Quick fix gets toilets working again aboard the International Space Station

"The station's Waste Hygiene Compartment toilet continues to work well following maintenance work by Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Frank De Winne."

That's one of the items you'll see today on NASA's Latest Space Shuttle News page. In the ultra-high-tech realm of space exploration and experimentation, indoor plumbing might seem like a mundane matter, but for the American astronauts aboard the International Space Station, getting the toilets working was key. (The top photo shows the space station as seen from the space shuttle Endeavour just before the two spacecraft docked. The bottom photo is of a Russian-built toilet system on the space station. Both images are courtesy of NASA.)

On Sunday, the Waste Hygiene Compartment inside Destiny, the American laboratory aboard the space station, went out of order after a pump that injects chemicals into the toilet to separate liquid and solid waste failed. Crew members from the shuttle Endeavour and the other Americans on the space station were forced to use the loo in the neighboring Russian module while flight engineers made the repair.

It's a good bet that none of the toilets on the space station are gravity-flush models, which edged out pressure-assisted models in overall performance in our latest report on toilets (available to subscribers).

Fixing a toilet up in space is a delicate operation, but repairing your toilet at home needn't be. See the breakdown below of typical toilet problems and details on their repair. Note that if you're toilet installed before 1995 is on the fritz, you might consider replacing it with a new model, which will save you lots of water. Those older toilets consume 3.5 gallons or more per flush but models today must consume 1.6 gallons or less per flush.

Problem: Running toilet and "phantom" flushes
Repair: Replace flapper or fill valve or both
DIY cost: $5 to $15
Pro cost: $100 and up

Problem: Wobbly toilet
Repair: Replace flange or wax ring or both, though repair isn't easy for novices
DIY cost: $30 to $40
Pro cost: $300 and up

Problem: Leaking toilet.
Repair: New water-supply connections; replace tank- to-bowl gasket and bolts
DIY cost: $10 to $30
Pro cost: $180 and up—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our report on toilet paper, which includes green papers. And find out how to save on a bathroom remodel.