A plumbing home essential, toilets have evolved, but their basic parts have stayed the same. That said, it’s important to understand the basics of the almighty throne and its parts that make it work.

Toilet tank

The Toilet tank sits at the base of the bowl. It is a separate piece that attaches to the bowl. The toilet tanks collect water from their source, sending water rushing into the bowl to carry waste materials into the sewer. The large base of the toilet is known as the toilet bowl.

Floor flange

A floor flange is a round bracket located above the sewer pipe. It protrudes from the floor and below the bowl attaching to the floor with secure screws. The toilet attaches to the flange with t-bolts. To prevent water from leaking at the toilet’s base, wax seals are installed. A wax seal is a round gasket placed at the bottom of the toilet bowl and the top of the floor flange.

Wax rings

Traditional wax rings can be a sticky mess during toilet installations, but with the Perfect Seal Toilet Wax Ring with Bolts, installation is clean and simple. The Perfect Seal universal design fits any drain size and flange depth. Its patented seal design combines specially designed rubber gaskets with encapsulated wax to form a three times stronger seal than a wax ring without the mess. The Perfect Seal can be repositioned to accommodate differing flange heights from 1/2 in. above the floor to 1-1/2 in. below the floor and maintains a tight seal when common toilet and floor movement occurs.

The Perfect Seal can be picked up today on Amazon, the Home Depot, Lowes, and Wal-Mart.

Toilet handle

Most toilets utilize a handle or button. When it is pressed, the toilet goes into action. This action is asserted by a chain connecting the handle to a flapper valve. This flapper opens and sends water into the bowl, flushing the waste down the internal trap. The Internal trap built into the bowl flushes away waste and reserves fresh water as a sealant against sewage gas from fuming the home.

Spruce up your bathroom and improve functionality with Danco Universal Toilet Handle. Its universal design will fit most toilet brands. The handle is available in multiple finishes on Amazon. These finishes include such as Chrome (#89447A), Chrome/White (#89448A), Brushed Nickel (#89449), Matte Black (#11096), Oil Rubbed Bronze (#89450A), and Polished Brass (#89451A).

From there, a ball float or pressure gauge analyzes the water level and refills the tank by opening the water supply valve. When it reaches the appropriate level, the supply valve is shut off, essentially resetting the toilet to its original state.

Toilet Tank Repair Kit

If you’re doing a DIY toilet installation or repair, check out the High-Performance Toilet Tank Repair Kit! It has everything you need to replace the Fill valve, Flapper, Ball Float Rod, and Ball Float. The Toilet tank repair kit is designed to fit most toilets and repair common toilet issues such as water leaks, saving you money on bills & plumbing repairs.

The high-performance Toilet Tank Repair Kit is available on Amazon, Lowes, the Home Depot, and Wal-Mart.

Flushing technology

As low-flow toilet technology has become the new norm, federal law has established that new toilets must utilize a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush. Toilets use different flushing technology to rid the bowl of human waste with the least amount of water possible. While gravity-fed and pressure-assisted toilet technology are great options to preserve water levels, Dual flush toilets are the best option. Dual flush contains two flush settings, a 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste and a lighter 1.1-gallon flush for liquid waste.

Danco line of dual flush systems

Our line of Dual-flush systems offers an easy way to save on water and upgrade your toilet plumbing system. The HYR270 HydroRight® Dual Flush Valve and Push Button Handle converts a standard toilet into a two-button, dual flush toilet, saving a family of four more than 15,000 gallons of water per year by providing a choice between a full or reduced flush. Dual-button flush settings generate appropriate water volumes for each flush. The HYR270 eliminates the most common toilet problems.

HYR270 is available on Amazon, Lowes, and the Home Depot.

Increase your toilet’s efficiency and save even more on your water bill. HYR451T Water-Saving Toilet Total Repair Kit with Dual Flush Valve upgrades standard 2-piece toilets 1.6 GPF and higher into a two-handle, dual flush toilet. It works with standard 2-inch flush toilets. Install without tools through drop-in installation.Using HYR451T will increase your toilet’s efficiency and durability.

HYR451T is available on Amazon, Lowes, the Home Depot, and Wal-Mart.

Understanding the basic parts and pieces of the toilet and what makes the toilet work is essential if you’re a property owner.