# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**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, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/21 "2015-04-10T13:51:19Z")
if you are replacing the wax ring, that seals the toilet drain between the bowl and the drain pipe in the floor, then you have to remove the toilet. emptying the water out of the tank and the bowl is something you have to do first. also replacing the whole toilet would require the same. ---
**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, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/22 "2015-04-10T14:10:12Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Sorry, am I missing something? Why do all of you guys need to get water out of the toilet bowl? You know how you’re supposed to rotate the tires on your car so that they wear evenly? Well, the same thing is true for the toilets in your house. One of them inevitably is used more frequently than the other(s). So it’s necessary to rotate them periodically to keep the wear even. ---
**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, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/23 "2015-04-10T15:08:07Z")
For the win !!! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/24 "2015-04-10T15:29:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You know how you’re supposed to rotate the tires on your car so that they wear evenly? Well, the same thing is true for the toilets in your house. One of them inevitably is used more frequently than the other(s). So it’s necessary to rotate them periodically to keep the wear even. ROTFLMAO!! Yep, not to mention you must account for your azimuth for proper coriolis effect and, of course, feng shui. > [@Cartooniverse](#): > > For the win !!! Seconded! I’d note that you rarely need to get all the water out of the bowl, unless you plan on tipping the toilet over, you only need to lower the water far enough below the weir in the trap so it doesn’t spill over. Wet vac and rags are ok, but it’s less muss and fuss with a large dry sponge. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/25 "2015-04-10T19:11:49Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Sorry, am I missing something? Why do all of you guys need to get water out of the toilet bowl? 'tis a thirsty day. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/26 "2015-04-10T19:16:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You know how you’re supposed to rotate the tires on your car so that they wear evenly? Well, the same thing is true for the toilets in your house. One of them inevitably is used more frequently than the other(s). So it’s necessary to rotate them periodically to keep the wear even. No way! One must be kept off of the normal cycle so that it can be used as a hot spare. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/27 "2015-04-10T19:31:53Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > 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. I just wanted to quote this to make SURE that everybody saw it. Also, when you’re buying that wax ring? _Buy two_. (Just remember that. Ten years from now when you thought you’d forgotten it and are standing in Lowe’s making your selection, it will come to mind. And then when you break the first one, send me twenty bucks.) ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/28 "2015-04-10T20:04:20Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > And the tank will be 90% empty, easy to sop up the rest with a couple towels. Not as pithy, but I believe, a respectable 3rd post/username combo. Another water pump method, though I’ve not used it on a toilet line, is a drill-powered water syphon. Great for when there’s just a little too much to pump out manually. [Examples on Amazon](http://www.amazon.co.uk/DRILL-POWERED-PUMP-SYPHON-WATER/sim/B0017W3OM6/2) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/29 "2015-04-10T22:39:01Z")
When I started making beer at home, I bought an [autosiphon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=abk6hNNGeAg). I just use that to empty my toilet once in a while. Because I can. I have my next beer already named: Pisswater. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/30 "2015-04-10T23:14:46Z")
Have the dog drink it? StG ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/31 "2015-04-11T01:58:55Z")
St Bernard? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/32 "2015-04-12T22:12:12Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > Not as pithy, but I believe, a respectable 3rd post/username combo. There’s no way in hell I’m posting in this thread for fear of drawing attention to any such username/thread combo. Oh - crap. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/33 "2015-04-13T02:23:32Z")
I have purposely delayed opening this thread, but here I am. Morbid curiosity and all. So far I have found out several methods of emptying a toilet bowl of water, why I should buy 2 (Two!) wax rings, and why one should exercise a shut-off valve at least once a year. I love this place! ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/34 "2015-04-13T02:48:27Z")
I see digital has mentioned it already, but FWIW if when I have to pull a toilet for renovations I flush it until the tank is drained and suck the water out of the p-trap with a shop vac. Pretty easy to empty the shop vac down the open WC after the toilet is off. If you are really careful you can move the toilet with out releasing the water in the p-trap. I see guys do this all the time, I’ve been on the receiving end of the toilet water down my leg when it doesn’t work. The extra couple minutes to use the shop vac is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/35 "2015-04-13T20:32:25Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > You know how you’re supposed to rotate the tires on your car so that they wear evenly? Well, the same thing is true for the toilets in your house. One of them inevitably is used more frequently than the other(s). So it’s necessary to rotate them periodically to keep the wear even. Don’t forget – you have to rotate them in the opposite direction if you’re south of the Equator. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/36 "2015-04-13T20:43:52Z")
A manual bilge pump is a must for home plumbing repairs. $17 at Walmart. People carry them in boats for emergencies. [http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Manual-Bilge-Pump/16606502](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Manual-Bilge-Pump/16606502) Great for draining water from clogged sinks. Emptying water from a toilet. Etc. ---
**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 13, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269/37 "2015-04-13T21:31:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A manual bilge pump is a must for home plumbing repairs. $17 at Walmart. People carry them in boats for emergencies. > [Robot or human?](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shoreline-Manual-Bilge-Pump/16606502) I carry one 90% of the time I kayak, but only have needed one when I didn’t have one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-get-water-out-of-the-toilet/717269.md?page=1)