By: Barry Stone
Dear Barry,Before we bought our house, our home inspector tested the toilets and reported that they were "functional." Unfortunately, these tests were just "water" flushes, which failed to tell the whole story. After moving in, we had immediate problems with the toilet in the master bathroom. The fixture works OK with liquids but simply does not dispose of solid waste. In fact, the first time we flushed it, the bowl overflowed you know what onto the floor. Why don't home inspectors check for this? - Byron
Dear Byron,
As you've just discovered, a real-life test is the only reliable method by which to verify the operational adequacy of a toilet. This, of course, poses a practical dilemma for home inspectors who may test as many as six fixtures in the course of a typical workday. Even with the inducement of a glass or two of prune juice, no inspector is likely to possess the intestinal capacity for such a demanding regimen. And those rare individuals for whom such prodigious outputs are possible would be challenged to coordinate these productions with the unpredictable moments when each toilet would be encountered. As an alternate test material, inspectors could stock their trucks with a supply of rotten bananas, but this would pose additional logistical difficulties, including the embarrassment of explaining to buyers, sellers and agents why the toilets were suddenly clogged with chunks of tropical fruit.
In solemn recognition of these unfortunate impracticalities, home inspectors have reconciled themselves to the routinely banality of mere water flushing. Without the practical means to repeatedly simulate optimum flush conditions, they merely observe the flush action under Number One rather than Number Two conditions. They check for evidence of leakage, and they ensure that each fixture is securely attached to the floor. In nearly all cases, these inspection methods are sufficient for identification of operational defects. Unfortunately, your case was one of the rare and untidy exceptions. Fortunately, the repair process is likely to be simple and relatively inexpensive. The cause of overflow may simply be routine congestion of the drain. If plunging doesn't clear the line, have it checked by a qualified plumber.
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