Choosing A Siphon Versus A Flapper Type Flush Mechanism For Your Toilet.
From the outside, it looks like toilets can be flushed with a lever, with a button, with a two pieced lever or a two pieced button.
And if you have good powers of observation, you might notice that with some toilets the flush ends as soon as you release the lever, and with some toilets it doesn’t. On the inside, however, there are two different types of mechanisms for opening and closing the flush tube, and initiating the flush. In this article I will be exploring what this all means to the consumer. The best way to understand the siphon flush mechanism is to visit this web site and examine the pictures. (http://www.practicaldiy.com/plumbing/cistern_syphon/cisterns_syphon.php ).
As you can see, when a flush is initiated, by pushing down on the toilet handle, a plastic diaphragm lifts up and raises the water level in an inverted U shaped tube, causing the water in the tube to flow over the edge and down the other arm of the tube. That second arm is attached to the flush tube. As the water flows down the flush tube, it draws the rest of the water in the toilet water tank, (cistern), with it by a syphonic action, until air enters the tube, and breaks the water flow. In contrast to the cistern mechanism, the flapper toilet releases water into the flush tube when anyone depresses the toilet lever, which pulls on a chain and raises the flap valve. While the flapper is lifted up, water rushes into the outlet tube and initiates the flush.
If you are considering replacing your current toilet flush mechanism, you might wonder what about the pros and cons of each type of flush mechanism. Here’s what people say: The flapper type valve has several advantages: 1) You can adjust the amount of water per flush, by releasing the handle earlier; 2) You get greater speed of flush as the water flows directly into the flush tube without first traveling around the U shaped tube of the siphon toilet. 3) You can flush the toilet with less effort than with the siphon mechanism 4) The flapper makes less noise when it flushes than the siphon, which has a characteristic sucking sound, as air enters the siphon tube, at the end of the flush. The advantages of the flapper value,
are: the amount of water per flush can be adjusted by releasing the handle earlier; the valve has greater speed of flush, because the water directly runs out the flush tube and needn’t travel around an inverted U shaped tube,(However, this may be a disadvantage in terms of effectiveness in cleaning the bowl contents); it is easier to flush, as one just pulls up on a light chain or push a button, as opposed to a siphon toilet, which requires a harder press to initiate the flush; there is no scale buildup as there might be with the siphon flush mechanism; flappers provide a quieter flush than the siphon mechanism which produces the well known sucking sound.
The main disadvantage of the flapper is that in time it will deteriorate and stiffen and then fail to sit properly on its seat at the base of the cistern. When this happens, the toilet will develop a dribble. You then have to call the plumber and have the flapper replaced. The other disadvantage of the Fluidmaster button-activated flapper mechanism is the poor leverage. Plumbers complain that you have to push hard on the button to initiate the flush.
The main advantage of the siphon toilet is that it doesn’t leak. If the diaphragm cracks or wears out, it simply won’t be able to pull water over the top of the “U” and initiate the flush. By the same token, no water will be leaking out of the flush tube.
If your flush action in your toilet has gone bad, and you need to replace or repair your current siphon diaphragm or flapper, then you might want to talk with your plumber, and decide whether it’s a good time to switch to the other flush mechanism. If you happen to live in the Greater Baltimore Area, give A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore a call. They will radio dispatch a licensed plumber to come to your house and assist you with your toilet repair.
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