# Need to get water out of the toilet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 9, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269 "2015-04-09T23:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/1 "2015-04-09T23:01:04Z")
Sometimes you need to get as much water as possible out of a toilet bowl. Maybe you need to move it for some reason. Rather than dip out the water, get a large container of water, like a pail, say a gallon or two, and pour it from waist high straight down the toilet. The momentum will pull almost all the water down the drain. This is also good if you want to use a brush with a cleaner to clean below the water line. Now the area will be accessible. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/2 "2015-04-09T23:05:04Z")
Excellent post/username combo. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/3 "2015-04-09T23:14:38Z")
Then, plunger. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/4 "2015-04-09T23:15:16Z")
Turn off the water input valve. Unless you’re deeply unfortunate in this regard, almost all toilets have a small metal knob under the tank, just near the input point. This allows you to turn off the water flowing into the tank. Cut the water. Flush the toilet. The bowl will be completely empty. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/5 "2015-04-09T23:24:44Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > . > > The bowl will be completely empty. And the tank will be 90% empty, easy to sop up the rest with a couple towels. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/6 "2015-04-09T23:39:14Z")
Yep. That’s how I completely empty it- how else do you unbolt and pull the entire shennanigans up to replace the wax ring?? You’d have toilet bowl water running all OVAH the place ! ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/7 "2015-04-10T00:06:30Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Turn off the water input valve. Unless you’re deeply unfortunate in this regard, almost all toilets have a small metal knob under the tank, just near the input point. This allows you to turn off the water flowing into the tank. > > Cut the water. Flush the toilet. > > The bowl will be completely empty. Yes, of course. Flush first to empty the tank. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/8 "2015-04-10T00:58:55Z")
Am I the only one to use a small wet-vac to finish off the water in the tank? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/9 "2015-04-10T01:05:54Z")
I don’t think turning off the inlet valve and flushing the toilet will completely empty the tank. I remember there was about an inch of water left in the tank. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/10 "2015-04-10T01:08:25Z")
closing the valve and flushing is a good thing to do one a year anyway. this exercising the valve and making sure it works is a good thing. if the valve sits open for years then it might not shut off when you need it to. do this for all your shutoff valves. do this with caution for old valves that haven’t been exercised. you don’t want the valve to break without being able to shut off its source and repair. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/11 "2015-04-10T01:08:31Z")
I talked more about the bowl than the tank. Yes, there will be an inch or so- it is how the tanks are designed. There is a small rise in the ceramic around the flapper, it allows the rubber flapper to seal. I was focused on the bowl itself and the outflow ceramic “pipe” that curves and heads to the wax ring. THAT really does drain out nicely. The tank, well yes. There’s that inch left. A coupla big old ratty bath towels and the whole thing is truly dried out. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/12 "2015-04-10T01:12:47Z")
as much water will be left in the trap as much get left in the tank. when you remove the bowl you will have to suck that out too to prevent spilling. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/13 "2015-04-10T01:18:42Z")
Those old ratty bath towels. I would take one and twist it into a long twisty towel thingy. And try to snake it down into the bottom of the bowl and along the trap. Sure helped. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/14 "2015-04-10T01:25:25Z")
Mistake-sorry. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/15 "2015-04-10T02:07:49Z")
Actually, plumbers use a suction device to get the last of the water out of the toilet. It’s a[hand pump with a flexible hose on one end](http://parksupplyofamerica.com/gproduct.php?id=LAST--DROP&fam=PZLGAKC9BCPK&addons=y) that can go into the trap, where as much as an additional gallon of water can remain. It’s the sort of tool one wouldn’t bother to own unless you are unbolting at least one toilet a day. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/16 "2015-04-10T03:14:19Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > closing the valve and flushing is a good thing to do one a year anyway. > > this exercising the valve and making sure it works is a good thing. if the valve sits open for years then it might not shut off when you need it to. do this for all your shutoff valves. > > do this with caution for old valves that haven’t been exercised. you don’t want the valve to break without being able to shut off its source and repair. STFU ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/17 "2015-04-10T04:00:51Z")
> [@donkeyoatey](#): > > STFU You’ve been noted many times for jerkish and insulting replies, so here is your first warning. Do not make posts like this outside of the Pit. If you have a problem with another poster, take it there. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/18 "2015-04-10T09:09:19Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > closing the valve and flushing is a good thing to do one a year anyway. > > this exercising the valve and making sure it works is a good thing. if the valve sits open for years then it might not shut off when you need it to. do this for all your shutoff valves. > > do this with caution for old valves that haven’t been exercised. you don’t want the valve to break without being able to shut off its source and repair. And another excellent username/post combo! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/19 "2015-04-10T11:55:59Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > closing the valve and flushing is a good thing to do one a year anyway. > > this exercising the valve and making sure it works is a good thing. if the valve sits open for years then it might not shut off when you need it to. do this for all your shutoff valves. > > do this with caution for old valves that haven’t been exercised. you don’t want the valve to break without being able to shut off its source and repair. If you’re going to do this, do it in the morning, on a weekday. That way if you do break the valve, or it starts to leak, you’ve got time to fix it or get a plumber in at non-emergency rates before your wife gets home and wants to know why there’s no water in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/20 "2015-04-10T12:03:44Z")
Sorry, am I missing something? Why do all of you guys need to get water out of the toilet bowl? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269.md?page=2)