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What we all know...

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

We all know that a toilet flushed north of the Equator will drain in a clockwise direction, and a toilet flushed south of the Equator will drain in a counter-clockwise direction.  (Or is it counter-clockwise in the North, and clockwise in the south...?  I forget)

And some of us are smart enough to know that the reason behind this phenomenon is due to something called the Coriolis effect or Coriolis Force.  It has something to do with the spinning of the earth, and the fact that items near the equator are moving faster than the same items near the poles, and thereby it skews the air in relationship to the ground... oh, don't ask me to explain this stuff... it's science and science makes my brain hurt.

So we're all on board... let's just stick to the simple stuff... Toilet water goes one direction north of the equator, and the opposite direction south of the equator (something every sailor or marine knows and understands)... this has been documented a number of times in popular culture including Michal Palin's "Pole to Pole" series, all the way down to an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Bart vs. Australia" where Bart calls Australia to find out which way the water is draining, (the episode includes a humorous contraption devised by the American Consulate in Australia to force the water to drain "counter-clockwise" as it should... if they were back in the good-old U.S. of A).

Okay... so we're all up to speed, right.... ?   Wrong.

The fact is that the Coriolis effect only affects large systems, like cyclones, tornadoes, weather systems and currents.  What happens in our toilet bowls is so small and inconsequential (well, maybe in YOUR toilet bowl) , that it's not impacted in the least by the Coriolis effect.  The water in your toilet drains based on which way the jets in your toilet face.

So... what else do we "all know"... that's turned out to be "incorrect"?  Hmmm?  Hmmmmm?

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments (24)

Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Alan - I don't care which direction it goes as long as it goes down.

Nov 17, 2011 05:15 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Alan - Mary & I tried to check this out when we were in Argentina last year, and we looked, but didn't know which way it went up here, and when we got back we had forgotten which way it went down there. It's just so confusing and complicated! Now I'm going to have to e-mail my buddy in Brazil and get this settled once and for all.

Nov 17, 2011 05:43 AM
Linda K. Mayer
License # 01767321 - La Verne, CA
Realtor, SRES, SoCAL, A REALTOR YOU CAN TRUST

Alan, but if that's not true, then everything else could be a lie as well.... ARGH!  And, BTW, how's that diet going?  LOL

Nov 17, 2011 06:00 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Alan,

I'm crushed by your news. I have to go to my favorite family themed restaurant, Hooters. Unless you're going to tell me that's not true too.

Rich

Nov 17, 2011 06:34 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Alan...

Another myth debunked. Where else can you learn important stuff like this?

Nov 17, 2011 08:09 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

All over the planet people are killed on a daily basis due to the incorrect information they have in their heads.

Nov 17, 2011 08:46 AM
Cindy Edwards
RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN
CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

Holy cow,  I cannot even pronounce that!!!!  Have a great night.

Nov 17, 2011 09:01 AM
Tatyana Makarov
Century 21 All Points Realty - South Windsor, CT
Your Greater Hartford Area Realtor

ha-ha, Alan,

my husband has PhD in Physics and he knows what the Coriolis effect or Coriolis Force is. :)

Great post!

Nov 17, 2011 12:48 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Carla - it was.

Conrad - "down" is a direction.. isn't it?

Dick - the proof is in the ... well... toilet.

Linda - everything else IS a lie.  (and poorly).

Richard - well, they're not "natural".. but they're real!

Richard - just about anywhere.

Charles - all over the world?

Cindy - I'll bet you could.

Tatyana - I would hope he would.

Nov 17, 2011 02:23 PM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

As long as it is working properly I really don't care if it clockwise or counter clockwise.

Nov 17, 2011 02:27 PM
Gina Nugent
Donohue RE - Palm Beach, FL
Real Estate Agent - Palm Beach, FL

Charles #10 is quite right.....but I sure hope that the direction that ones toilet flushes hasn't killed anybody...YET! 

Nov 18, 2011 01:08 AM
Kathleen Donovan
RE/MAX South County - Charlestown, RI
GRI, CBR, SRES, South County RI Residential Speci

Hello Allan, Thank you so much for clarifying; it's been a burning question of mine for so long.....and, thanks so much for cleaning the bowl before taking the photo ! :)

Nov 18, 2011 03:04 AM
Bill & Cyndi Daves
Hiawassee, Young Harris, Blairsville, Hayesville, Murphy and Beyond! - Hiawassee, GA
TeamDAVES - Your REALTORS In the GA/NC Mountains!

Alan - you totally got me on that one and I'm typically NOT the gullible type.   But, I feel like Kathy, as long as it's swirling in SOME direction (yes DOWN is a direction) then I'm a happy camper.  But wait usually when camping there's no flushing anyway!!!

Nov 18, 2011 04:39 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Kathy - probably the best observation.

Gina - Charles is usally, right. Just don't tell him I said so.

Kathleen - you betcha!

Bill & Cyndi - yep... I totally agree... as long as it's workin'.

Nov 18, 2011 07:33 AM
Sussie Sutton
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I don't care how it goes down just as long as it goes down! And yeah and I know there is stuff that I don't know but I will after I learn it.

Nov 18, 2011 09:39 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Send it to Mythbusters!  They will get to the bottom of it!

Nov 18, 2011 12:22 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Sussie - I feel the same way.

Karen - no need.... I already know the truth... but if you're still wondering...

Nov 18, 2011 12:29 PM
Brad Rachielles
CENTURY 21 Peak, Ca BRE# 01489453 - Upland, CA
REALTOR, CDPE, Upland, CA

Alan, I'm confused. I'll buy the jet thing in the stool, but then, why does the sink draining spin the same way... it's about the same size as the other pool of water and has no jets, just straight down. MythBusters Should be consulted on such a significant matter.  :-)

Nov 20, 2011 07:49 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Brad - hmmm and interesting question.... let me know what they say.

Nov 20, 2011 10:11 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Kristi - (oddly enough your comment #3 just showed up in my list, today!!  Go figure)... I have been one of those people who've been plagued for hiccups for weeks at a time.  It is very difficult... sleeping is impossible... having anyone around you is impossible... (everyone has an old wive's cure that they want to assault you with )...  I know where you're coming from.

Dec 03, 2011 06:58 AM