Anatomy of a Toilet

The tank lever is the flushing mechanism that starts the toilet flushing process. The toilet handle attaches to the lever arm that is inside the tank. When you press or pull the handle, the lever arm lifts the flapper of the flush valve. This triggers the release of water into the bowl, flushing away the waste.

A flush handle and lever are key to a working toilet, but some wear out faster. Korky tank levers are durable and corrosion-resistant, lasting longer than standard ones.

The flush valve serves as the connection between the tank and the bowl, controlling the flow of water during a flush.

Toilet Flapper

The toilet flapper (sometimes called a float valve) sits on top of the flush valve opening and is one of the most important parts. It prevents water from flowing from the tank when closed and controls the amount of water released with each toilet flush when lifted.

A well-optimized adjustable flapper can reduce water and waste while improving your toilet's performance. According to the EPA, a leaking toilet flapper can waste 200 gallons of water each day. That amounts to 73,000 gallons of excess water each year! You can identify this if you hear your toilet running.

Tank-to-Bowl Gasket

At the bottom of the flush valve, a tank-to-bowl sponge gasket seals the connection between the tank and the bowl. This prevents water from leaking and ensures a proper flush.

Overflow Tube

The overflow tube is the top of the flush valve and has two important jobs. It directs water to the toilet bowl after the flapper closes. It also prevents flooding if the water is rising because of a malfunctioning fill valve.

The fill valve (also called a ballcock) refills fresh water in the tank after each flush. Korky fill valves use an internal float to set the water level. As water leaves the tank, the float drops, opening the valve to let in more water. Once the tank refills to the right level, the float rises and shuts off the valve.

The fill valve also refills the toilet bowl after a flush through the refill tube. This tube connects the top of the fill valve to the overflow tube, ensuring the bowl refills while the tank refills.

A toilet seal prevents leaks between the toilet base and the floor. While wax rings were once common, wax-free gaskets offer a cleaner, easier alternative for new installations. These gaskets create a tight seal, keeping water and sewer gases from escaping into your home.