Toliet overflow

[GuavaHalf]

My toilet cistern overflowed last week while we were out. This led to a huge puddle outsid our kitchen door from the overflow pipe. It got me thinking - why can't the overflow simply empty into the toilet itself? Much nicer than having pipes sticking out of the wall.

[secretspirit]

It's probably in case you're so unlucky that the toilet pan is blocked as well, as the water from the cistern would make it overflow.

[secretspirit]

I forgot to say that in some properties, perhaps where the bathroom doesn't have an outside wall, the overflow drains into the bath. Wouldn't be my cup of tea though.

[pinus]

It's only water, not sewage. Seriously, the idea is that you should be aware that there is a problem and deal with it. We already waste enough water flushing the toilet, without losing more because we are unaware of a fault.

[GuavaHalf]

Pinus I agree about water wastage but why would I be less likely to become aware of the problem if the water drains into the WC?

[sddsddean]

At my old school they did drain into the toilet, but the cisterns were of the 'above your head' variety (are you ahead of me yet?). Some bright spark (don't look at me) thought it might be a giggle to adjust the ballcock setting. Set them to fill slow and for the water level to rise above the overflow outlet. Result; whilst doing what comes naturally, a rather surprising cold shower!!

[Jenny Tools]

Most new systems do in fact have overflows that now run into the bowl and do not require a pipe going through the wall as in the old type wc's

[gazzawazza]

Yep, I agree with Jennytools, in fact I fitted my own last year and that's exactly how it works.