"Don't be afraid of your toilet" is the core Fluidmaster message during Flush-tober.
But Fluidmaster really missed the marketing boat with Halloween coming up this week. "Who knows what lurks" seems a more appropriate marketing message, for it was only a few months ago that I ran a series of columns documenting true stories of rats emerging from the depths of the sewage system right up into the toilet bowls of these same consumers. No Fluidmaster flush valve ever protected against that kind of random attack! I say be afraid, very afraid.
Competing directly with Flush-tober is National Toilet Day, Jan. 27. Again, you may not find this on your Seattle Times calendar, but it is a celebrated and worthy holiday, nonetheless. This day of remembrance is promulgated and rejoiced by many in the plumbing community, and especially by the International Thomas Crapper Society (honest!), commemorating the 1910 death of the society's namesake.
Now, some previously unpublished toilet trivia from my own vast store, and courtesy of Fluidmaster:
• Toilet repair is the most common DIY project. That is likely because the toilet is the most important item you will find in any home.
• In 1988, Massachusetts became the first state to require low-flow toilets. Low flow became federal law in 1994, applying to all 50 states. For some perspective, Massachusetts legalized tattoos and piercing only three years ago, and still prohibits hunting on Sundays.
• Toilet flushing accounts for 38 percent of household water use. This means we need to take more baths and wash our clothes more often.
• One in four toilets leaks water. And half leak directly onto the floor. You don't have to be Einstein to see the need for replacement toilet parts on National Toilet Day, Flush-tober or any other month of the year.
In other news: November is the official "Berate the Columnist Month." In anticipation, I received the following: "Today (10/19) was the first time reading your 'Ask the (cough) Expert.' Your reply to the painting question left me laughing but dismayed. Your answer should have been, 'I'm a liar and an idiot. Let me tell you a not-so-funny story to prove this.'
"Go to a store that specializes in paint. Ask questions and ask them to recomend (sic) some professional painters who have been in business for a few years. If one of the pros agrees to do the job the Darrell Hay way, run for your life. He's from the 'fly by night, splash and dash, lowlife school of painting.' And be cheap if you want, but don't be stupid and throw your money away.
"A two-coat job doesn't cost twice as much as a one-coater. It costs a fraction, because all the prep is already done, no time is spent back-rolling and the second coat doesn't take nearly as much paint. Gotta go. It just dawned on me that I'm probably wasting my time on you."
— Darryl, a Port Angeles painter
Darryl, are you bitter because your parents spelled your name wrong?
Good point about the relative cost of multicoating, but look again at the question and you will see it was all about painting the grooves of T-111. If you can tell me how your second sprayed-on coat fully covers the grooves, I'm all ears. Meanwhile, we stupid, lying, idiotic, low-lifes on budgets will spray one heavy coat, then back-roll and brush as needed to get full coverage.
An investment pays off: On Monday, Oct. 6, Wellington Lage, Diego Yepez and Manuel Ramirez of Legacy Roofing took a first-aid/CPR course required by their employer. On Tuesday, Oct. 7, they were working on a roof in Bothell when a screaming woman ran out of her home. Her husband had had a heart attack while on a ladder in the back yard, and when he fell, he lacerated his scalp, which was bleeding heavily.
Lage and Yepez looked for vital signs and found none, while Ramirez called for help on his cellphone.
The roofing crew did chest compressions while the man's wife performed mouth-to-mouth. The man was stabilized and delivered to the hospital.
Close to 150 people came to Legacy Roofing's Redmond shop for an award ceremony for Lage, Yepez and Ramirez last week. The three were showered with gifts and gift certificates from suppliers, the company and others in attendance.
Cliff Hurn, Legacy Roofing owner, is very proud of his employees, seeing the "cost" of training every member of his roofing crews returned many times over in just one afternoon.
Darrell Hay answers readers' questions. Call 206-464-8514 to record your question, |
