toilet flushing question?

[mercy589]

This is a dumb question... our bath is running, dripping, alot, so I've plugged the bath and want to use that water to fill the toilet with when I flush. (until we get the leak fixed) Do I just pour the water into the bowl when I flush or after I flush and its filling up? Do I have to take the back off and pour it in there or what?

[mean_jeannie]

I don't think this is a dumb question! In PR one year we had a terrible drought so fountains and pools etc had to be shut off and the municipal water supply was only available certain hours of the day. So we went out to the big Olympic sized swimming pool with a bucket if we needed to flush something down.

We werent' the only ones either!

Anyway, take the tank lid off and put the water in the tank before you flush. You can fill the tank back up after a flush and it will be ready to go the next time, ykwim?

Happy flushing!

[Ruthla]

I've only poured dirty water into the toilet, like after mopping the floor, so I wouldn't want to pour it into the tank. I do find that I make it flush when the conditions are right. If you pour it directly into the toilet to make it flush, it will only work if you pour it JUST RIGHT- pour too slowly and it won't flush, pour too quickly and it will flush, but possibly won't be as efficient in water use. Pouring it into the tank (which requires removing the lid on the back of the toilet) sounds like a much more water-efficient way to do it.

[mercy589]

I just asked my mom and she said don't flush, just pour it in and that makes it flush, so I'll have to try it and see. Hopefully I don't flood the bathroom? lol

[lovemysunshine]

We save our bath/shower water and use it to flush. I have noticed our toilet gets dirty looking a bit quicker than before, but having to clean it a little more frequently is a good trade-off IMO for the water we're saving. I do it for environmental reasons, not financial as we already do "if it's yellow, let it mellow" so there's not a drop in our already small water bill.

Anyway, I just keep a bucket by the toilet/tub and fill it up, then pour it directly into the toilet bowl to make it flush. I had to do this while staying in Mexico with my ex years ago where they had no plumbing and it's no big deal. You just have to pour it in fast enough (don't be afraid of it) and it will flush. I usually do a couple "flushes" to make it all go down, but that's not really necessary (we just do since we have enough water for that).