When you flush a toilet, the water and waste inside the bowl swirl and are pushed down the drain opening, where they then travel into your connected sewer system.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Activation: Pressing the flush handle or button activates a flushing mechanism inside the toilet tank.
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Water Release: This mechanism opens a flapper valve, allowing a large volume of water from the tank to rapidly flow into the toilet bowl.
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Swirling Action: The water enters the bowl through strategically placed rim jets, creating a swirling motion. This swirling action helps to effectively cleanse the bowl and carry waste toward the drain.
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Siphonic Action: The rush of water creates a siphonic action in the trapway (the curved pipe at the base of the toilet). This siphon sucks the water and waste out of the bowl and into the drainpipe.
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Waste Disposal: The waste and water travel through the drainpipe, connecting to the main sewer line. This line carries the sewage to either a septic system or a municipal wastewater treatment plant.
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Tank Refill: As the bowl empties, the flapper valve closes, and the toilet tank begins to refill. A float mechanism rises with the water level, eventually shutting off the water supply when the tank is full, preparing the toilet for the next flush.
Essentially, flushing a toilet leverages gravity, water pressure, and siphonic action to efficiently remove waste and wastewater from your home and transport it to appropriate treatment facilities.
