PLUMBING--MY FAVORITE JOB

For the last couple of years the toilet in the bathroom by our bedroom has been leaking from the tank into the bowl. When the tank gets low enough it refills. This has been going on two or three times a night for at least three years. Well last night it was refilling every ten to fifteen minutes. It was agravating--it was disgusting. I didn't sleep much last night and was pretty mad at myself for not fixing it earlier. Now in my defense I did replace the flapper a couple of times but that didn't stop the leak.

So this morning bright and early I went to the store and bought all of the parts to replace everything inside the toilet. I replaced everything and the leak from the tank to the bowl was fixed---now the leak was out of the two bolts that hold the tank on the bowl. I replaced them and hooked things up again---they still leaked---I bought a new set and doubled the rubber gaskets on the bolts---one on the inside and one on the outside and tightened them pretty tight. They still leaked. I had Inklings come in and hold the screw driver while I really cinched the gaskets down. They still leaked.

I had Inklings come and help me one more time---she commented we ought to go get a new toilet---I said nah this one has all new parts. She held the screwdriver above while I wrenched on the bolts from below---I tightened them to the point I thought the porcelain would break. I had decided that if the porcelain broke I would go buy a new toilet and install that instead. But---wah lah---the toilet has not leaked for an hour---I think I may have won. TIME WILL TELL AND THE STORE IS STILL OPEN. ;-)