A flush toilet is a toilet that disposes of human waste from the bowl by using the force of water to flush it through a drainpipe to either a septic or sewer system. There are quite a number of toilet flush systems with varying flushing mechanisms and designs.

The different types of flush systems include; gravity washdown affluent, siphon jet flush, vacuum/pressure-assisted, double cyclone, rear toilet flush, dual flush, unmarried-flush, flapper-flush valve and the tornado.

The main flushing mechanisms include the gravity-powered with water and vacuum/pressurized versions that utilize air and h2o.

In terms of design, some flush systems feature tanks with single/dual pushbuttons, handles/levers, curved trapways, skirted bowl base, tower styles, others have small tanks, others have large tanks, etc.

If y'all are shopping for a new flush toilet, an easy-to-use and maintain, a fairly-priced system that conserves water and other natural resources is what you should consider. Beneath, read more most the various affluent systems, how they work plus the pros and cons of each.

Gravity Washdown Flush Toilet System

Washdown flush systems are the oldest and most bones designs of all the systems. This organisation utilizes the weight and the gravitational current of the water to push waste from the toilet bowl into the trapway.

Most flushing systems in the market today are modified or improved versions of this arrangement.

Some features of washdown toilet affluent systems include;

  • Has push-push button affluent to initiate a affluent instead of a standard lever flush
  • Skirted design
  • Big waste hole equally a result of wide trapway
  • Brusk/broad trapway
  • Smaller water surface surface area
  • Some washdown toilets come with dual flush push which can be used to be water-efficient
Gravity washdown toilet flush system
Washdown Mechanism

How it works

Washdown toilet uses a uncomplicated machinery. When you initiate the flush, the sheer volume of water rushing into the bowl forces annihilation and everything downwardly the drain.

Pros

  • It is clog complimentary because of its short and wide trapway.
  • It is efficient in waste product removal.
  • Washdown toilets are cheap to purchase.
  • Dual versions tin save water.

Cons

  • Washdown toilet system is not neat at cleansing the bowl.
  • This arrangement is decumbent to odors because the wastes are not fully submerged in water.
  • Information technology has a loud and noisy flush.
  • It requires two or three flushes for heavy waste thus consuming a lot of water.
  • Sometimes it causes skid marks on the bowl.
  • Decumbent to sweating

Siphon Affluent

This is by far one of the most popular flushing systems in many households today. Information technology is basically a modified version of the gravity washdown. In addition to the gravitational flow of water, it has a curved trapway that creates more pressure for the flush.

A distinguishing characteristic of the siphonic flush system is the S-shaped trap fashion that has one finish connecting to the sewer system and the other to the basin.

Siphonic flush system
S trap

Information technology also creates within the rest of the tube, which is filled with air.

This trap fashion design creates a partial vacuum filled with air that helps to suck waste product affair down the drainpipes. The blueprint also prevents sewer gases from wafting into the bathroom. Water in the lower department of a siphon acts as a valve to end sewer gases from escaping.

In addition to trap way, siphonic jet toilets have a large water surface, and their water levels always stay above the bowl outlet.

When y'all initiate the flush by pressing the lever, water flows from the tank into the basin via gravity. The tank releases water at a faster rate than it can leave the basin. Water enters the bowl through the siphon jet and through smaller holes in the basin'due south rim.

The water in the bowl beginning rises before it subsides rapidly. As the water flows out of the bowl, it displaces the air in the trap way. This displacement makes a vacuum that siphons the waste downwardly to the drainpipes.  A gurgling sound shows that the siphon/vacuum has been broken.

Pros

  • This affluent system produces less noise.
  • They do non have odors because of the high water level.
  • It cleanses the basin and has a powerful flush especially for habitation utilise
  • Like shooting fish in a barrel to use and maintain
  • Cheaper than other flush systems

Cons

  • Siphon flush arrangement is prone to clogs.
  • Weaker flush compared to other flush systems
  • Prone to sweating

Pressure Assisted-Organization

Unlike near affluent systems which solely depend on gravity force, the force per unit area-assisted arrangement utilizes a combination of gravity-driven water and pressurized air that generates a powerful affluent. Due to its powerful flush, it is often found on commercial premises.

These units normally have a force per unit area tank inside the main tank that unremarkably works like a big water balloon. Here, water normally fills the tank, and so information technology is held there nether force per unit area.

Pressure assisted toilet
Pressure Assisted system

When you flush the toilet, the flush valves toilet opens and an explosive blitz is acquired by pressure level. This system uses less water merely completely flushes the toilet.

In add-on to the powerful flush, it is less prone to sweating and the best pick for commercial settings. On the other paw, information technology is quite noisy, and costly to acquire and install

Farther reading: Force per unit area-assisted Toilet: What information technology is, How information technology Works, Common Bug & the Best in the Marketplace

Dual Affluent Organization

A dual flush organisation is an improvement of the gravity-powered systems. It is designed to handle solid waste product and liquid waste separately. There are dual systems that take ii buttons; i for solids and the other for liquids. Others have only one button where you press on either side depending on the waste material.

Dual Flush Toilet system
Dual Flush

The dual organization works past controlling the amount of water that is released into the bowl. Solids require much h2o to be pushed downwardly the trapway to ensure that there is no clogging in the bowl. For liquids, only a pocket-sized corporeality of water is needed.

A full affluent, used for solids, consumes a gallon and a one-half of water while a partial flush for liquids consumes less than a gallon.

Pros

  • This system is cheap to use since it minimizes the water used.
  • It is friendly to the environment equally it ensures that water is conserved.
  • The dual flush is fashionable and attractive compared to the single flush organisation.

Cons

  • The flush buttons are prone to getting stuck. Sometimes you lot could push button the flush button and it does not come dorsum upward.
  • A defective affluent valve could lead to constant running of the toilet thus wasting a lot of water.

Vacuum-aid Flush System

 This flush system has a vacuum tank that is continued to the trapway. When flushed, the vacuum tank creates suction and helps suck the waste out of the toilet and through the trapway.

Vacuum-assisted toilet
Vacuum Assist

Vacuum-assistance toilets are typically more expensive than gravity-flush toilets. Their flushing ability is as potent as that of force per unit area-assisted systems. While the toll of pressure and vacuum-assist toilets does not vary a lot vacuum systems are usually quieter than force per unit area-assisted toilets.

Form Five Flushing Engineering science System

A technology created by Kohler, grade five is a type of flushing system is designed for extraordinary bulk flushing functioning. It can remove up to m grams of solid waste material with a single flush.

It features a large (3.25) flush valve which allows rapid release of water in 360 degrees combined with a direct fed jet and maximizes h2o flow.

Pros

  • Powerful flush
  • Conserves water
  • Eliminates common leakage problems
  • No sweating
  • No clogs

Cons

  • Pocket-sized trapway
  • Models without blanket require more rinse at the back of the bowl.
  • Some models are louder

Double Cyclone Arrangement

Beginning introduced past Toto, the double whirlwind system has two nozzles which are placed at the top of the bowl facing sideways. These nozzles are backed upwardly by a propulsion system that allows more water to flow through the tube. It also produces a powerful siphoning action for a more efficient flush.

Double Cyclone Toilet Flush system
Double Whirlwind-Toto

When flushed, the water swirls in the bowl like a cyclone thus finer cleaning, rinsing and flushing the toilet. The whirlwind is produced due to the direction in which water enters the bowl. This flush arrangement is similar to the gravity affluent system every bit it utilizes the forcefulness of gravity.

Pros

  • It uses simple mechanism.
  • It is powerful while using less water.

Cons

  • It is hard to notice replacement parts for this flush organisation.

Ballcock Flush System

This is one of the nigh common systems used in flushes. It has a ballcock with a plunger that fills the h2o tank of the toilet.

How it works

The ballcock is a floating brawl that is attached to a rod. When the rod moves, information technology activates the plunger which and then allows water to fill or empty the tank.

Pros

  • It is easy to supercede
  • It flushes effectively.

Cons

  • The ballcock system is prone to failure.
  • It is very dependent on water and thus consumes a lot of water.
  • The water may fail to shut off due to the shut off valve being set too high. This wastes a lot of water.

Flapper-valve Flush Organisation

This flush system is like to the ballcock system just that information technology uses a flapper instead of a ball. It consists of a toilet affluent valve that is opened and closed by a plate hinged 1 side.

The mechanism is known as the flapper and is connected a chain hanging down from the affluent handle lever.

The flapper is responsible for allowing and stopping h2o from flowing into the tank.

How it works

The flapper is filled with air and once the flush is triggered it floats. The flapper is and so pulled out of its position past the chain. This enables water to menstruation from the tank to the bowl.

When the tank is emptied, the flapper is unable to float and go back to its position. Therefore, water is allowed to enter the tank.

Pros

  • Information technology is easy to maintain this flush organization.
  • It uses a elementary mechanism.
  • Flapper valve organisation is easier to supplant and set up.

Cons

  • The tank takes long to fill after a flush.
  • The chain is prone to breaking.

Rear Toilet Flush System

A rear toilet arrangement is also known as a backflush toilet considering it discharges out the waste from the back. Nearly people prefer information technology for its toilet space convenience rather than its flushing. This system is common in areas where the toilet does not have a tank.

Pros

  • They are more than meaty than flooring affluent toilets.
  • This flush system occupies smaller bathroom infinite.
  • Information technology has more flushing power due to the pressure-assisted devices.

Cons

  • It requires several readjustments and too maintenance.

Tornado Affluent System

This flush organisation is Toto's improved version of the double-cyclone flush system. Instead of two nozzles, this comes with three powerful nozzles that create a centrifugal, cyclonic rinsing action which reduces waste buildup and keeps the bowl cleaner.

It merely uses one.28 gallons of water per affluent. It has a very constructive and powerful affluent. The blueprint of the rim also helps to eliminate breeding grounds for germs.

Tower Style Flush System

This flush arrangement is also known as the canister flush arrangement. It is from the Kohler toilets brand. Tower style flush system has a canister mounted in the middle of the tank and continued to the affluent handle.

This flush organisation lifts off wholly allowing h2o into the bowl from a 360 degrees bending. This enables the h2o to menstruum into the basin faster thus creating a stronger affluent.

Which is the Best Flush Organization?

For a flush system to exist considered as the best, y'all demand to consider how powerful the system is, how much h2o information technology uses and also how speedily it recovers. The gravity-forced organisation is the best due to a number of reasons, it is constructive, quiet and uses less h2o.

Which is the Worst System?

The washdown flush system is probably the worst flush system because it is too noisy and is prone to odors due to the fact that the wastes are non fully submerged in water. Although newer flushdown units seem to relieve h2o, the old designs do not save on water. This makes information technology costly.