Toilet Basics.

Most residential toilets operate on gravity. Water stored in the toilet tank is released by pressing a handle which release the water to drop into the bowl below for a flush.

A cold water supply enters the bottom of the toilet tank. There should be a shut off valve on this connection just below the tank. That pipe connects to a refill valve within the tank. The refill valve uses a float to control how much water flows into the tank. This keeps it from overflowing, or being underfilled.

At the bottom is a large hole with a rubber or plastic stopper that keeps the water in the tank. When the handle on the toilet is pushed, a chain lifts the stopper and the water flows by gravity down into the toilet bowl through a large hole under the stopper. As the water level rushes out of the tank, the float drops making the refill valve turn on the water and refilling the tank. When the Float rises to the correct level, the water shuts off and the tank is full, ready for the next flush.

In a correctly functioning toilet, the water level should stop about a half-inch below the top of the overflow tube and no water should drip into the overflow from the refill tube. When refilled, the toilet should be silent.

New pressurized tankless toilets that flush using household water pressure are now coming into use.

Toilet Basics.

Most residential toilets operate on gravity. Water stored in the toilet tank is released by pressing a handle which release the water to drop into the bowl below for a flush.

A cold water supply enters the bottom of the toilet tank. There should be a shut off valve on this connection just below the tank. That pipe connects to a refill valve within the tank. The refill valve uses a float to control how much water flows into the tank. This keeps it from overflowing, or being underfilled.

At the bottom is a large hole with a rubber or plastic stopper that keeps the water in the tank. When the handle on the toilet is pushed, a chain lifts the stopper and the water flows by gravity down into the toilet bowl through a large hole under the stopper. As the water level rushes out of the tank, the float drops making the refill valve turn on the water and refilling the tank. When the Float rises to the correct level, the water shuts off and the tank is full, ready for the next flush.

In a correctly functioning toilet, the water level should stop about a half-inch below the top of the overflow tube and no water should drip into the overflow from the refill tube. When refilled, the toilet should be silent.

New pressurized tankless toilets that flush using household water pressure are now coming into use.