Some people would rather know as little as possible about how their toilet functions to remove waste from the home, just so long as the bathroom fixtures are working reliably. However, curious individuals sometimes find themselves wondering how a toilet actually works.
If you need toilets installed to replace older, inefficient models with a water-saving design, or want to install new toilets for aesthetic purposes to match a bathroom remodeling project, it’s useful to have a basic understanding of how toilets work.
The Straight Flush on How Toilets Work
A toilet is pretty simple in its design. The bowl of the toilet holds water, which is piped in via the tank. Water enters the tank through a small pipe coming out of the bathroom wall, typically near the floor, and it is controlled by the refill valve.
When you release the flush handle, it pulls up a chain to open the flush valve, causing water to flow from the tank into the bowl in approximately 3 seconds, making that familiar whooshing sound, according to a report from How Stuff Works.
A float in the tank descends as the water exits into the bowl. A descending float activates the toilet’s refill valve, causing water to replenish the tank and bowl. As the float reaches a particular level in the tank, it turns off the refill valve. The toilet is then replenished with water and is ready to flush again.
Save Water and Lower Your Water Bill with a New Efficient Toilet
A careful examination of your monthly water bills can reveal problems in your plumbing, such as an undetected small leak that uses more water than you actually need. You can reduce your water bill and do your part to conserve natural resources by installing brand new, efficient toilets.
The latest developments in toilet manufacturing enable them to use a mere 1.28 gallons of water per flush, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While that may seem like a fairly small amount, it is actually about 20% less water than standard 1.6-gallon flush toilets.
When shopping for toilets to install in a new home or during remodeling work, savvy homeowners will keep an eye out for the EPA WaterSense label. After all, since toilets account for practically 30% of all water used in the home, the more you can save, the better. The WaterSense label indicates that a toilet has been independently certified to conform with the EPA’s efficiency and performance standards.
To save money, make sure that you talk with your plumber to see what rebates or vouchers might be available to you when buying highly efficient toilets.
Installing a new toilet in your home is easy when you hire dedicated, well-trained professionals like the experts at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain. For more information on toilets, including newer and more efficient models, or to set an appointment for installation, please contact us today at (940) 387-7909.