We have two of these Kohler lo- flows, about 2 years old. We just figured out why black filmy crud keeps dumping into bowl from tank. As the tank doesn't empty after one-flip flush, the micro-organisms in the tank, as well as accumulated elements, build up to a point where it looks like the slimey sludge pit of some pre-historic cave dweller. Two treatments of bleach, and it seems to have cleared. We're hoping a periodic (weekly?) total flush will help clear "old" water and prevent the build-up. Anyone else having this issue?

Credit cards in responsible hands can be a very good tool to assist in managing money. But like any tool in the hands of fools it can be dangerous. About every 3-5 months I essentially get a free tank of gas from responsible use of a credit card. Or I can have a grocery trip, or go out to eat, probably 5 times. It's income on money I need to spend anyway so it's a benefit. It's not something where I have to buy something I can't use. The problem for so many that have their cards run up to such crazy amounts is they could never get a low interest loan because they're so irresponsible with their money! And if they don't pay off their cards, who thinks they'll pay off the loans? So they go to the loan sharks, aka credit card companies. They watch TV and hear how they need all this stuff and it's "only a few dollars a month" on the credit card. And geez, they shouldn't have to turn off unused lights or use CFLs to cut expenses should they? Oh, no. Put on a sweater in the winter and turn the stat down a few degrees or close off unused areas? Nope. Shouldn't have to do that. Quit driving for the sake of driving? No, that's not right. And then the smokers. I'm sick of the excuses. Everyone I know who has quit smoking agrees that you'll quit smoking one way: When you decide you *want* to quit. Period. No other time so don't make excuses. The ones who don't *want* to quit need to have an excuse. "Addicted" is a popular one. Oh yeah, it's always someone or something else's fault isn't it? I didn't get myself into the credit card bind, it's the credit card's fault. I didn't light the cigarette, it's the tobacco company's fault. I didn't get fat, it's the fast food joint's fault. Or the soft drink companies. I broke my wedding vows but it's my spouse's fault. Poor little me. Boo-hoo-hoo. The world is out to get me. Never heard of personal responsibility? But why should they? They were raised to lie, cheat, steal and blame someone else since they were "traumatized" as a child. Didn't have enough video games, cell phones and their own new car at 15. Cry me a river... Now I certainly support anyone who decides to quit smoking, lose weight, change diet habits, improve their financial situation, etc. As long as they take responsibility, blame the right party and start the journey. When you do that, it's much easier to accomplish your goal than expecting everyone else to do it for you, or tell you how bad you have it, or whatever. You get my support but I won't coddle you. You have to do it yourself. You'll have an occasional shoulder if needed, advice if wanted too. I won't lecture people who choose to spend their money on cigarettes, or fudge, or inflated interest, when it's their choosing. Hey, I laugh at them but I won't lecture the people who flush a fifty annually at the "cost club" stores to have the "privilege" of walking into the place and spend more for less. I think there are wiser choices but it's a personal choice. Just don't come crying to me about how "tough" you have it when you can't handle your money. I don't have much sympathy for them. And no respect for the ones who have used bankruptcy to supplement their income. Instead of keeping up with the Jones' lifestyle, try living below your means a bit. You'll likely be amazed at your ability to pay your own way. Most people choose to live paycheck to paycheck. Your choice and my right privilege to laugh at it. And this is the time of year I start shaking my head at the number of people whose "savings account" is the tax refund. And they spend it before they receive it and how many times does it turn out to be less than they expected?

Here's an update. We decided to just go for it. The huge pile of caulk and putty actually scraped off easier than we expected and we removed the flush ell. Got all the rest of the caulk/putty/string/who knows what else off the spud. Looks like there was a compression nut on the spud end of the flush ell that was cracked. DH is off to see if he can find a replacement locally today (the Evil Orange Box didn't have one big enough). Only other problem we encountered was DH tried to tighten down the flush valve a bit because it was leaking after we removed the flush ell, and broke the overflow tube off (holding it while tightening the nut under the valve.) So it looks like we'll have to get a new flush assembly. He picked up a basic cheapo plastic one at the Evil Orange, but I don't think it will work with our old toilet, so we'll probably order one. We're going to replace that broken nut and see if the leak is fixed before we move on to replacing the spud. I'm betting it was really that easy. (Too bad the PO didn't fix it 20 yrs ago!) Always ;-) Hunzi

FYI, the link to the test results page is below. If you check this link, they update the testing periodically. laat2's post gets you to the full 10th ed. of the report *(Aug '07). At the CUWCC site, you can just look at the tables by mfr and by performance (much smaller files). We have 2 Totos, with the older one (Ultimate) purchased 4 years ago or so. We added a Drake a couple years ago when we remodeled. Both have clogged occasionally- I find that if you think there's the slightest chance it will clog, you should press and hold the lever until the trap glugs to make sure you dump the whole tankfull at once. When we bought the first one, Toto was at the top of the heap. Everyone else has caught up a lot since. You still might have to pay me to take an American Standard, though- the ones in the house we lived in while remodeling were clogamatic. Here is a link that might be useful: CUWCC water closet testing