Anatomy of a toilet

What is there to know about toilets, anyway? The anatomy of a blocked toilet

Often it can be one of the worst things to happen – the dreaded blocked toilet.

Be rest assured there are a few basic plumbing things you can do yourself. Sometimes this can be an easy fix, and we can help you understand how toilets work. However, we’ll also let you know when it’s time to call a professional.

When you are faced with a blocked toilet, it’s natural to panic. The most common cause of blockages is because something other than human waste or toilet paper has been flushed. As a general rule,only three things should go down the drains: #1, #2, and toilet paper. Anything else is probably too large, won’t biodegrade, and will possibly get stuck in the pipes.

Maybe your toddler unravelled an entire roll of toilet paper into the pan ordecided that what they really REALLY wanted to do with their day was drop a dozen toys and household items into the water and press the flush button five times.

However, the blocked toilet happened, it needs immediate attention! Don’t keep reading, CALL US NOW!

If your matter isn’t urgent, or you only want to know just in case, here are some toilet and plumbing basics every person should know:

Anatomy of a toilet

Have you ever wondered how a toilet actually works? It’s pretty simple: Water flows from a tap in the wall into the cistern, then flushed into the pan and down the waste pipe.Knowing how to control this flow of water can only be beneficial.

If water is filling up in the pan and not flushing down, it’s critical to know how to turn it off quickly to avoid floods. The water tap can be on the wall beside your toilet or hidden inside the cistern. Turning it off at the wall is easy. However, if it is in the cistern, then you need to investigate…

The toilet cistern

Most cistern lids will just lift, which is handy in an emergency where the water tap is inside, and you need to turn it off.A minority of lids will need to be unscrewed. You can do this by lifting or turning the flush buttons –they may need to be prised up –to reveal the screw. It is also something to consider when buying a new toilet. Ask yourself, do you want to have to unscrew the lid?What you see inside your cistern will depend on how old your toilet is.While older toilets have many parts, such as a flush valve, flapper, and ballcock (yes! ballcock!), modern toilets typically have fewer parts. These are more streamlined with a plastic cylinder that performs all the functions.All cisterns, no matter how old or new, have afloat. The float controls the water level. If your toilet is continually ‘running,’ then have a look at your float. It could be something caught in it, or it could be loose.

When it’s time to call in the professionals, don’t hesitate

While the majority of toilet blocks will be easy to diagnose and simple to fix, being familiar with the anatomy of your toilet can help you in an emergency.If the toilet is blocked, has water leaking, or is continually running, don’t wait! CALL US ON 0488 097 677. Flowtec Plumbing and Gas are here to help.