The leaking-toilet challenge.(Classroom Challenge)

Publication: The Technology Teacher

Publication Date: 01-DEC-07

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COPYRIGHT 2007 International Technology Education Association

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Introduction

Leaking toilets can cost homeowners big dollars--often before it is even realized. You don't necessarily hear it leaking. It just does, and when the water bill comes due, it can be a most unpleasant surprise, sometimes as high as $400-$500 or more during a three-month period. This could be 5-10 times what a normal bill would cost.

The challenge for your class is to try to develop leak-detection ideas that would be inexpensive and easily added to existing toilets to make sure a homeowner knows the toilet is leaking before the big bills come due. We have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors--why not water-leak detectors for the venerable old john?

Many day-to-day invention challenges involve problems as mundane as this. It does not mean, however, that it is not a worthy challenge. This is not an easy problem to solve. Let's see how your class does with its creativity.

Gathering Background Information

The first stop, of course, is the local toilet and a quick understanding...

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