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TOILET TANK PARTS INTRODUCTION

The toilet is an ingenious device whose operation has not fundamentally changed since it was invented over 100 years ago. Before discussing its parts, it's essential to understand how it works.

The toilet handle is connected to a rod called a trip lever. Connected to the end of the lever are a couple of linked vertical rods or a chain. At the end of the rods or chain is the tank ball, or flush valve, which sits in a hole called the flush valve seat. When you push the handle, the trip lever rises, lifting the rod or chain and the ball or valve off the flush valve seat, and the water in the toilet tank rushes out, flushing the bowl.

The tank is refilled by the action of the ball cock. As the water level in the tank lowers, a float ball goes down with it. The float ball is screwed to a rod that is linked to the end of the ball-cock mechanism, that serves as a water inlet valve. The valve opens as the float ball drops down and new water starts to rush in. At the same time, the tank ball drops into the hole, sealing off the tank, and it starts to fill again. As the water level rises, lifting the float ball, the inlet valve closes and stops the tank from filling. There is an overflow tube so that the tank can't overflow, in the event the valve doesn't shut off completely. There is also a small tube that routes some water into the bowl to fill it as the tank is being filled.

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