Home Fieldbook Get the fieldbook
Fixtures · Chapter 12

Toilets

A china bowl, a tank of moving parts and a sealed connection to the drain. Six spreads cover how it works, what to buy, what code asks and what goes wrong.

IRC P2705.1ADA 2010 §604NKBA bath guidelinesEPA WaterSense
1 of 6Next: Types →
12.1

What makes a toilet?

Every part below can be bought on its own. Knowing their names is the difference between a $12 repair and a new toilet.

The bowl lasts a lifetime. The guts inside the tank don't.
12″ ROUGH-IN10″ + 14″ ALSO EXISTTANK LIDHeavy china. Lift it with two hands.FLUSH LEVEROr a button. The chain wants a little slack.FILL VALVERefills the tank. Hisses when it wears out.OVERFLOW + FLUSH VALVEExtra water spills into the bowl, not the floor.FLAPPERA slow leak causes the “phantom flush”.TANK-TO-BOWL GASKETTwo-piece only. Snug the bolts; never crank.SEAT + LIDRound or elongated, matched to the bowl.RIM + JETSWash the bowl. Hard-water scale clogs them.BOWLVitreous china. Lasts decades unless cracked.TRAPWAYThe built-in S-bend that holds a water seal.WAX RINGOr a foam seal. New one every time it’s lifted.CLOSET BOLTSHold the bowl down to the flange.CLOSET FLANGEBelongs on top of the finished floor.SUPPLY STOPquarter-turn,braided line3″ DRAINto stack + ventFINISHEDWALL 12″ ROUGH-IN10″ + 14″ ALSO EXIST123456789101112131415
FIG. 12.1 · TWO-PIECE TOILET, EXPLODED SIDE VIEW
Continue reading

Unlock the full fieldbook

The rest of Toilets: 5 more spreads, 35 drawings and 26 code citations, plus every other chapter, is part of the full fieldbook.

  1. 12.2Which toilet works for you?9 drawings
  2. 12.3Toilet dimensions you should know9 drawings
  3. 12.4What's behind the wall?6 drawings
  4. 12.5Rental, home or premium?3 drawings
  5. 12.6Common mistakes, and how to avoid them8 drawings
Get the full fieldbook · $99 founding priceRead a free chapter

One payment, lifetime access. Kitchen, Bathroom and Stairs are free to read.