Blow-out Water Closet
A water closet bowl having a non-siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl, and integral flushing rim and jet.
Close-Couple
Describes a toilet with a separate tank and bowl, secured to each other, and with a separate tank cover. Also referred to as a two-piece toilet.
Dam
The barrier built into the trapway of a toilet that controls the water level in the toilet bowl Flapper
Also known as flush ball, the flapper is the moving part of the flush valve that seals the water into the tank or allows water to exit the tank for the flush cycle. This is the predominant replacement part used on conventional toilets. Flushing Surface
The interior surface of the bowl, and all other surfaces which may come into contact with water during flushing. Flushometer Valve
The valve located at the bottom of a gravity-operated toilet flush tank, which opens when the trip lever is actuated, and closes when the tank has drained to the desired level. Usually contains an overflow tube as well. Gravity Operated Toilet
A toilet which relies on the natural downward pressure (or "head") of water in a toilet tank to flush the toilet effectively. Jet
An orifice or other feature of a toilet that is designed to direct water into the trapway quickly, to start the siphon action. One-Piece Toilet
A toilet in which the tank and bowl are manufactured as a single vitreous china fixture. Typically, one-piece toilets have a lower profile than two-piece toilets. Peacekeeper™
Kohler is patented, factory-installed, battery-powered, seat-actuated flushing system, which initiates the flush cycle when the user simply lowers the seat lid.
Pressure-Clean™
Kohler is Trademarked trade name for Kohler-designed and manufactured 1.6 gpf flushometer tank system. Priming Jet
Opening in bowl through which tank-supplied water flows, designed to propel waste up into the trapway. Refill Tube
On most toilets, a refill tube directs water from the ballcock into the overflow tube to refill the bowl after the siphon break. Rim Holes
A series of small holes, in the underside of a toilet rim, around the circumference of the bowl. Incoming water flows down into the bowl through these holes, creating a rinse effect, or "rim wash" over the entire inner surface of the bowl. Rough-In Dimensions
The distance from a finished wall or floor to the center of the waste or supply opening or mounting holes on a plumbing fixture. Supply Stop
The valve providing on/off toilet water supply control. Tank
The fixture reservoir for flush water. On a conventional toilet, the ballcock, flush valve and trip lever are installed in the tank. A tank lid closes the top tank opening. Trap Seal
The height of water in a toilet bowl "at rest, it provides a water seal which prevents sewer gases from entering the home. Trap seal is measured from the top of the dam, down to the inlet of the trapway. Also referred to as deep seal. Trapway
In a toilet, the channel that connects the bowl to the waste outlet. The trapway is where siphonic action takes place. The trapway is measured in terms of the largest diameter ball which can pass through it. Also referred to as passageway. Trip Lever
Any non-vitreous china toilet components, except the seat. Examples include ballcock, bolt caps, and trip lever. Trip Lever
Handle which is rotated to initiate the toilet flush cycle. Kohler factory-installed trip levers have a polished chrome finish; optional trim kits offer trip levers in other finishes. Toilets equipped with Peacekeeper seat-actuated flush do not have a trip lever. Two-Piece Toilet
A toilet with a separate tank and bowl. Also referred to as close-coupled. Washdown Water Closet
A water closet having a siphon trapway at the front of the bowl, and integral flushing rim. Minimum dimensions are 8" x 7" water spot, and 1 1/2" ball pass. Water Closet
A plumbing fixture having a water-containing receptor which receives liquid and solid body waste and, upon actuation (flushing), conveys the waste through a trapway into a gravity drainage system. | Bow
Water-containing receptor which receives liquid and solid body waste; two general bowl classifications are round front and elongated.
Cycle Time
The time beginning at the instant a toilet flush lever is actuated, until the instant the water supply shuts off, completing the flush cycle.
Elongated Bowl
Toilet bowl having dimensions of 14" wide by 18 1/2" long (from center of seat hinge holes to front outside rim edge).
Float Ball
The floating ball connected to the ballcock inside the tank, which rises or falls with changing water levels in the tank, and actuates or shuts off the ballcock as needed. Flushometer Tank System
Toilet flushing system which utilizes supply water pressure to compress water to provide a pressurized flush (versus a gravity flush). Glaze
Glossy, water-resistant, colored finish surface on vitreous china plumbing fixtures.
GPF
Abbreviation for "gallons per flush", used in discussing water consumption for toilets. Insuliner®
Kohler's Registered trade name for factory-installed tank insulation, which minimizes
condensation on the outside of the tank (also known as tank sweating) when exposed to high humidity. Low Consumption Toilet
A classification of toilet designed to flush using 1.6 or less gallons of water, as opposed to 3.5 gallon "Water-Saving" toilets, and other higher-consumption toilets. Overflow Tube
The vertical tube inside a toilet tank (usually part of the flush valve), which directs water into the bowl in case the ballcock malfunctions. If the ballcock does not shut off properly, water will drain through the overflow tube into the bowl, and flow harmlessly over the dam and out the drain. This prevents potential water damage caused by the tank overflowing, and indicates to the user that there is a problem by a "constant running" condition.
On most toilets, the overflow tube also has a refill tube flowing into it. The refill line directs water from the ballcock through the overflow tube, to the bowl, after the siphon break. Reverse-Trap Water Closet
A water closet having a siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl, and integral flushing rim and jet. Minimum dimensions are 9" x 8" water spot, and 1 1/2" ball pass. Round Front Bowl
Toilet bowl having dimensions of 14" wide by 16 1/2" long (from center of seat hinge holes to front outside rim edge). Siphoning
The suction or pulling effect that takes place in the trapway of a toilet as it is filled with outgoing water and waste. An effective siphon is critical to an effective flush for any toilet. Siphon Break
The point in a toilet flush when air is re-introduced into the trapway, "breaking" the siphonic action. The siphon break is usually heard as a deep gurgling at the conclusion of a flush. Siphon-jet Water Closet
A water closet having a siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl, and integral flushing rim and jet. Siphon-Vortex Closet
A water closet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl, integral flushing rim and a water supply system with or without a jet, which does not feed directly into the trap. Siphon Wash Closet
A water closet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl and integral flushing rim. Minimum dimensions are 5" x 4" water spot, and 1 1/2" ball pass. ULF
"Ultra Low Flush", a widely used descriptor for 1.6 gpf (or less) low consumption toilets. Urinal
A plumbing fixture which receives only liquid body waste and conveys the waste through a trap seal into a gravity drainage system. Vitreous China
As applied to plumbing fixtures, compounded of ceramic materials fired at high temperature to form a nonporous body with exposed surfaces coated with ceramic glaze fused to the body. Water-Saving Toilet
A classification of toilet which uses no more than 3.5 gallons and no less than 1.6 gallons per flush. Water Spot
The water surface in the toilet bowl once the flush is completed. This is established by the height of the integral trapway dam. Usually expressed in inches of width by length. For example, the K-3490 Portrait Lite has a 9" x 8" water spot. Also referred to as water surface. |
