Article by Adriana Noton

The plumbing in your bathroom is rarely a matter of concern unless there is a serious problem encountered. Considering that such plumbing systems are easy to learn and master, it is a surprise that not many people are taking advantage of this valuable opportunity to increase their knowledge. By understanding how these devices work, you can save yourself on a lot of plumbing expenses in the future.

The toilet has a simple operating mechanism that is easy to learn and understand. In essence, toilet plumbing can be divided into a four-step process. First of all, the flush handle located on the exterior of a toilet is connected to a chain within the tank. In turn, this chain is linked to a flap situated on the bottom of the tank. When the handle is pushed down, the chain pulls this flapper upwards, thus releasing water from the tank and into the toilet bowl.

The second step involves emptying the water (and its content) within the toilet bowl. This is achieved by releasing even more water into the bowl, but serving a different purpose. First of all, this water pushes the dirty water and waste out of the bowl and into a connecting sewer pipe. It also refills the bowl afterwards with clean water. After the old water is disposed and the new water is refilled, the flap will close the passage of water from the tank to the bowl. The tank itself will begin filling up with water to prepare for the next upcoming flush.

Refilling the tank is the third step of toilet plumbing, while stopping the refill is the final step. After a flush, the tank is empty of water and needs to recuperate itself. New water begins flowing into the tank once more. In conventional toilets, a well-positioned float sets this process into motion. The emptiness of the tank causes the float to rest at the bottom. The float will rise once a valve is opened up, thus allowing water to enter into the tank. The float will continue floating, so to speak, until it returns to its original position. When that happens, the water will stop flowing into the tank and the toilet is ready for its next flush.

However, newer toilets do not have a float system. Instead, the mechanism works based on the sensitivity to water pressure. After a flush, the tank detects that it needs new water into the tank, and it knows when to stop after hitting a specific point of pressure in the refilling process.

The plumbing in your shower is slightly more perplexing, but not impossible to understand. Its biggest challenge is that most of the plumbing is hidden within the walls, so only experienced homeowners or qualified plumbers can locate and access the piping. However, there are stills some factors that can be achieved to maximize the effectiveness of your shower plumbing.

Shower plumbing is notorious for its frequent hair clogs. This can be cleared up with using a chemical drain clear once a month, which stops the clogging before it sets in. If there is already a clog in your shower plumbing, you should try plunging it with a “snake” or an auger, which will most likely clear up the clog. You can also try chemical drain cleaners in this situation, but watch out for its possible caustic reactions. Remember never to plunge a drain after filling it with drain cleaning chemicals, or the results could be deadly.

Sometimes, the problem might stem from blockage in the shower head, which is an easy enough problem to fix or replace. In any case, it is advisable to learn more about the plumbing systems in your bathroom, so that you will be prepared to handle any future occasions that may arise.

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