There are several different types of toilets, but the most common type is the “flush toilet”. A flush toilet can be defined as “a toilet that eliminates its waste by a flush of water”. The household toilet is just another working necessity in a house, and not thought about often… until it doesn’t work. Then, all you can think about is how to fix it. In order to be able to work on a toilet, and get it in working order again, you’ll need to understand how it works.

When you push the handle, it’s attached on the inside of the tank to a lever, in turn, raises a rod or chain. When the rod or chain rises up, it lifts up a round part that is called a “flapper” or “flush ball”. The purpose of the flapper is twofold: it covers the round hole (the flush valve valve) in the bottom of the toilet tank to keep the water from flowing out of the tank. It’s other purpose, when the toilet is flushed, is to rise up and allow a rush of water to be drawn from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl. The water rushes into the bowl through the hole in its middle, as well as from small holes that encircle the underside of the toilet bowl rim. Here’s a tip for you: flappers are usually made of a pliable rubber, and they are available in many different sizes. If the flapper in your toilet bowl malfunctions, simply remove it from its hinges and replace it with a new, same sized one.