When the average toilet malfunctions – that is, it is leaking or not flushing properly – the average person opening up the lid to a tank for the first time is often faced with a rather confusing jumble of parts, all of which serve just a single purpose – to fill the tank with water, then to release it into the bowl (where gravity does the rest).
There is hope for the average joe, however. The inner workings of a toilet, after all, are not as complicated as they may seem. In essence, there are only three major pieces to the puzzle within the tank itself (and a few minor ones), and then a couple on the outside that might be useful to know something about as well.
On the Outside – Water Supply
Take a look at the wall behind most toilets. Generally, the water supply to the toilet comes out of the wall (or sometimes the floor) in the form of a copper, galvanized, or plastic (cpvc or pex) pipe. Attached to the end of this pipe is a shutoff valve (also called an angle valve or angle stop). The valve is attacked to the pipe either by way of pipe threads or by way of a compression fitting. In the case of cpvc, it might also be glued on. If water is leaking from this point, the best option is to simply replace the entire part.
From this valve is attached a supply line, which is usually made either of plastic or braided stainless steel (the stainless steel lines are more common in newer installations), which leads up to the toilet, where it is threaded onto the bottom portion of the fill valve.
Inside the Toilet – Fill Valve
The fill valve (or ballcock) can come in several varieties, though they all serve the same purpose – allow water to flow into the tank until it reaches a certain level, then shut it off.
The threaded portion of the fill valve sticks through the hole that is in the bottom of most toilet tanks, which is then attached to the supply line. A threaded nut and rubber washer fasten the fill valve to the tank in order to create a water-tight seal around the hole (if water is leaking out of this hole, often it is simplest to replace just the rubber washer – a ballcock shank washer).
The fill valve can work in one of several ways. A common form is a tube which extends toward the top of the tank, where a short metal rod threads into it, on the end of which is a plastic or metal ball. The valve lets water in until it reaches a point where this ball (or “float”) is pushed up to a certain point, which shuts the water off. Another form of this includes a different sort of float attached to the valve itself, though it works on the same principle. A slightly newer, simpler type of fill valve allows only a certain amount of water through before shutting off automatically.
The water level within the tank can be easily adjusted using either of these varieties – for float balls, simply bend the metal rod so that the float sits lower or higher in the bowl. Other types can be adjusted by simply twisting a knob on the unit.
Overflow Tube/Flapper
The other hole in the bottom of a toilet tank is that which leads directly into the bowl itself. This hole is the home for the overflow tube. This tube has a large hole on the bottom, covered by a watertight flapper (which comes in many different varieties, depending on the brand and model of the toilet and overflow tube).
If the water level gets too high in the tank, the excess water can escape via the hole at the top of the overflow tube (but if this is occurring, it is best to adjust the water level using the fill valve, so as not to waste water).
When the toilet lever is depressed (these levers can come in either a “front mount” or “side mount” form), a metal, plastic or rubber chain pulls up on the flapper, letting the water in the tank flow into the bowl, which uses gravity to empty through the bottom of the toilet.
And that, in essence, is a simple version of what happens inside a toilet.
A Few Common Problems/Solutions
Problem: Water is leaking from tank to bowl.
Solution: Check the flapper to make sure it is not warped and that it seals properly. Replace if necessary (but bring the old flapper into the store, as there is a wide variety to choose from).
Problem: Water is leaking from the seal between the tank and the bowl.
Solution: Check the rubber gasket on the bottom portion of the overflow tube and replace as needed.
Problem: Water leaking from beneath the toilet, where it meets the floor.
Solution: Wax ring or gasket needs to be replaced (not discussed in this article).
Problem: Water leaking from angle valve at the wall.
Solution: Either faulty valve needs to be replaced, or the seal on the supply line is faulty. Replace one or both.
Most common toilet problems can be solved with a relatively simple and inexpensive replacement of parts. It is very rare that the entire toilet needs to be replaced (apart from a crack in the ceramic itself, or other age-related problems). With a little knowledge, toilet problems are not the end of the world.
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