Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by acechapman
A toilet flushing mechanism works by using a combination of water and gravity to clear waste and water from the toilet bowl and send it through the plumbing system.
When you press the flush handle or button, it activates the flushing mechanism. This opens the flapper valve at the bottom of the tank, which allows water to flow from the tank into the bowl. The water in the bowl helps to push the waste out of the bowl and into the drain pipe.
There are many options for toilets available today, for both residential and commercial properties. Unlike the traditional gravity flush toilet, which was the norm, today consumers have options for all types of flushing mechanisms. The result is the exact same: you get a sufficient flush to clean the bowl and remove any waste. However, the process will vary depending on which model you have.
The Tank Mechanisms
The tank’s bottom has a large hole leading to the toilet bowl. A stopper plugs this hole and stops water from entering the bowl. Additionally, the stopper is attached by a chain to the tank handle. The handle can be turned or pushed to lift the stopper from the hole. Thus, allowing water in the tank and bowl to flow into the bowl quickly. The float control on the refill valve drops as the water in the tank dries out. This then turns on the water supply to refill the tank.
What are the parts of the toilet tank?
There are many parts to the toilet tank, including:
- Fill Valve: This is a device that fills the tank and prepares for the next flush.
- Drain hole: This is a piece of plumbing that connects the bowl and the toilet tank.
- Handle: This is the area outside of the tank where you press to activate flush.
- Chain: This is the component that connects to the flapper and the handle arm. (Not always)
- Flapper: This is a device that seals the drain hole in between flushes.
- Flush Valve: This is the part of the flapper that holds the rubber seal open as water flows into the bowl.
- Refill Tube: This is the rubber tube that directs water from the fill valve to the tank.
- Float ball/filler float: Some toilets come with a float ball, while others have a filler float. Both have the same function: they tell the fill valve when water is full, and turn it on when there is no water.
- Overflow Tube: The overflow tube redirects excess water into the bowl in the event of a jammed filler valve.
What is a Toilet Flushing System?
You’ll find different parts when you remove the toilet tank cover and look inside. They work together, even though they might look different.
These are the three main systems that work in conjunction with your flush toilet.
- Toilet Flushing Mechanism
- Refill Mechanism
- Bowl Siphon
Let’s take a look at each system separately and discover the secrets to how the toilet flushing mechanism works.
Toilet Flushing Mechanism
The type of toilet flush system you have will affect the mechanism. The flushing mechanism works because of the difference in water pressure between the tank and the bowl. When the flapper valve opens, the water in the tank flows into the bowl, creating a sudden increase in water pressure in the bowl. This increased water pressure helps to push the waste out of the bowl and through the drain pipe.
What Is A Flapper and How Does It Work?
The flapper is a rubber disk that is attached to the bottom of the overflow tube. It allows water to escape from the tank and the bowel during flushing. It keeps the tank water until you turn on the flash handle.
The handle can be pressed to raise the flapper from the valve seat. This allows water to drain out of the tank into the bowl.
Refill Mechanism
The float ball drops when the tank is empty. The filler valve is activated to turn on the water. The tank is then refilled using the refill tube in preparation for the next flush. The bowl is sealed off by the flapper, which covers the drain hole.
The float ball, or filler valve, rises to the set level when the tank is full of water and stops water from flowing into the tank.
If the filler valve is jammed or the float ball is not connected, the water from the overflow tube is directed into the bowl. This prevents your bathroom from flooding.
Bowl Siphon
The toilet bowl is an essential part of any toilet. You may be wondering why. This is because you can still use your toilet while disconnecting anything in your bathroom (including the toilet tank). Toilet bowls can solve any problem that a bathroom has. The toilet bowl is simple but cleverly designed to allow the waste with a siphon for easy disposal.
Let’s take a closer look at the structure of the toilet bowl.
You’ll notice a u-shaped section connecting to the bowl. It then connects directly to the ground. This is the siphon. It flushes the contents of your toilet down into the drain.
The Outdated Gravity Flush Toilet is Gone
The gravity flush toilet was a toilet that had a tank attached to the wall above its bowl. The chain lets you flush the toilet by pulling on the chain to let water out of the tank. The tank was located above the bowl so gravity relied on gravity to force water into the bowl.
Manufacturers improved the flushing system over time so that the tank could be placed on the bowl. While some homeowners might choose the high-tank toilet for their aesthetics, most people recognize the low-tank toilet as a reliable fixture in their homes for many years.
There are now more low-flow toilets on the market as toilet technology improves. These toilets are also known as high-efficiency toilets. They reduce the water required to flush the toilet, which helps conserve water and has a lower impact on the environment. Low-flow toilets are more demanding than gravity-flush toilets, which require greater pressure.
More Pressure, Less Water
New toilets require around 20-25 psi pressure to flush properly. To accommodate these pressure changes, flush toilets with a newer design needed a different flushing mechanism.
These toilets have a good-sized opening at the bottom center of the water tank. This tunnel leads to the toilet bowl’s rim. The flusher is also located within the water tank. It is attached to a lever on the outside of it. The lever within the tank moves up when someone pushes down the flusher handle.
One end of a short chain is attached to the lever. The other end is attached to the tank’s stopper. The stopper is placed on top of the large opening leading to the bowl’s rim. When someone flushes the toilet the lever activates the chain. This yanks up the stopper, revealing the large opening that allows water to flow through it.
The force of the stopper being lifted off the opening causes water to rush into the bowl. This is what helps remove waste and residue. The tank’s water level will drop as the water from the tank is rushing into the bowl. It has a toilet flopper as an additional mechanism.
Toilet Tank’s Water Level
The tank’s water level is monitored by the float. If it drops, the float activates a refill valve to allow more water in. This water is supplied by the main bathroom plumbing line. The stopper is placed on the large opening at bottom of the tank to stop water from escaping as the tank fills up with water.
There are two possible ways this can work. The float or the stopper is attached to the chain connected to the flusher lever. This is what causes the stopper to return to its original position once the water level in the tank is sufficient. The refill valve will stop pouring water out of the tank once the water level (and the float) has reached a certain level. The refilling sound will also occur after a flush.
Get Rid of the Wastewater
The DWV (Drainwater-Vent) system will then take the wastewater out. The DWV system connects to the pipes behind the wall. It drains waste and allows sewage and other waste gases to escape into the air. The vent pipes are usually located on the roof. While gases escape, atmospheric pressure is absorbed into the vent pipe. This prevents the gases from seeping into the bathroom.
Gases could have leaked into bathrooms and accumulated in the drainage system years ago. Today, this is no longer a problem.
Wrapping up
Toilets have been part of every household for years. Now, you have a better understanding of how a toilet flushing mechanism works and the parts that make it up.
Overall, the toilet flushing mechanism is a simple yet effective way to keep the toilet clean and functioning properly.
Don’t forget to check out our top toilet reviews and buying guides.
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