What Is Flush Valve Toilet? How Does A Toilet Flush Valve Work?
What Is Flush Valve Toilet? How Does A Toilet Flush Valve Work?
A flush valve toilet is a type of toilet that uses a flush valve mechanism to regulate the flow of water from the tank into the bowl for flushing. The flush valve is a key component of the toilet’s flush system, and it is responsible for controlling the amount and velocity of water released into the bowl.
The flush valve is an important component in a toilet or urinal system, controlling and releasing water to create the flush. It consists of various parts such as the trip lever, lift rod, tank-ball, and flush valve seat and overflow pipe.
This mechanism is usually located within the toilet tank or urinal body and is activated through a push-button.
A damaged flush valve can cause serious problems, such as leaks, increased water usage and environmental harm. Worn valves and corrosion can cause holes in the seal, allowing water to escape. In addition, other factors such as worn tank-ball, damaged flush valve seat, split or holes in the overflow pipe, damaged gasket or foreign objects stuck under the flapper or ball can also lead to damage.
Neglecting a faulty flush valve can result in wasting water and increasing utility bills, which is why it is crucial to replace it as soon as possible to maintain proper toilet and urinal function.
How Does A Toilet Flush Valve Work?
A toilet flush valve is a key component located in the center of the toilet tank that allows the tank to flush and refill water.
It consists of a plastic or brass fitting attached to the bottom of the cistern tank and a mechanism, such as a rubber flapper or float ball that sits against the valve opening and keeps water in the cistern. When the flush handle is pressed, a chain or lift wire connected to the handle lifts the flapper away from the valve seat, releasing the water and flushing the toilet bowl.
The flapper will then fall back into the valve seat, sealing the opening and allowing the tank to refill. The flush valve also features a vertical overflow tube that prevents water from overflowing and ensures that the toilet bowl is refilled during the refill cycle.
A small refill tube at the top of the overflow tube allows water to flow into the bowl and maintain the level of standing water, keeping the trap sealed. Knowing how a toilet flush valve works can help identify and repair minor issues, such as low flushing pressure, in commercial toilets.
Toilet Flush Valve Sizes
Before the advent of low-flow toilets, the size of flush valves wasn’t a major consideration. Most toilets at that time had a standard 2-inch flush valve and used 3.5 gallons of water per flush making the flush valve size less of a factor in the toilet’s flushing power.
However, with the advent of low-flow toilets which use 1.6 gallons of water per flush or less toilet manufacturers had to find ways to ensure a powerful flush while using less water. This led to the development of 3 and 4-inch flush valves.
The key to a powerful flush lies in the speed at which the water is delivered to the bowl. A fast delivery results in a powerful flush.
When replacing a flush valve, it’s important to purchase the exact size, as buying the wrong size can result in a valve that cannot be used. It’s best to purchase an original replacement from the toilet tank manufacturer using the model number stamped inside the toilet tank. Fluidmaster also offers great universal flush valves.
Types Of Toilet Flush Valve
Toilets have 4 main types of flush valves: standard flush valves, canister flush valves, flushometers and dual-flush valves.
Standard flush valves are the most common and are found in single flush toilets. They use a toilet flapper seal and can either have a float ball or a float cup in the toilet tank. They are easy to replace and clean.
Canister flush valves, also known as tower style flush valves, are found in modern Kohler toilets like the Kohler Cimarron. They are mounted in the center of the toilet tank and have a cylindrical canister with a rubber seal attached to a chain connected to the flushing handle.
When the handle is pushed the chain lifts the canister for a 360-degree water flow to the bowl resulting in a more powerful flush.
Flushometers are commercial flush valves used with tankless toilets. They release a metered amount of water every time the button is pushed and are found in public toilets and urinals.
Dual-flush valves are found in dual-flush toilets, which give users the option to use less water for liquid waste and more water for solid waste. They are mounted in the middle of the toilet tank and are operated by buttons located on the tank lid. When a button is pushed the dual-flush valve seal lifts to allow water to flow down to the bowl.
