Toilet Parts

The parts of a toilet include internal parts (filler valve, filler float, overflow tube, flush valve, siphon tube) and external parts (handle, tank, rim, bowl). While internal toilet parts create the siphon that makes a toilet work, the external toilet parts have a role as well beyond that of comfort and appearance.

Toilets flush when enough water is pushed into the siphon tube that it fills up. This amount of water causes the siphon action that sucks the water from the toilet bowl. The siphon process ends when the toilet bowl is empty and there is nothing left to pull.

What turns a primitive toilet bowl with a siphon into the common household toilet is the tank. Small amounts of water are not enough to cause the flush reaction because there is not enough water to fill the siphon tube. If there is not enough water in the tank, the siphon won't work, so the tank stores several gallons of water at a time and refills quickly. These several gallons of water are what make all the other toilet parts work together to create the siphon. The handle of the toilet is attached to the flush valve that acts as a plug in the tank. When the handle is pushed, the valve lifts and all the tank's water pours out into the bowl and down the siphon tube, filling it and causing the siphon to start. The other toilet part that is included in this process is the overflow tube. When the flush valve lifts, some of the tank water is siphoned up the overflow tube and directed to the bowl, to starts slowly refilling it. When the handle is released, the flush valve settles back into place and plugs the tank again.

To refill the tank and the bowl, the rest of the toilet parts mentioned above come into play. The filler float floats in the tank water and is attached to the filler valve. When the toilet's handle is pushed and the water leaves the tank, the float drops with the water level and, when it does, the filler valve is opened. While the toilet flushes, the refill valve starts slowly refilling the tank. Once the water level in the tank floats the filler float back to the top, the valve is shut off and the water stops running.

What's Wrong With My Toilet

Four of the most common symptoms when troubleshooting and diagnosing your toilet for maintenance and repair.

Symptom #1 There is water on the floor around the base of my toilet or water leaks from under the base of my toilet when I flush. Usually this happens when the wax ring looses it's seal. This is caused by lack of use (wax ring dries up)or, more commonly the toilet moves causing a break in the seal. The toilet moves usually because the flange on the sewer pipe breaks and the bolt no longer holds the toilet in place or the porcelain cracks where the bolt holds the tank to the floor. Repairs can be made by the homeowner.

Symptom #2: Water is leaking from between my tank and bowl. The tank and bowl are held together by bolts (usually two) and there are rubber seals on the bolts and between the tank and bowl. Local water conditions and bowl cleaners that are put into the toilet tank can cause these items to deteriorate. Unless there is a crack in the tank, replacing these items will repair this problem.

Symptom #3: The toilet tank is filling with water even when I'm not using it. There is a part in your toilet tank called the flapper. It is attached to the flush valve. It is usually a soft rubber which over time can deteriorate due to age, water conditions or adding bowl cleaners to the tank. Replacing the flapper will repair this problem. Most flappers are universal.

Symptom #4: The water will not shut off even after the tank is full. Repair or replace the fill valve. This is the valve that lets water into your tank from the water supply line. There are several types. The two most common fill valves are the horizontal floating ball that is attached to an arm which in turn opens or closes the fill valve , and the vertical floating ball which rides up and down the fill valve shaft closing or opening the fill valve. In many cases, replacing the seals in the fill valve will repair this problem. However, most people opt to replace the fill valve totally.