How does a toilet tank fill up with water?
After a toilet is flushed, water enters the tank and refills the bowl. The bowl is refilled by the fill tube as water flows down the overflow valve and into the bowl. The float controls water entering the tank and the fill tube.
How does a toilet water journey work?
If your tank is empty, a refill valve opens up to allow water into the tank through the refill tube. A float inside your tank is also raised while it fills up and it eventually halts the process when it is totally raised. This is the first stage of the toilet water journey.
What happens to water when you flush the toilet?
After a toilet is flushed, water enters the tank and refills the bowl. The bowl is refilled by the fill tube as water flows down the overflow valve and into the bowl.
How does a toilet flush valve work?
When the toilet is flushed, the flapper lifts up off the flush valve seat and allows the water to exit the tank. Toilet Flush Valve: When the toilet is flushed, water flows from the tank into the bowl through the flush valve.
How does water flow through a toilet?
Water and Waste are Siphoned Out Water rushing over the top of the trapway creates suction, evacuating the waste and water from the bowl. As the water is pulled from the bowl, air enters the trapway, ending the siphon effect and also the flush. Plus: Never, ever flush these 12 things down the toilet.
How does a toilet tank bank work?
The tank bank has an anti-evaporation snap that locks air in, which curbs odors and makes it unnecessary to refill the bag. In addition, it is placed in a way as to not interfere with flush mechanics.
Does putting a brick in the toilet save water?
Well, placing a brick in the toilet can save a small amount of water per flush as the brick lessens the tank capacity creating a less Gallons Per Flush (GPM), but it may affect the overall performance of the toilet. All toilets in California are now required to be 1.28 GPM or less.
What can I put in my toilet tank to save water?
Put a plastic water bottle in toilet tank. If you take a plastic bottle, put a few pebbles or rocks in it, fill it with water, and then place it in the back of your toilet, you can save up to 10 gallons of water per day.
How does a toilet siphon jet work?
2:163:45How Does a Siphon Work? | Ask This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWater comes down into this flush ring you see it right here yep the water also comes out throughMoreWater comes down into this flush ring you see it right here yep the water also comes out through here but also comes down inside the bowl to this little hole right here called a siphon jet.
How do modern toilet cisterns work?
It works in the same way as a buoy; as the water rises, so does the float, just like a buoy floating on the surface of a lake. When the rising water lifts the float to its set point, the incoming water is stopped. It is possible to ad-just the level of the float, to make the water level higher or lower.
Why is my toilet fill valve not working?
0:351:29Fill Valve Problems - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe problem is directly related to the fill valve. Sometimes the fill valve only needs a minorMoreThe problem is directly related to the fill valve. Sometimes the fill valve only needs a minor adjustment to return it to proper function.
How does a toilet overflow tube work?
An overflow tube is a vertical tube inside the tank of a toilet. It's purpose is to move water into the bowl in the case where the ballcock malfunctions to prevents water in the tank from overflowing. When the flush lever is pressed it pulls the chain that opens the flush valve.
How does a toilet fill with water?
The toilet tank has a fill valve that is connected to the main water supply. When the tank is empty, a float ball inside the tank drops, which trig...
How can I unclog my toilet?
Use a special toilet plunger to unclog. You can also use a unique drain snake tool called a toilet auger, for more serious blockages.
How can I fix a loose flush handle?
Over time, your flush handle can loosen up or even disconnect from the tank. To fix this, you first need to determine whether the lift chain has be...
Why is the toilet not flushing strongly?
1 Something is blocking the inlet pipe, or it has become worn or damaged. 2 The maximum water level setting in the tank is set too low. You can fol...
Why does my toilet run continuously?
There are a few reasons why your toilet could constantly be running. 1 Leaking flapper 2 Malfunctioning refill tube 3 Misaligned or malfunctioning...
Why does my toilet handle get stuck?
Often, a stuck toilet handle can be fixed by hand. You can use an adjustable wrench to loosen up the nut from inside the tank in more serious cases...
Toilet Tank-Reservoir (Cistern) Flush Toilets & How They Work
Tank reservoir toilets have been in wide use since the 1940's and some tank reservoir or cistern flushed toilets have been in use for more than 100...
What Happens When A Toilet Is Flushed: 3 Basic Operations
1. Flushing the toilet opens the flush valve: A flush lever moves an arm to lift a flapper valve or tank ball to permit water to rush into the toil...
Toilet Overflow Tube & Diverter Tube
[Click to enlarge any image]Overflow tube, toilet: the overflow tube (photo above left), is found on virtually all modern toilet flush control valv...
Other Toilet Flush Methods & Types
Here are descriptions of additional toilet designs that use different flush methods from those described above.
Back Flush Or Rear Flush Toilets Using A Reservoir Tank
A back-flush toilet that does use a reservoir tank is also produced for special situations such as a location that prohibits installing a drain lin...
Up-Flush Toilets Located Below The Sewer Piping, No Toilet Tank
A variation on the flush valve toilet is the up-flush toilet used in bathrooms whose toilet was located below the building's sewer line exit to the...
Electric Flush Toilets & Pressure Assisted-Flush Toilets
Our toilet photographs below illustrate a tankless, electric-flush toilet produced by Kohler. As you can see (below-left) the toilet may be a littl...
Ask A Question Or Search InspectAPedia
Use the "Click to Show or Hide FAQs" link just above to see recently-posted questions, comments, replies, try the search box just below, or if you...
How does a toilet tank fill with water?from plumbinglab.com
How does a toilet fill with water? The toilet tank has a fill valve that is connected to the main water supply. When the tank is empty, a float ball inside the tank drops, which triggers the water to fill the tank. As the water level rises, so does the float ball, stopping the inflow when it reaches the max height.
How does water flow when a toilet is flushed?from korky.com
When the toilet is flushed, water flows from the tank into the bowl through the flush valve.
What happens when you flush a toilet?from korky.com
When you flush the toilet by pressing down the flush handle, the rubber flapper, sometimes referred to as a float valve, is lifted up. This causes the water that was held in the toilet tank to rush into the bowl and flush the waste. As the water moves from the tank to the toilet bowl, the flapper slowly sinks again to seat on the flush valve.
What is flush toilet?from plumbinglab.com
Flush toilets are the most popular and common type of toilets used in homes, offices, and public spaces. Flush toilets use water to flush waste into the main drainage system. Flush toilets use laws of pressure and gravity to dispose of the waste in a very efficient manner, disposing of waste in a few seconds.
What is the fill valve on a toilet?from korky.com
Step 2. The fill valve (sometimes referred to as a ballcock) brings water into the tank after the toilet is flushed and stays on until the tank refills. Any time water exits the tank (such as when a flapper is leaking), the fill valve will turn on in order to maintain the water level.
What is composting toilet?from plumbinglab.com
Composting toilets are environmental-friendly toilets that decompose waste rather than just disposing of it. They separate liquid and solid waste and then mix them with microbes or peat moss to decompose.
What is cassette toilet?from plumbinglab.com
Cassette Toilets. Cassette toilets are used inside RV’s or caravans to dispose of waste. In a cassette toilet, the toilet system is fixed. However, the waste tank is detachable which can be emptied anywhere. The problem with these toilets is that the tank capacity is limited, so you might need to empty them frequently.
How does a toilet tank work?
As you already know, your toilet is connected to a water supply. If your tank is empty, a refill valve opens up to allow water into the tank through the refill tube. A float inside your tank is also raised while it fills up and it eventually halts the process when it is totally raised. This is the first stage of the toilet water journey.
Why is water stirred in a tank?
The water is stirred in rectangular tanks so the gases may be released into the air. Air is also pumped into the tank to create an enabling environment for bacteria to decompose small organic material that may have not been scrapped in the primary treatment phase.
How does a flush valve work?
In the case of flushing toilets, a flush valve is raised when you push the lever and water from your toilet tank empties into the toilet bowl. Dual-flush toilets usually have two buttons that release different quantities of water instead of a lever. By design and with a little help from gravity, the water pushes the excreta or liquid waste in ...
What is the term for the material that settles in a tank?
The settled materials include human waste and are referred to as ‘sludge ’.
Why is toilet wastewater bad?
Obviously, toilet wastewaters contain contaminants and chemicals emanating from its residential and commercial use. If left untreated, the chemical compounds and other pathogens in them can cause harm to the health of plants, animals, and birds that live in or near the water.
How big is a toilet drain?
Your toilet water joins wastewater from other parts of your house and those from other houses and it journeys into the sewer pipes that are below your community and are about 3 to 5 feet in size.
What can't you flush down the toilet?
Flushing the wrong items can cause your pipes to be blocked which in turn affects your neighbors who are also connected to the same municipal system .
How does a toilet tank fill with water?
How does a toilet fill with water? The toilet tank has a fill valve that is connected to the main water supply. When the tank is empty, a float ball inside the tank drops, which triggers the water to fill the tank. As the water level rises, so does the float ball, stopping the inflow when it reaches the max height.
How does a flush toilet work?
Flush toilets use water to flush waste into the main drainage system. Flush toilets use laws of pressure and gravity to dispose of the waste in a very efficient manner, disposing of waste in a few seconds. Flush toilets come in various designs, shapes, and sizes and can be single-flush, dual-flush, or even no-touch.
What is composting toilet?
Composting toilets are environmental-friendly toilets that decompose waste rather than just disposing of it. They separate liquid and solid waste and then mix them with microbes or peat moss to decompose.
What is the purpose of a toilet shut off valve?
Shutoff Valve. Another incredibly important part of a toilet, the shutoff valve, is used to shut off the toilet tank's water supply. Top tip: Always know where your shutoff valve is to your toilet so you can turn off the water supply in case of leaks or damage.
How many gallons of water does a toilet have?
A toilet has two basic parts; the tank, which is filled with approximately 2 gallons of water to be used for flushing, and a bowl which is used to collect and dispose of the waste into the drainage system. As well as the tank and bowl, your toilet consists of:
Why is my toilet flushing weak?
If your toilet has a weak flush, it’s usually for two reasons; 1. Something is blocking the inlet pipe, or it has become worn or damaged . 2. The maximum water level setting in the tank is set too low. You can follow this YouTube video for tips on how to fix a weak flushing toilet.
What is a fill valve?
Fill Valve or Ballcock. The fill valve is an essential component of the toilet. After flushing, when the tank is empty, the fill valve is released, allowing the tank to refill from the main water supply. Typically, water flows from the base of the valve and upwards till it reaches the overflow tube.
How does a water saving toilet work?
Water saving toilets use several strategies to reduce the volume of water used in flushing away waste: varying flush volume, pressure or power assisted flush using a small flush water volume, and reduced flush water volume using a reservoir barrier in th cistern or toilet tank.
Where is the flush valve toilet located?
A variation on the flush valve toilet is the up-flush toilet used in bathrooms whose toilet was located below the building's sewer line exit to the sewer or septic system.
What is a flapper type toilet?
Flapper type toilet flush valve: (photo at left) (see below) is a toilet flush valve that closes the opening at the bottom of the toilet tank using a semi-round flapper (usually rubber) rather than the rounded tank ball shown in the sketch.
What does the flush handle do in a toilet?
The toilet flush handle shown here, when pushed down, lifts the flush lever inside the tank in order to lift or open the flush valve (flapper valve) to flush the toilet.
What does a float arm do in a toilet?
At the end of the flush cycle, a float arm, or a float moving on a vertical stalk (newer valves) drops to open a valve permitting the toilet tank to refill with water. Re-Filling the Toilet Cistern or Tank: When the toilet tank water level reaches the proper level, the float closes the toilet tank fill valve.
Why does the toilet flapper stay in the open position?
The shape and position of the flapper cause it to remain in the open position until the water level in the toilet tank drops to nearly empty , then the flapper "flaps" down over the drain opening to stop the toilet flush cycle and to permit the toilet fill cycle to begin anew.
How long have tank toilets been in use?
Tank reservoir toilets have been in wide use since the 1940's and some tank reservoir or cistern flushed toilets have been in use for more than 100 years. At left we see the flush handle on a modern tank or cistern operated gravity flush toilet. [Click to enlarge any image]
How much water does a toilet tank hold?
How much water does a toilet tank hold? That depends on the age and type of toilet you have. If your toilet was made before 1982, it could use as much as 5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. From 1982 to 1993, many toilets were made to use 3.5 gallons per flush. Federal guidelines require newer toilets to use less water, with 1.6 gallons being the maximum legal amount per flush. But water-efficient toilets can use even less at 1.28 gallons or less per flush. How much water the particular toilet uses for a full flush determines how much water should be inside the tank between flushes.
How to tell how much water a toilet uses?
Your toilet may have markings that show the amount of water it takes per flush . Newer toilets have markings that show the amount of water per flush on the bowl near the hinges for the toilet seat. Looking for a date stamp on the toilet can give you an idea of how much water it uses based on the age. Look for the stamp on the inside of the tank lid or along the back inside of the tank. Pre-1982 toilets likely hold 5 to 7 gallons, toilets between then and 1993 likely hold 3.5 gallons, and new toilets hold 1.6 gallons or less.
Why do you put bricks in toilet tanks?
Some homeowners place a brick inside the tank to displace a certain amount of water.
Where is the date stamp on a toilet?
Your toilet may have markings that show the amount of water it takes per flush. Newer toilets have markings that show the amount of water per flush on the bowl near the hinges for the toilet seat. Looking for a date stamp on the toilet can give you an idea of how much water it uses based on the age. Look for the stamp on the inside of the tank lid ...
How high should a water tank be?
If you can't find a water line mark, the correct height for the water is about 1 inch below the top of the hollow overflow tube located around the middle of the tank.
Where is the fill valve on a water tank?
The fill valve is the vertical valve on the left-hand side inside the tank. It allows a certain amount of water to refill the tank after every flush. Follow the particular design of your fill valve to adjust the water level.
Can you adjust the water level inside a toilet tank?
Alternative Adjustment Methods. If you choose to leave your fill valve on the same setting and not adjust it, there are products and methods you can use to change the toilet water level inside the tank . Owners of older toilets whose tanks hold and use more water per flush sometimes choose to do this instead of installing newer toilets.
How does a toilet trap work?
Once the toilet is flushed, the water will travel through the trap. The trap keeps gas and waste from coming back into the bowl. From time to time you might have a clog in your trap that a double flush or plunger can fix.
What is the fill tube in a toilet?
The fill tube is a small rubber tube that runs from the fill valve to the inside of the overflow valve. After a toilet is flushed, water enters the tank and refills the bowl. The bowl is refilled by the fill tube as water flows down the overflow valve and into the bowl.
What is the difference between a balloon float and a toilet?
Older toilets will use a balloon float while newer toilets use a smaller valve that is attached to the fill valve. Air in the float makes it rise as the tank is filled and once at a specified level the float will automatically stop water flow ( learn how to adjust the water level by adjusting the float ).
What is the function of a toilet flapper?
Flapper. The flapper is connected to the chain and controls water traveling from the tank to the bowl. When the toilet is flushed, the flapper rises and water flows forcefully into the bowl ( how to choose the right toilet flapper ).
Why is my toilet bowl slow to flush?
There are small holes around the rim of the bowl that allow water to enter the bowl. If you live in an area with hard water, calcium and other minerals can block the rim feed holes and reduce the power of your flush ( clogged rim holes are a reason for a slow flushing toilet ).
What is an overflow valve?
The overflow valve allows excess water to exit the tank. If the water level is set too high, water will run into the overflow valve (this is one explanation for a running toilet ).
What is a trap in a toilet?
The trap is the area that water passes through the toilet after being flushed. The trap minimizes the chance of clogs and keeps gas from entering your bathroom from the pipes ( best ways to unclog your toilet ).
How does a bathroom tank float?
Some of the water goes down the refill tube and starts refilling the tank. The rest goes through the bowl refill tube, and down the overflow tube into the bowl. This refills the bowl slowly. As the water level in the tank rises, so does the float. Eventually the float rises far enough to turn the valve off. What would happen if the float were to become detached, or the filler valve were to jam so that it never cut off? Theoretically, the tank would overflow and flood the bathroom. But the overflow tube is there to prevent that from happening, directing the extra water into the bowl instead of onto the floor.
How does a refill valve work?
The refill mechanism has a valve that turns the water on and off. The valve turns the water on when the filler float (or ball float) falls. The float falls when the water level in the tank drops. The filler valve (or refill valve) sends water in two directions. Advertisement.
What is the purpose of a flush valve?
And the purpose of the tank and the flush valve is to hold and then dump about 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water very quickly into the bowl. Once the tank has emptied, the flush valve resituates itself in the bottom of the tank, covering the drain hole so the tank can be refilled. It is the job of the refill mechanism to fill the tank back up ...
What to do if no water comes out of toilet?
If no water comes out the opening with all of the fill valve parts removed, then there is a clog in the line to the fill valve. The next step is to shut off the water and remove the supply line from the bottom of the toilet , then redirect the supply line into your small bowl and turn the valve back on.
What to do if you don't get water out of the water supply tube?
If you don't get water out of the supply tube, then you have to shut off the water to the house and remove the valve from the wall, because your blockage is in the inlet to the valve. If there is no blockage at the valve, then you have to start removing sections of pipe back to the meter until you find the blockage.
How to empty a water tank?
Much like the steps above, you'll want to empty the tank of water by shutting off the supply line and flushing. Then get yourself a disenfectant, and wash down the inside, and as much of the components as you can. Remember to wear gloves, as you should not be working with mold without protection.
Why is my toilet tank dirty?
There are several things that could be behind your dirty toilet tank water, ranging from mineral deposits through to external factors outside of your control. What's important to remember is that just because your bowl water looks clean, it may not always be the case in the tank. That's why you should lift the lift every so often ...
What color is the water?
First things first, you'll need to determine what color the tank water is. Specific colors can offer a insight into whats going on without the need of a plumbing professional to come look at it for you.
Why is my fish tank dark?
Another issue many home owners encounter is mold and algae. If you think about it, the tank is dark and damp, a great place for both to thrive and multiply. This often happens in water which is rich in iron, similar to the brown water above.
Why won't my water tank refill?
Because the water supply is cut off , it won't refill. For the next step, you should pour in some vinegar as they do a great job in removing those mineral deposits. A couple of cups of vinegar should do the trick. Then turn the flush valve back on to allow the tank to refill.
Why is my water brown?
However, it may also mean that the water supply line is sending water through your tank has a lot of iron compound in it.
Can you see how clean a toilet bowl is?
It's easy to see how clean your toilet bowl is because it's open, and you're able to check if it needs a clean most of the time, with the exception of the rims. However, this doesn't apply to the tank as the insides are hidden from view due to the lid being shut on top.
