Toilet is one of main bathroom fixture and often overlook during a bathroom remodel. We briefly discussed the difference between one-piece and two-piece toilet in the bathroom remodel blog. We will focus this article discussing the mechanical side of a two pieces toilet and how to solve some common issues.
There are six pieces that make up a two-piece toilet. the toilet flange, water supply, toilet bowl, toilet tank, fill and flush kit, and toilet seat.
Toilet flange connects the toilet to the drain pipe. The flange is important because it prevents leak from the toilet bowl. This is first thing we would check when we notice leaks at the toilet base. The issue is most likely that the toilet flange needs to be replaced.
The water supply line supplies the water required to flush the toilet. The older supply line are often chrome plated and not flexible. Newer supply line are flexible and can be twisted to fit the angle needed. This supply line itself we have rarely seen it leak, most of the leak happen at the connector. This can be caused by the valve or the connector and require further investigation.
The toilet bowl is in our view is one of most robust part in this whole system. Gravity works the magic and push the water down a S trap. Some of the clean water coming behind remains at the bottom of the toilet bowl. It stops bad odours escaping from the drainpipe
The toilet tank is straight forward. It works as a reservoir to maintain the correct amount of water within the system. The modern high efficient toilet (HET) usually reserves 1.28 gallons of water within the tank. Older tanks usually reserve from 1.6 gallons to 3.5 gallons of water in the tank.
Fill and flush kit is the central brain of the toilet system. It’s also the part we have seen leak the most. A modern flush kit looks similar to the image to the right. Older flush kit uses a ballon system. The leak usually happens between the connection between the tank and the bowl. Similar to the supply valve, incorrect installation or prolong usage can cause the connection to leak.
English 
Chinese