then cleaned the bathroom.

All told - 1-1/2 hours (including getting the part), less than $25 for the part (apparently they charge more when you buy direct from the company - channel protection i guess).

So i was totally stoked -- i don't think i have ever fixed a real plumbing issue (hey - i know it was simple - let me have my moment!!).

So my ususal -- what is the lesson? The Internet is pretty amazing. Locate manufacturer, read thru the FAQs to indentify the problem and potential solution. Then review the owners manual (all online), locate a place to buy the part (zip code lookup of local resellers) - or buy it online. The power of information - available all the time. So in contrast to my last post - technology can even enable people like me to do real work...

so cool, so cool...