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Jeff's experience designing content solutions led him to be one of our first contributors. He helped draft Makey's blueprint and is one of the best explainers of technical details we know.
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If you’re like most people, you’ll probably use a flapper flush valve around 1800 times per year, exactly the same amount of times you’ll flush a toilet. Yet, there is a good chance you’ve never even heard of it.
The flush valve on a toilet is typically a plastic or brass fixture that attaches to the outlet at the bottom of the tank. It is part of the flushing mechanism, which consists of a flush valve seat, a rubber or plastic flapper or ball, and an overflow tube; and, is attached to the flush lever and toilet (flush) handle by a metal chain or lift wire. The flapper (or ball) covers the outlet and sits tightly against the seat. The flapper is held in place by water pressure when the tank is full and is lifted to empty the water from the tank when the toilet handle is pressed. As the water empties, the flush valve returns to its closed position, allowing the tank to refill with water.
For the most part, a flush valve is not that mechanically difficult and there are only a couple of things to look for when there is a problem: