Hot seat
About a year ago we bought a modest size building for our business. We did some remodeling to the interior as it had been a little seedy. One of the things we did was to remodel the single bathroom, which entailed knocking down the walls of the existing bathroom and redoing the plumbing. The bathroom was completed to our satisfaction although many other things were not, but that is not today's story.
Only a few weeks ago I noticed that when I went into the bathroom to use the toilet, I'd lift the lid and get the sensation of warm air on my hand. A new employee was apparently in the habit of putting down both the seat and the lid, as I hadn't noticed this in the past. I was a little perplexed by the warmth of the air and wondered only a little about it. It was summer in Florida and everything gets pretty warm, but after it occurred a few times my curiosity got the better of me.
One time when I noticed the warm air I decided to check for the source. I'd suspected it was the water, so I lifted the top of the toilet tank (sticking my hand in the toilet itself seemed so vile) and sure enough the water was actually hot. It was too hot to be naturally hot water, but instead it was apparently heated water. Our dumbass contractor had actually plumbed the toilet to the hot water pipe. So every time the toilet is flushed I end up paying to heat another couple gallons a water.
Of course I cursed the stupidity of a guy that when faced with an open wall with full access to the hot and cold water pipes actually chooses the wrong pipe. I suppose that I could look for the silver lining, but it's not really there. I could perhaps figure that by flushing the toilet with hot water I'd keep the germs to a minimum, but in reality the water won't stay hot in the tank unless it is flushed often. We only have a tiny hot water heater to begin with so if someone flushes the toilet, we will reduce the hot water available in our kitchenette to wash coffee cups.
How much money am I wasting? Probably not enough to justify paying someone to bust open the wall to switch the pipes, then patch the hole and repaint the wall behind the toilet. Instead I'll just get to think poorly about the idiot every time I hear the toilet flush.
Only a few weeks ago I noticed that when I went into the bathroom to use the toilet, I'd lift the lid and get the sensation of warm air on my hand. A new employee was apparently in the habit of putting down both the seat and the lid, as I hadn't noticed this in the past. I was a little perplexed by the warmth of the air and wondered only a little about it. It was summer in Florida and everything gets pretty warm, but after it occurred a few times my curiosity got the better of me.
One time when I noticed the warm air I decided to check for the source. I'd suspected it was the water, so I lifted the top of the toilet tank (sticking my hand in the toilet itself seemed so vile) and sure enough the water was actually hot. It was too hot to be naturally hot water, but instead it was apparently heated water. Our dumbass contractor had actually plumbed the toilet to the hot water pipe. So every time the toilet is flushed I end up paying to heat another couple gallons a water.
Of course I cursed the stupidity of a guy that when faced with an open wall with full access to the hot and cold water pipes actually chooses the wrong pipe. I suppose that I could look for the silver lining, but it's not really there. I could perhaps figure that by flushing the toilet with hot water I'd keep the germs to a minimum, but in reality the water won't stay hot in the tank unless it is flushed often. We only have a tiny hot water heater to begin with so if someone flushes the toilet, we will reduce the hot water available in our kitchenette to wash coffee cups.
How much money am I wasting? Probably not enough to justify paying someone to bust open the wall to switch the pipes, then patch the hole and repaint the wall behind the toilet. Instead I'll just get to think poorly about the idiot every time I hear the toilet flush.
posted by Grog @ 6:23 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home