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How Toilet Flushing Works

How a Toilet Works When You Flush



Nowadays, having a functioning toilet in your home should not get you too excited. However, it was not always this way. Let's take a look at what happens when you flush a standard toilet as well as how some of its components work.



BOWL SIPHON



Despite having no moving parts, the toilet bowl features a highly functional design. The most crucial piece of the toilet is what is molded into the bowl, known as the bowl siphon, shown here:

BOWL

SIPHON



The bowl is attached to a pipe with a U-bend that leads into a sewer system. As water and waste leave the bowl on flush, air rushes in causing the "flush" sound. The air coming into the bowl stops the siphoning process. The bowl is then refilled with water from the tank above.



TOILET TANK



The tank located in the upper part of the toilet holds about 2 gallons of clean water. More importantly, the tank can send the water fast enough into the bowl to activate the siphon effect and send waste and water down the pipe. Whoooooosh!



When you push the handle down, the tank system is activated causing water to dump into the bowl in less than 3 seconds; triggering the flush. The same effect can be achieved by the siphon alone as long as you pour enough water quickly into the bowl.



FLUSH FACTS:

Did You Know?



Contrary to popular belief, the toilet was not invented by Thomas Crapper. In fact, Sir John Harington is credited with having invented the "John" nearly 300 years earlier.



Not only did Sir Harrington come up with the idea of the toilet, but he actually installed an early working prototype in the palace of Queen Elizabeth I who happened to be his godmother.



On the other hand, Thomas Crapper was a plumber and a big advocate of water sanitation. His sanitary engineering company created and patented parts of the modern day toilet such as the float ball seen below.



I invented the first flush toilet in 1596

Sir John Harrington



I was born in 1836. Crap.

Thomas Crapper



Parts of a toilet tank



FILL VALVE REFILL TUBE

HANDLE ARM FLOAT ARM

FLOAT BALL

OVERFLOW TUBE

FLUSH VALVE

DRAIN HOLE FLAPPER



WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE TANK



Once you push the handle, the chain that is connected to the flapper and flush valve is pulled up by the handle arm. By lifting the flapper up, the water inside the tank is allowed to flow down into the toilet bowl. As the water leaves the tank and enters the bowl, it fills the toilet bowl and the siphon effect occurs, resulting in removal of water and waste.



As the tank is empties, the flapper covers the drain hole and water comes into the tank to refill it. The mystery of the flush is revealed!



MORE ON TOILET TANK PARTS & FUNCTIONS



FLOAT BALL



The float ball is connected to the fill valve that controls the water flow to the tank. When the water reaches a certain level in the tank, the ball floats level on the water, shutting off the refilling mechanism. When the tank is empty, the float ball falls freely allowing the valve to open, filling the tank.



REFILL TUBE & OVERFLOW TUBE



The refill and overflow tube work together to help keep water in the tank. The overflow tube empties directly into the toilet bowl below, refilling the bowl after a flush. If there were no refill tube, there would only be a small amount of water in the bottom of your toilet which could become a problem!



THE FLAPPER



The flapper is a rubber mechanism that acts as a seal to the drain, it both lets water in and out of the tank when you flush, pretty nifty. How a Toilet Works When You Flush Nowadays, having a functioning toilet in your home should not get you too excited. However, it was not always this way. Let's take a look at what happens when you flush a standard toilet as well as how some of its components work. BOWL SIPHON FLUSH FACTS: Despite having no moving parts, the toilet bowl features a highly functioning design. The most crucial piece of the toilet is what is molded into the bowl, known as the bowl siphon, shown here: Did You Know? Contrary to popular belief, the toilet was not invented by Thomas Crapper. In fact, Sir John Harington is credited with having BOWL invented the "John" nearly 300 years earlier. SIPHON Not only did Sir Harrington come up with the idea of the toilet, but he actually installed an early working prototype in the palace of The bowl is attached to a pipe with a U-bend that leads into a sewer system. As water and waste leave the bowl on flush, air rushes in causing the "flush" sound. The air coming into the bowl stops the siphoning process. The bowl is then refilled Queen Elizabeth I who happened to be his godmother. On the other hand, Thomas Crapper was a plumber and a big with water from the tank above. advocate of water sanitation. His sanitary engineering company created and patented parts of the TOILET TANK modern day toilet such as the float ball seen below. The tank located in the upper part of the toilet holds about 2 gallons of clean water. More importantly, the tank can send the water fast enough into the bowl to activate the siphon effect and send waste and water down the pipe. linvented the first flush toilet in 1596 Sir John Harrington Woooooosh! When you push the handle down, the tank system is activated causing water to dump into the bowl in I was born in 1836. Crap. less than 3 seconds; triggering the flush. The same effect can be achieved by the siphon alone as long as you pour enough water quickly into the bowl. Thomas Crapper Parts of a toilet tank REFILL TUBE FILL VALVE FLOAT ARM HANDLE ARM FLOAT BALL OVERFLOW TUBE - FLUSH VALVE FLAPPER DRAIN HOLE WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE TANK Once you push the handle, the chain that is connected to the flapper and flush valve is pulled up by the handle arm. By lifting the flapper up, the water inside the tank is allowed to flow down into the toilet bowl. As the water leaves the tank and enters the bowl, it fills the toilet bowl and the siphon effect occurs, resulting in removal of water and waste. As the tank is emptied, the flapper covers the drain hole and water comes into the tank to refill it. The mystery of the flush is revealed! MORE ON TOILET TANK PARTS & FUNCTIONS FLOAT BALL The float ball is connected to the fill valve that controls the water flow to the tank. When the water reaches a certain level in the tank, the ball floats level on the water, shutting off the refilling mechanism. When the tank is empty, the float ball falls freely allowing the valve to open, filling the tank. REFILL TUBE & OVERFLOW TUBE The refill and overflow tube work together to help keep water in the tank. The overflow tube empties directly into the toilet bowl below, refilling the bowl after a flush. If there were no refill tube, there would only be a small amount of water in the bottom of your toilet which could become a problem! THE FLAPPER The flapper is a rubber mechanism that acts as a seal to the drain, it both lets water in and out of the the tank when you flush, pretty nifty. Benjamin Franklin THE PUNCTUIAL PLUMBER sources: http://home.howstuffworks.com/toilet.htm http://www.neatorama.com/2006/11/01/inventions-for-lazy-people/

How Toilet Flushing Works

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The toilet. One of the most vital and most used instruments of our household. Quite possibly the most valuable of inventions, but do we know how it works? The following infographic explains the inner ...

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