Let You Understand the Toilet Flushing System in Three Minutes
With the advancement of society, the toilet has become very convenient to use. However, most people are only aware of the toilet’s various flushing methods and lack detailed knowledge. Which flushing method is preferable when purchasing a toilet? How can you save water by using the toilet? Now let’s take a look together.
Ⅰ. Which is the best way to flush the toilet?
1. Siphon Toilet
Typically, the drain on a siphon toilet will be long and narrow in a reverse “P” or “S” form. The drain pipe underneath the bowl is connected to the opposite end, which is used as the inlet in the bowl on one end. This drain’s layout is intended to produce a siphon. The siphon toilet operates in the exact same way.
When the drainage pipe is fully filled with water, there is a slight difference in the water level at the two ends, and this causes a suction that removes the waste from the toilet. The siphon toilet’s enormous water surface area also makes it possible to remove stubborn stains from the toilet wall.
The siphon flushing method utilizes the difference in water levels, so the impact on the toilet wall is little and the flushing noise is minimal as well. Simultaneously, siphon flushing will use more water for this reason, and it is simple to block.
Advantages: The siphon toilet is easy to keep clean, not easy to produce odor, and the flush is more powerful and quiet.
Disadvantages: The passageway is more narrow and easily blocked, and the larger floor space may not be suitable for the smaller bathroom.
2. Direct Flush Toilet
This is a kind of toilet that people use more in their lives, and its working mode is very simple. It uses the weight and gravity flow of water in the water tank to flush waste from the toilet. It cannot create a siphon operation. As soon as you press the switch of the water tank, basically all the water in it is gone.
The wall of the flush toilet in this way is relatively steep, which can accumulate greater water pressure and discharge the dirt more cleanly. Its flushing principle is to flush away the dirt in the toilet by means of the enhanced water pressure in the toilet, so the noise generated is also relatively large.
In other words, waste is pushed out by the absolute pressure of water gushing from the tank. Its short and wide drain channel allows waste and water to be easily discharged from the bowl. The diameter of the drain channel of the flush toilet is easily twice that of the siphon model.
It is usually about 4 inches wide and much shorter. Due to its ultra-short trap, the weir is at a lower level. Therefore, the water level should never be higher than the outlet edge in the bowl. As a result, you will get a small water surface area.
Advantages: It is not easy to block and can handle larger solid waste, with smaller size, space saving, low cost and lower average water consumption.
Disadvantages: It is easy to produce peculiar smell, loud water flushing, small water surface area, and it is generally necessary to wash sticky waste with water for many times.
Ⅱ. Comparison of two flushing methods
Water surface size
Compared with direct flushing, siphon flushing requires a larger water surface area to properly fill water for flushing. Most Europeans prefer space-saving models, while most American users prefer longer models. Therefore, most American toilets use siphon type, while European toilets prefer direct flush type.
Water conservation
The direct flush toilet is usually equipped with a double flush mechanism, and each flush can hold 3 or 6 gallons of solid or liquid waste. In contrast, siphon toilets require 6 gallons or more to properly flush. Some countries even require a flushing capacity of 4.5 gallons. (Double flushing is not recommended for siphon system)
Sink channel
The siphon type is easier to block due to the smaller drain channel. Since the direct-flush type does not need this suction, it has a larger drain channel. However, compared with the half-full version of the siphon type, there is less water left on the bowl after washing. When the solid waste touches the water of the flushing version, it will sometimes splash.
Accessories and maintenance
As time goes by, the silicone or rubber gasket of the toilet needs to be replaced. The flush toilet has top button flush, ABS plastic float valve and flush valve, which rarely need to be replaced. The siphon type usually has a side bar, ABS plastic float valve and flush valve. (Replacement parts are generally sold in major hardware stores).
According to the data of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, toilets are the main source of domestic water, accounting for 30% of the total indoor water consumption. Therefore, saving water in the use of toilets will make an outstanding contribution to the sustainable development of the environment.
Ⅲ. How to use the toilet to save water?
1. Select water-saving toilet
There are many water-saving toilets on the market, but the direct-flush siphon toilet is the water-saving toilet with good water-saving effect at present. When purchasing water-saving toilets, the first thing to be clear is that the so-called “water-saving certification” issued by non-governmental organizations is unreliable and authoritative.
When we buy a toilet, we usually pay attention to the water consumption of large stalls, guided by the introduction of merchants. In fact, we should pay attention to the water consumption of small stalls. For water-saving toilets, the water consumption of small gear is not more than 70% of that of large gear.
2. Reduce water storage capacity of water tank
Generally, there is a float in the toilet water tank, which can float up and down with the water surface and can be adjusted. Just adjust the float down a little. There are many other ways to reduce the water storage capacity of the water tank. If the water tank is modified to reduce its capacity, this method will be limited by professional technology and tools.
No matter the type or design of the toilet, the siphon type or the direct flush type are currently two types of toilet flush systems in use. If you prefer a quiet toilet and are not prone to odor, the siphon type toilet may be more beneficial. But if you like a toilet that can save water and handle more waste, then the direct flush toilet may be the best choice. You need to weigh and decide which one can better meet your needs.
Now the most important thing people pay attention to when buying toilet is water-saving toilet. One of the easiest ways to save water in the home is to install a toilet with a dual-flush cistern.
Designed for use with wall-hung toilets and back-to-wall toilets, concealed dual-flush cisterns let the user choose how much water to use when flushing the toilet. By using a lower volume of water to flush the toilet, you can dramatically reduce your annual water consumption and contribute to protecting this valuable natural resource.