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Salt Lake City Office
1152 W 2400 S,
West Valley City, UT 84119
St. George Office
368 Commerce St Unit 30-31,
Hurricane, UT 84737
Ogden Office
1805 2900 S Unit #1,
Ogden, UT 84401
Phone: (801) 355-4433
License: #12559394-5501
Some of the most common plumbing issues in a home are caused by toilets. Clogs, malfunctioning flushing mechanisms, or any other concern range from irritating to hazardous to your health.
Understand how your toilet works in order to prevent or diagnose problems as they arise. Here’s a basic overview of how a toilet works and some important parts to know.
The most important section of a toilet is the toilet bowl. This key component doesn’t have any moving parts but will work with or without power, water, or any other outside factor. A toilet bowl is made of these basic parts:
Thanks to the siphon tube, your toilet can be flushed even without access to running water. In the event of a malfunctioning flushing mechanism or a lack of running water, simply fill a bucket with approximately two gallons of water. Pouring water directly into the toilet bowl will cause the water level to rise.
More water will create a vacuum in the siphon tube which empties the toilet bowl. The rush of water and gurgling sound let you know that your toilet is flushing correctly.
There are a few instances where your toilet can overflow. Thanks to the fill valve in the tank, the tank will only be filled with enough water for a single toilet flush. If your toilet bowl is clogged, don’t continue to flush it until you’ve unclogged the bowl.
Whether you’re looking to clean or replace your toilet, you may have to drain your toilet bowl. The siphon tube makes it tricky if you aren’t sure how to drain a toilet bowl.
The most important step is your safety. Use care when coming into contact with water in your toilet bowl. When in doubt, let the professionals handle it. To begin, turn off the water supply valve to your toilet tank. Flush the toilet, holding the lever down until it is completely drained.
Once the water is drained from the tank, there are a few ways you can drain it from the bowl. A five-gallon bucket of water poured quickly into the bowl can cause much of the water to be pulled through the siphon tube. The remaining water must be cleared using either a sponge, wet/dry vac, or a towel.
From repairs and replacements to removing clogs and routine maintenance, Whipple Service Champions can provide all the plumbing services you need for your toilet or any area of your home. If you’re ready for fast and friendly professional plumbing services, contact us today. Although you now know all the necessary parts of a toilet bowl, some toilet issues are best left to the pros.