Both a toilet flush valve and a urinal flush valve are vital to the function of a commercial lavatory.
Without them, restrooms around the world wouldn’t work very effectively. Over time, this technology has come a long way. In an effort to improve sanitation and reduce water consumption, urinals and toilets are now made with sophisticated parts and systems.
While we’re all familiar with urinals and toilets, do you know how they work?
In this post, we’ll discuss how a urinal flush valve differs from a toilet flush valve, including where you can find the leading lavatory equipment in the industry.
How a Urinal Works
How a urinal flushes depends on what application is used. In an exposed cistern urinal system, the cistern is wall-mounted, typically towards the ceiling of the restroom. Sparge pipes will then extend from the bottom of the unit, so these are also wall-mounted and visible.
In a concealed cistern urinal, the cistern is hidden from view, typically behind wall panels or wall cladding. In these systems, the sparge pipes are also hidden from view.
- Spreaders – In a public restroom, a urinal also needs spreaders to work effectively. These connect to the flush pipes to ensure no water leaks out of the system. They’re crafted to spread the flushed water to both sides of the bowl, which leads to an effective clean.
Urinal Flushing
There are three different ways to flush waste in a urinal, which include:
- A direct main water fed flush
- Cistern flushing
- Waterless urinal system (no flushing)
Not sure what option works best for you? Take a look at how these mechanisms work:
Main Water Flushing – The majority of urinals are suitable to use a mains flush system. This is a straightforward application that only requires the urinal bowl, bowl brackets, and grid waste.
Cistern Flushing – Another common flushing method involves a cistern flush. These urinal cisterns typically come in plastic, and they’re usually installed behind wall cladding. The system flushes thanks to an auto-siphon that releases stored water down into the sparge pipes. This will cause the urinal to flush once the water reaches a certain level.
Hydraulic Valve Flushing – A hydraulic valve flushing system is installed in line with the water supply inlet pipe into the cistern. The valve works by sensing a temporary drop in pressure in the water supply. When this pressure drop occurs, the valve will release water into the cistern.
How a Toilet Flushes
The standard toilet flushing system has been around for quite some time, although there have been some significant advancements over the years. Let’s take a look at how a toilet flush valve works:
- A toilet flush valve consists of a plastic or brass fitting found at the bottom of the cistern tank. The system works with the help of a rubber or neoprene flapper. This piece is found at the valve opening, helping to keep water in the tank until a flush is needed.
- Once the user presses down the handle, a chain connected to the handle lifts up the flapper. This allows water to move from the cistern tank to the toilet bowl. When all the water leaves the tank, the flapper falls back into its normal position. This allows water to fill back into the tank, preparing for the next flush.
- Another important piece of the system is the vertical overflow tube. This tube extends from the bottom of the flush valve and up into the tank. The role of this device is to prevent water from overflowing the system. This equipment also allows clean water to flow back into the toilet bowl as the tank refills. A refill tube located near the overflow tube is what brings most of the water back into the bowl after a flush.
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