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Power outage is a great problem that disturbs daily household functioning. No electric appliances will work without power. Most of the time, power is out due to natural disasters like storms, floods, etc., or the repairing of electric wiring. But whatever it is, it results in great stress.
Apart from daily household functioning, there is one more question that arises when we come to know that the power is out. That is, can we flush the toilet when the power is out?
It depends on which type of toilet we are using. If our water removal system is electric-powered, flushing the toilet during a blackout can be challenging. The pump won’t function if there is no power. This is not the issue with gravity-fed waste removal systems. The natural force of gravity is used in these systems in place of electricity. This is to carry waste through the pipework and into the sewer.
See How To Turn The Water Off To A Toilet?
In this article, we are going to answer this question. So, to know the answer, keep reading.
Types Of Toilets
As mentioned earlier, there are two types of toilet systems: gravity-based and electricity-based. You will get enough information about those toilets that use these two systems.
Toilets That Work In The Absence Of Power
Many different models don’t require any power to work. So, it is important to discuss them as well.
Gravity Based Toilets
If you have a gravity-based toilet in home, you are less likely to have any plumbing issues. These systems do not rely on electricity for functioning. And they use the natural force of gravity to push the waste content down through the pipes and move into the sewer. In these toilets, the toilet tank automatically refills from the plumbing line when we flush the water.
Toilets That Have Communal Holding Tanks
Communal Toilets are those that work independently from the power. Such toilets are used in large communities where the sewer system is not connected to electricity. Normally, we see large water tanks on the top of residential buildings. Such systems have great gravity and water power which can remove the hard waste content from the toilet.
Toilets That Need Power To Work
There are other toilets also that use electricity to work. It is necessary to discuss them as well.
Toilets With Electric Pump
If the toilet is powered by electricity, it can become a problem when you are out of power. Such a system only works in the availability of electricity. The waste content gathers inside a chamber that is specially designed for it. And then, this waste material moves into the sewer with an electric pump.
In the absence of electricity, when we flush, again and again, the chamber will become overfull. When the chamber is full and the content is not moving down, it can create an unpleasant and messy situation.
Effluent Pumps For Septic Systems
In some houses, the septic system works with an effluent pump in the toilets. An effluent pump is a weapon that works with the sewage system and transports the water content far away from the toilet.
This effluent Pump uses gears, rotation shafts, and motors to accomplish its task. In short, such a system needs the power to work; otherwise, it will surely betray you.
Toilets That Receive Water From Well
A well is a great source of water. And you will never run out of water for toilet use. Such a system uses a pump to push the water from the well and transfer it to the holding tank. So, it is understandable that the pump will not work without electricity. But the advantage of such a system is that you will always have enough water.
How To Flush The Toilet When The Power Is Out?
Suppose you have a toilet that doesn’t care that the power is on or off. Do not panic. The toilet will work as usual. But if you are one of those who have an electricity-based toilet, it can cause a problem in the absence of power. It would help if you thought about prevention when you are out of electricity as we can’t skip going to the toilet.
Add Water Manually To The Tank
You can encounter a water shortage based on how long and severe the outage was. The tank might not then refill. In that situation, manually filling the tank with water will flush the toilet. Fill the tank with water, and then flush as usual. Compared to pouring water straight into the toilet bowl, this produces a cleaner flush and uses less water.
Drain The Water From The Water Heater
Drain the Water from the Water Heater If you find yourself in a tight spot, you can drain the tank’s water into a bucket. To prevent breaking the porcelain, wait until it has cooled before pouring it into the toilet bowl.
Secret Advice
During a power outage, you do not need to flush the toilet after each use. After using the toilet a few times, you can flush it. Cover the toilet bowl with a lid to keep the smell inside the bowl.
FAQs
Do All Toilets Use Power To Operate?
Many toilets don’t use electricity to function. But there are also some toilets that use power to work. In most homes, gravity-based toilets are used that only need water to flush. And the other has the electric pump that needs the power to flush the content down to the sewer.
Is There Any Way That The Electricity Based Toilets Can Work Without Power?
There is no other way than to provide electricity for the toilet pump to work. You can install a whole house generator to keep the toilet working without power. It will also keep the other appliances working during a power outage.
Does City Water Still Work If The Power Goes Out?
City water is collected from lakes, rivers, and wells. The water after collection is pumped into the tower. The water from the tower is then supplied to the homes through the pipes even if the power is out. The pump only uses the power to move the water from the river to the tower. But if the tower is full of water, the availability of electricity does not matter.
Conclusion
In short, we can flush the toilet when the power is off but for a limited time. It also depends on what type of toilet we are using. If the toilet is gravity fed, yes, we can surely.
But if the toilet uses the pump to work, it will need electricity and can’t be operated without it. The best option for such power-based toilets is to have a whole house generator to avoid the problems.