Toilet Clog? Here’s How a Toilet Works!

The functioning of a toilet on the inside seems complicated, but it’s not that complex. Before getting into how it works, there are some interior parts of a toilet that one needs to know. There is a thin water tube controls the water levels inside, a float ball with a rod, and a flapper with two lines attached to it. Here is a great video you can watch explaining how a toilet works. Let us explain how the parts of a toilet work together…

When The Handle Is Pulled

When someone pulls down the flush-handle, a string attached to the handle pulls up the flapper in the toilet tank. As the flapper gets pulled up, the accumulated water in the toilet tank gushes through the flapper tubes into the toilet.

The Water Flushes Away The Waste

The pressure of the accumulated water and gravity forces the waste down through the interior channels of the sewer.

Water Accumulation Starts Again

As all water from the tank empties into the toilet, the flapper gets fixed back into place, and the water accumulation process begins again.

The Mechanism Of The Water Tube

With the water flushing out, the float ball drops down with the water level. The rod with the ball also tilts down as the ball drops, allowing the thin water tube to let new water inside the flush tank.

The Ball Stops The Tank From Overflowing

When the tank is complete, the ball also rises, tilting the rod at a horizontal angle again, which stops the water tube from letting any more water in the tank.

Have you ever pondered what causes a toilet clog?

A toilet clog arises when the waste in the toilet bowl gets congested to its extreme. The bowl is so complete that even the water pressure from the tank cannot flush it out. Although the water pressure works to its fullest, the interior channels are not big enough, and the junk is immovable, which causes a blockage. There are several reasons why a toilet clog happens…

Paper Towels and Other Forbidden Items

Although paper towels used in the bathroom are dissolvable in the water, an excessive amount can cause them to block the channels. Flushing items that are not dissolvable and sewer line-appropriate, like used sanitary pads, tampons, etc., can also lead to a similar problem.

Toilet Mechanics

On the other hand, if an old toilet is still in use, its mechanics and functions might be old, like the water pressure from the tank could be slower than that of an average modern toilet. It makes it challenging to get rid of all the waste from the toilet bowl. Another reason causing a toilet clog is the already blocked interior channels of the sewer. The blockage of the gutters is a slow process and not immediately noticeable. If the waste from the toilet slowly flushes away and is not as fast anymore, it is a sign of a potential sewer line blockage.

So, there you have it. Toilet clogs are a common problem and not a pleasant one, to say the least. A plumber snake can be a lifesaver in these situations if you know how to use it properly. We hope that you find this article helpful. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section. Need help with your clogged toilet drain? We provide home plumbing services in Orange County! Give us a call today and we can guide you through your options! (949) 775-4682

emergency-plumber-orange-county-irvine
  • plumbing-pipes

How To Extend The Life Of Plumbing Pipes

December 2nd, 2023|0 Comments

A plumbing system consists of a complicated series of pipes, fixtures, and appliances that provide the infrastructure to run a well-functioning home. In this article, we will focus solely on plumbing pipes and ways