Although toilets are one of the most common things in any home, most homeowners don’t give much thought to it outside of cleaning – that is until a problem occurs. Suddenly you find yourself looking into the tank trying to understand what’s going on, with no idea what the various components inside the tank are.

With a basic understanding of how toilets work, diagnosing the cause of the problem can be fairly simple. Unless you’ve needed to repair a toilet in the past, chances are it never occurred to you to learn what the different components inside the tank are.

Toilet anatomy is actually quite simple and self explanatory when you know what the components inside the tank are and how they work. This knowledge is especially beneficial when you have a toilet that isn’t flushing properly, is continually running, or is leaking.

This guide will help you to better understand what components are inside your tank and what to do when a repair is needed.

What’s inside the toilet tank?

Every toilet model consists of two main parts – the bowl and the tank. The bowl is where liquid and solid waste is disposed of. The tank is the upper part of the toilet that reserves water and creates the siphoning action required to wash away waste when the toilet is flushed. 

All of the components needed to make the toilet flush are located inside the tank. The components are:

  • Handle: The flushing process occurs when the tank handle is pressed.
  • Handle Arm: This component rotates once the handle is pressed.
  • Chain: The handle arm pulls the chain, lifting the flapper.
  • Flapper: Also known as a flush valve seal, the flapper is a rubber component that closes and seals the flush valve drain opening after each flush.
  • Flush Valve: This component is connected to the flapper and holds the rubber seal open, allowing water to flow into the toilet bowl.
  • Fill Valve: This is the component responsible for filling the toilet tank with freshwater before the next flush.
  • Refill Tube: This rubber tube takes water from the fill valve and carries it to the overflow tube of the flush valve to refill the toilet bowl with freshwater.
  • Filler Float or Float Ball: A toilet tank will either have a filler float or float ball (depending on the model) attached to the fill valve. When the tank is empty, the filler float or float ball makes the valve turn on the water when the tank is empty and turn off the water when the tank is full.

You’ve probably flushed your toilet hundreds, if not thousands, of times without giving it much thought. When the components inside the tank are working properly, flushing your toilet is efficient and effortless. You push down on the handle, the handle arm lifts the chain, the chain opens the flapper which activates the flush valve. Water then rushes into the toilet bowl through the drain opening, washing away waste inside the bowl and flushing it down the drain.

When even one of these components is damaged or not working properly, you’ll want to repair it right away with replacement parts that will not only solve the problem, but improve the efficiency of your toilet and save you money on your water bill as well.

Simple Solutions

A faulty flapper can cause leaks that will eventually lead to high water bills. You can replace the flapper with the HydroForce, a leak resistant flapper made to withstand extreme water conditions and harsh chemicals, or you can choose a flapper-less alternative known as the HydroStop. The HydroStop is a sturdy tower that sits solidly against the flush valve opening to create a stronger seal and eliminate the possibility of leaks. 

Over time the fill valve can slip out of place and become damaged which can lead to an empty toilet tank. If you find that you need a new fill valve, the HydroClean Water-Saving Toilet Fill Valve is the perfect solution for your toilet. It can be easily calibrated to adjust the amount of water needed to fill the tank, refills the tank quickly, has jets that clean the tank and even has a leak detection feature to signal when leaks are found. 

The most common way to save water, money, and increase the efficiency of your toilet is by converting your standard toilet into a dual-flush toilet. This technology further saves water by recognizing that it’s appropriate to use a less powerful flush to remove only liquid. The Water Saving Total Repair Kit combines the Water Saving Fill Valve with the HydroRight Dual Flush Valve to replace the flapper, chain and toilet handle to eliminate most of the toilet problems mentioned above.

For more information on how small changes like these can make a big impact on your energy and water bills, as well as the environment, you can visit this webpage. There, you’ll find comprehensive resources, tips, and guides to help you make your home more eco-friendly while also enjoying the benefits of lower utility costs. Remember, every small step towards water and energy efficiency counts in our collective efforts to conserve resources and protect the planet for future generations.

Getting to know your toilet inside out can help you prevent costly leaks or damages in your home. As you learn more about your toilet and how it works, Danco has all the parts you need to repair or upgrade your toilet to create a more efficient and water saving bathroom experience.