How Does a Toilet Tank Work?

A toilet is a cornerstone of modern sanitation systems. Safely disposing human waste protects you from a plethora of diseases, bacteria, and pathogens. It is unfortunately too easy to take toilets for granted, however. Only once the toilet stops working do we stop and consider the inner workings of it. Your friends at Neighborhood Plumbing enjoy sharing knowledge and this article has the details to help you make sense of how that toilet works. You can call Neighborhood Plumbing if you have any specific questions or need a reliable plumber’s assistance.

Common Components of the Toilet

Let’s go over the components of the toilet before we get to how the toilet works. You do not have to memorize these, but it will help to understand what each part contributes to the overall system.

• Handle: Flushing the toilet begins with pressing the handle.
• Handle Arm: Pressing the handle pivots the handle arm.
• Chain: The handle arm is connected to the flapper by a chain.
• Flapper: This component seals the valve drain opening until the handle is pressed and pulls the flapper up.
• Flush Valve: This part allows water to flow from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl when the flapper is lifted.
• Drain Opening: The area between the toilet tank and toilet bowl.
• Fill Valve: Water refills the toilet tank through the fill valve.
• Refill Tube: Takes water from the fill valve to the flush valve.
• Float Ball or Filler Float: Regulates the amount of water coming into the toilet tank.
• Overflow Tube: Prevents overflowing in the toilet tank by redirecting excess water into the toilet bowl.

How Does the Toilet Work?

After you have used the toilet, you will press or push the handle. The handle arm rises and lifts the chain and, consequently, the flapper. The flush valve is activated and water from the toilet tank rushes into the toilet bowl, washing waste out of the toilet bowl and down the main drain. As the water level in the toilet tank decreases, the float ball signals to the fill valve which pours water back into the tank through the refill tube. In the meantime, the flapper will have re-sealed the flush valve, preventing the fresh water from running into the toilet bowl.

What to Do When You Have Problems

If your toilet starts to leak water or does not work properly, you can use what you have learned here to deduce the problem. Pinpoint the location of the malfunction and make necessary repairs or replacements. A lot of the time, changing a component will have your toilet back in working condition. Cracks and damage to the toilet bowl or toilet tank itself will probably require a full toilet replacement, however.

Call the Professionals

If you need a certified plumber’s expertise, then call Neighborhood Plumbing at any time of the day to speak with a live representative. We can have an experienced plumber dispatched to your location within the hour regardless of the time of the day – or night.