While everyone uses toilets, most people don’t know how they actually work. Every homeowner should understand the plumbing system and function of a toilet. This will help them take proper care of it and be able to troubleshoot common problems. Here’s what you should know. 

The Setup

A toilet generally has two parts: the bowl and the tank. The former is what holds the water and has a circular seat on top of it. The bowl has a lid that flips down when the toilet isn’t in use. At the base is the drain and plumbing responsible for carrying waste out to the main sewer line or septic tank.

Above this is the tank, which typically sits just above and behind the bowl. It has a refill tube to fill the tank with the reserve water. Additionally, a trip lever is connected to a float by a chain, which monitors the tank’s water level and stops it from filling when it has reached the right level.

A flapper and flush valve seat sit over the opening to the bowl below, stopping the water from flowing downward until the toilet is flushed.

How It Works

When you push the handle down, a lever inside the tank pulls up a piston. This forces some water through a siphon, which creates suction to pull the rest of the water through. The liquid in the tank empties into the bowl via small holes just under the seat.

Meanwhile, the bowl empties through the plumbing below, carrying all the waste with it. Once the piston is securely back in place, the tank starts to refill. The float monitors the water level and closes the refill tube when the tank is full again. There is still some water left in the bowl and in the S-bend pluming at the bottom of the toilet, which stops bad odors from escaping.

If you’re having trouble with your toilet, the team at Niebuhr Plumbing & Heating will help. Over the past 100 years, they have offered plumbing services to La Crosse County, WI, and the Coulee Region. They are available 24/7 for your plumbing needs, as well as any emergency services for unexpected trouble. Visit their website and call (608) 782-1700 to learn more about their services or schedule an appointment.