Some of the common household routines we perform throughout the day may seem trivial - so it’s unlikely many people think about how things around the home work. Flushing a toilet is one common example.

For a comprehensive explanation of what happens to wastewater when you flush the toilet, read on:

1. Turning the handle moves the flush valve.
You may have noticed a chain inside the back of your toilet that's attached to the handle. When you turn the handle, it will pull this chain upward and pull the flush valve up as a result. When the flush valve is lifted, it reveals a 2- to 3-inch drain hole.

2. Water is siphoned away.
The hole you see at the bottom of your toilet’s bowl is technically referred to as a siphon jet. Because of the high speed in which the water draining from the tank enters the toilet bowl, it results in a siphon effect for the remaining wastewater. This effect occurs when wastewater is rushed into the siphon hole and then into the siphon tube.

3. Wastewater is transferred.
Once the wastewater in the toiler is flushed, it flows through the sanitary sewer system in your area until it reaches a wastewater treatment facility or a septic system.

4. The refill valve fills the bowl and tank.
Once you let go of the flush handle and the toilet tank has drained, the flush valve should fall back into place to allow the tank to refill. Water from your home's supply lines enters the toilet tank through the refill valve, which simultaneously fills both the toilet bowl and tank.

5. Water levels are regulated with the float ball.
Every toilet tank has a floating device inside that is known as a float ball. As the water level in your toilet tank rises, this float ball rises simultaneously. At a certain point, this float ball will raise high enough to cut off the valve on its own. If this float ball were to ever become detached, this would cause your toilet tank to overflow.

Now that you know how your toilet's flush process works, you may be better able to determine if there's a problem that calls for professional assistance. Whether you're a New York City tri-state area homeowner seeking a NYC plumber or a Chicagoland homeowner seeking a Chicago plumber, Angie's List has you covered with local, trusted consumer reviews.