Managed to scrape several cm of limescale from toilet bowl bottom. how to prevent?

cashmonger

The limescale had gotten out of hand. It had gotten so thick that it was blocking the toilet when I would try and flush.

It accumulated after being at this place for about 5-6 years now and only flushing the toilet twice or so a day. I wanted to save money on water so would just leave wee in there til the smell became very ripe at which point I would flush.

Man that was such a satisfying job to clear all that limescale out it; was rock solid. I used an old spoon and after some really heavy elbow grease it began cracking off in sheets. The last bit was the best. I managed to crack even the stuff right at the back and it slid out finally in a few huge chunks.

Now though as I am so satisfied with my clean bowl again I don't want to leave urine to fester in there and cause the same situation.

How much more money will it cost to flush after every toilet usage? Note I have always gone alot like once every 30 - 45 mins, the doctor says it is because Im a nervous person and am in constant low level fight or flight.

Will it cost alot more compared to my previous 2-3 flushes a day? Im always at home as well since I work from home; something to consider regarding the calculation.

Alter_ego

Limescale comes from plain water not just urine, just clean regularly.

System

Change of diet?

:rotfl:

shaun_from_Africa

Alter_ego wrote: »

Limescale comes from plain water not just urine, just clean regularly.

Agreed.
If you had enough calcium or other solids in your urine to cause a build up of "several cm" on the toilet bowl over 5 years then paying a few £s extra in water charges would be the least of your problems.

cashmonger

Alter_ego wrote: »

Limescale comes from plain water not just urine, just clean regularly.

This theory doesn't hold water (pun unintended ) because I have a second toilet which I never use and that has 0 limescale; only the bowl water sitting in there.

So must have been the stagnant urine causing the limescale in the one I use.

LOL I just realised I meant mm not cm. it was still a thick cake of the stuff though; close to one cm.

shaun_from_Africa

cashmonger wrote: »

This theory doesn't hold water (pun unintended ) because I have a second toilet which I never use and that has 0 limescale; only the bowl water sitting in there.

As you never use the second toilet, the water sitting in the bowl wouldn't get changed so the only calcium and limescale that could get deposited would be from that water and this wouldn't be enough to be noticeable.
The toilet with the problem gets flushed once or twice a day so the deposits in the water get replenished on a regular basis.

Rosemary7391

Clean it with vinegar every so often? How do you clean it at the moment?

southcoastrgi

It's probably uric acid not limescale which is caused by you leaving No1's in there, if you haven't already I would change your syphon for a dual flush meaning you only use half flush for a wee

cashmonger

southcoastrgi wrote: »

It's probably uric acid not limescale which is caused by you leaving No1's in there, if you haven't already I would change your syphon for a dual flush meaning you only use half flush for a wee

I can't change anything since I'm in a rented apartment and the landlord doesn't give a crap about anything that would cost him money.

The flooring is coming up in the kitchen from a previous leak (which has now been sealed) and he won't fix it since like 5 months cos I was told the other day he is 'waiting for insurance to pay for it'.

I am not complaining though since I pay very cheap rent compared to others in the same building.

Re cleaning the toilet- I admit I only did it about once every 4-6 months. I didn't see the need if it didn't smell.

As you never use the second toilet, the water sitting in the bowl wouldn't get changed so the only calcium and limescale that could get deposited would be from that water and this wouldn't be enough to be noticeable.
The toilet with the problem gets flushed once or twice a day so the deposits in the water get replenished on a regular basis.

Still don't understand this logic. I thought there would be more with old water from 'buildup' rather than less.

I do not believe all the, limescale/whatever it is, is from the water alone and non from bodily waste. That seems a very outlandish claim you're making.

Rosemary7391

cashmonger wrote: »

I do not believe all the, limescale/whatever it is, is from the water alone and non from bodily waste. That seems a very outlandish claim you're making.

How do you think limescale gets in kettles!?

shaun_from_Africa

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

As you never use the second toilet, the water sitting in the bowl wouldn't get changed so the only calcium and limescale that could get deposited would be from that water and this wouldn't be enough to be noticeable.
The toilet with the problem gets flushed once or twice a day so the deposits in the water get replenished on a regular basis.

cashmonger wrote: »

Still don't understand this logic. I thought there would be more with old water from 'buildup' rather than less.

The water sitting in the toilet bowl will only have a finite amount of calcium and lime in it and once that has been deposited onto the bowl, the water will basically be calcium free so the build up of scale can't increase unless the water is changed by flushing.