Florida Woman’s New Home Turns Into ‘Indoor Outhouse’—Toilet Paper Can’t Be Flushed!

Patty Wood, a homeowner in Apollo Beach, Florida, reports that she cannot flush toilet paper in her newly constructed D.R. Horton home without causing the plumbing to clog. Since moving in last year, Wood has experienced repeated plumbing issues, leading her to dispose of toilet paper in trash cans instead of flushing it.

Wood, a recently widowed senior citizen, describes the situation as unacceptable, stating, “I have two indoor outhouses. And that’s unacceptable in any house, let alone a brand-new house.” She has contacted D.R. Horton multiple times, and the builder’s plumbing contractor, Northwest Plumbing, has attempted to address the issue by clearing clogs and inspecting the pipes with a sewer camera. However, the problem persists.

Northwest Plumbing has attributed the clogs to various factors, including the brand and quantity of toilet paper used, the fact that Wood lives alone, and the design of her ranch-style home, which may require longer horizontal runs in the plumbing system. Wood finds these explanations insufficient, remarking, “I said I’m not gonna find a family to move in with me so I can flush my toilets.”

Seeking a second opinion, Wood consulted her plumber, Thomas Flynn, who has 47 years of experience. Flynn believes the issue stems from insufficient pitch in the underground waste pipe, hindering proper waste flow. An experiment involving flushing latex gloves revealed that it took over five minutes and multiple flushes for the gloves to pass through the system, indicating a potential problem with the pipe’s slope.

Flynn estimates that correcting the issue would require significant work, including cutting into the floor to adjust the waste pipe’s pitch, potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars. D.R. Horton maintains that their inspections have not uncovered any plumbing system issues and have provided guidance to Wood on preventing future clogs.

Unsatisfied with the response, Wood has filed complaints with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Attorney General’s Office. She urges the builder to stand behind their product, stating, “Back up your product. And if you’re not willing to back up your product, don’t sell it.”