A new one for me... you'll want to wipe it from your memory... (Katy: apartment)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Without going into a long history, let me just say that I had a sewer clog, and the plumber who came out today asked if I flushed toilet paper. ?? I thought to myself what an odd question. This is a new garage apartment, so it should have worked fine.

I followed him around a few times, he kept saying that paper should not have been put into the toilet, so he repeats it again and again. I don't want to appear dumb, so I don't ask questions, or say anything, but just nod my in reluctant agreement. I'm thinking that he meant it is still a new install, it needs more work, or something.

He spent an hour, could not get it fixed, he had to go buy a new attachment for his machine, and he is constantly pointing out the toilet paper in the water. So I gave up, waived my hands to him and said stop... and I told him I was ignorant about this, and asked him what he means by 'not putting toilet paper in the toilet. He said 'yes, you are not supposed to put toilet paper in the toilet', but put it in a rubbish bin instead.

WTF? His wife was there (to translate I guess, but I speak Spanish), and I looked at her and said all of America does that, don't you? She gave me the look of 'you are correct', but would not verbally agree with me, I guess because her husband, the plumber, is there.

I told her I don't know where he comes from, but that is not normal in the US. Mind you, this is a legit company from Katy. I asked other people who were in my house doing work, they all were dumbfounded just as I was. How the hell could this guy be in business, have crews, and say you should not put toilet paper in the toilet... in the United States? I know other countries do this, but maybe he did not get the memo when he immigrated here. He is legal too, BTW.

So, anyway, 'just thought I'd share that 'nugget' of information.

[Texas Ag 93]

LOL at your thread title "you'll want to wipe it from your memory"....

Are you sure there wasn't a miscommunication and perhaps he was talking about those "flushable" wipes that often aren't, in fact, so flushable?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

LOL at your thread title "you'll want to wipe it from your memory"....

Are you sure there wasn't a miscommunication and perhaps he was talking about those "flushable" wipes that often aren't, in fact, so flushable?

No, he and I were very clear about it, it was toilet paper because it was disintegrated. I believe that in his home country (Mexico), they did that in their village. I do recall as a kid going to Mexico and recall being asked not to flush toilet paper. I was a kid, so I flushed it anyway. If you research it (like I had to because I could not believe what I was hearing), it is not uncommon in a lot of countries, and well, I guess in rural areas in Mexico.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

The clog turned out to be his mistake, parts of a plastic plug that he though would flush out, but got stuck instead, and the paper did cause it to clog. Nasty just thinking about it. He did not charge me, he knew better.

[WRM20]

I spent time in Peru. They don't flush the paper there, as the sewers have difficulty handling even modern disintegrating paper.

[cheryjohns]

It's cultural, too. I have known people from Columbia that react in horror at the thought of paper being flushed. They thought it was a filthy habit. Seems grosser to me to have a bin in the bathroom, with "used" paper in it.

[detachable arm]

Even in parts of East Texas with “country piping” you’re supposed to throw your used asswipe in the trash can.

[txdemo]

Why throw it in the trash can? I save each used piece so I can use the other side.

[Dopo]

As far as I know, most people in Venezuela throw it in the toilet