Fixing a toilet flush
Having a toilet that doesn’t flush properly is not only frustrating when you come use it, but could be wasting water and money too.
So ensuring your toilet flush is in good working order makes economic and environmental sense.
Your toilet flush accounts for around 20-30% of your everyday water consumption, so ignoring that leak could soon see you paying for water you don’t use!
It’s important to act quickly if a flush problem develops, and in this handy guide we’ll give you the advice you need to identify the cause of the issue and help you to solve the problem of a broken toilet flush.
How does a toilet’s flushing system actually work?
A toilet’s flushing system is a marvel of plumbing engineering that efficiently removes waste from the toilet bowl.
The process involves a combination of gravity, water pressure, and a few key components.
Here’s a quick step-by-step breakdown of how it works in most toilets –
1. Water Supply: The process begins when you press the flush lever on the toilet tank. This lever is connected to a chain or rod that lifts a rubber stopper called the flapper, allowing water to flow from the tank (or cistern) and into the toilet bowl.
2. Tank Reservoir: The water that fills the toilet tank is initially supplied by a water line connected to your home’s water supply. This water is clean and comes from your cold water pipe. The cistern serves as a reservoir that stores a certain amount of water for flushing purposes.
3. Gravity and Siphon Action: Once the flapper is raised, the water in the tank rushes into the toilet bowl. This flow of water is driven by gravity. As the water enters the bowl, it creates a surge of water that pushes the waste and toilet paper in the bowl down the drain.
4. U-bend: The waste and water exit the bowl through a curving pipe called the U-bend. The U-bend (or trapway as it is also known) is designed to create a seal of water that prevents waste gases from entering your bathroom. It also helps maintain the siphon action.
5. Siphon Effect: The design of the cistern is critical for creating a siphon effect. As water rushes out of the bowl, it creates a low-pressure area in the cistern. This low pressure helps pull the waste and water from the bowl, ensuring that everything is effectively flushed away.
6. Tank Refilling: After the flush, the toilet tank starts refilling with water. A float mechanism, often a ball float or a float cup, is responsible for monitoring the water level in the tank. When the tank reaches a predetermined level, the float mechanism signals the fill valve to shut off, stopping the water flow.
7. Re-sealing the Bowl: As the tank refills, a rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank reseals the opening between the tank and the bowl. This resealing prevents water from continuously flowing into the bowl.
8. Ready for the Next Flush: Once the tank is refilled, the toilet is ready for the next flush. The process can be repeated as many times as necessary.
It’s a relatively simple yet effective mechanism that ensures proper sanitation and hygiene in our daily lives.
How to fix a broken toilet flush
So, now you know how it works, let’s look at fixing your broken toilet flush.
Irrespective of your toilet’s make or model, our toilet flush repair guide is your ticket to restoring flawless functionality.
Essential Tools for Fixing Your Toilet Flush
- Replacement Flush Valve
- Channel-Locking Pliers
- Adjustable Wrench
- Replacement Flapper
- Sponge
- Towels
- Bucket
- Penetrating Oil
- Large Slotted Screwdriver
- Plumber’s Wrench
1. Disabling the Water Supply
Firstly, remove the lid from your toilet tank, enabling you to disable the water supply by turning the shut-off valve clockwise. Hold the flush lever down to drain as much water as possible out of the tank, and use a sponge or towel to get rid of any remaining water.
2. Disconnect Toilet Attachments
Disconnect the water supply tube or hose from the tank, the flapper chain from the tank lever arm, and the refill tube which is attached to the top of the overflow pipe. Apply penetrating oil to bolts situated underneath the tank, and proceed to unscrew them, detaching the tank from the bowl.
3. To the Tank!
From there, you can use an adjustable wrench to loosen and eventually remove tank bolts. This will enable you to lift the tank from the bowl and set it to one side, making it much easier to work on. The locknut which is holding the flush valve to the tank should be unscrewed using a plumber’s wrench, so the old flush valve can be removed.
4. Installing your new Flush Valve
Follow manufacturer instructions to install your new flush valve in the same way you removed the old one. When installation is complete, use tank bolts to re-attach the tank to the bowl, the flapper chain to the flush lever arm, and the fill tube to the new overflow pipe.
5. Completing your new Toilet Flush Installation
You’re now ready to reconnect the water supply to the tank. Turn on the water, test your new flush valve and check for leaks.
John has a background in sports journalism, and lists content writing amongst his primary passions. He provides expert bathroom trends commentary and analysis, as well as offering meticulously researched answers to the most frequently asked bathroom posers.
