Anatomy of a Toilet

Have you ever wondered how a toilet works? It's pretty simple! There are a few parts of a toilet tank that are crucial to a toilet's powerful flush. 

When you flush the toilet by pressing down the flush handle, the rubber flapper, sometimes referred to as a float valve, is lifted. This causes the water that was held in the toilet tank to rush into the bowl and flush the waste. 

As the water moves from the tank to the toilet bowl, the flapper slowly sinks again to sit on the flush valve. As the toilet flapper closes off the water to the bowl, the toilet fill valve, sometimes referred to as a ballcock, begins to bring water back into the toilet tank to recharge for the next flush.

Understanding the toilet parts names and functions, like the flush handle, toilet flapper, fill valve, and flush valve, can help troubleshoot issues and enable a faster fix.

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The Flush Handle

The flush handle, usually located on the front or side of the toilet tank, is the mechanism that starts the flushing process. When you press or pull the flush lever, it lifts the flapper, activating the flush valve. This, in turn, triggers the release of water from the tank into the bowl, effectively flushing away the waste. 

For an upgraded finish to your bathroom’s functionality and décor, consider trying a Korky StrongARM tank lever. The StrongARM lever is adjustable to eliminate the need to bend for fitment and fits most popular brands, including American Standard, Kohler, TOTO & others. Our styles provide a great way to upgrade any toilet to compliment the bathroom’s décor. 

The Toilet Flapper

The Fill Valve

The Flush Valve

The Tank-to-Bowl Gasket

The Wax Free Seal

This image describes the components of a toilet tank, and how a toilet worksHow does a toilet work?