Do you move to an English city and try to own their people’s lifestyle? If yes, I am probably sure that you are also facing an issue using an English toilet.
Well, worry not! Because dealing with the British toilet is not a big deal. And if you have no idea how to flush the English toilet, continue reading.
Flushing an English toilet is not as hard as its sounds. I must say it’s just a work of 1 to 2 steps. To flush the toilet, pull the handle up and push it down. Once you have flushed the toilet, replace the lid to keep the bathroom clean.
If it’s not enough for you, let’s move on to in-depth an English toilet and learn everything about it.
What Is An English/British Toilet?
If you’ve ever traveled to the UK, you may have noticed that toilets differ from those in the USA. They’re so different that they have their name: English toilets. So what are they are?
Let me tell you that an English/British toilet is a toilet that uses water to flush away waste. This type of toilet comes in two main styles: the high-level toilet and the low-level toilet.
The low-level toilet is also known as a “potty.” It’s a small, round bowl that sits directly on the floor and doesn’t have any seats or covers.
You use it by squatting over it and going to the bathroom. It’s common in many parts of Asia and Africa, but it’s not very common in America or Europe.
British people had popularized the high-level toilet since Victorian times (when Queen Victoria became queen).
These toilets are higher than standard toilets because they are meant to be used by people sitting down rather than squatting over them.
They have seats attached so you can sit down and lean forward without touching anything dirty or unsanitary (like the floor).
This is still a typical toilet style in England today, though many countries worldwide have adopted this style as well—even if they don’t necessarily use English toilets.
How Does An English Toilet Work?
An English toilet uses a series of hoses and pipes to flush human waste into the sewer system. The water used in this process is provided by the customer, who must run a tap at the top of the toilet to fill up a reservoir that holds all the water.
When you flush the toilet, water from this reservoir flows through a series of pipes and hoses connecting to your drainage system.
As it travels down these pipes, it mixes with other wastewater (from showers, sinks, and other sources) before eventually reaching your local sewer system.
How To Flush English Toilet | 3 Pro Methods
Now that you know well about An English toilet and how it works. Now move on to the most common flushing methods related to this type of toilet.
Method # 1: Using a Lever to Flush a Toilet
The first and most common (I will also say most straightforward) method of flushing a British toilet is by using a lever. Flushing an English toilet with a lever is easy, but it has a trick.
- First, you’ll want to make sure the toilet is clean. This is important because if any bits of poop or paper is in there, they could clog up the lever and make it not work. So, clean that bad boy out before you try this.
- Next, get ready to use your hand. You won’t need anything else besides your hand for this, so hold on to it tightly by your side. If you have long hair, tie it back so it doesn’t get wet or tangled in the process (this will happen).
- Now that you’re all set up start flushing! Push down on the lever and keep going until water comes out of your toilet bowl—this is how you know it’s working.
If you find the toilet has a broken lever, there’s no need to panic. Instead, read out my blog, How to Flush a Toilet With a Broken Handle, to flush your toilet anyway.
Method # 2: Using the Chain-Pull
The second method of flushing an English toilet is using a chain, which is also pretty simple.
- First, you’ll want to ensure there’s already water in the bowl. You can do this by pressing down on the handle. If there isn’t any water in the bowl, don’t worry! Just press down on the handle again until it comes back up again.
- Next, grab hold of the chain and pull it towards you. It will take a while for the water to go down, so be patient! You may need to pull a few times before everything has flushed away.
Method # 3: Dual-Flush Toilet Flushing
Okay, so this method only uses if you have a dual-flush toilet. Otherwise, following methods 1 and 2 is a great option.
- To flush a dual-flush toilet, determine which type of flush you need: the full flush or the half flush.
- If you need to use the full flush, press down on the top of the handle to pop it up. This will release water into the bowl. Wait for a few moments, then push down on the handle again to stop the water flow. If you’re done flushing, close off the water supply by turning off the faucet handle or pulling up on it.
- If you need a half-flush, press down on the handle until it reaches its halfway point, and then let go. This will release only a tiny amount of water into your bowl, which should be enough to clear out any debris sitting there without making too much noise or wasting too much water.
Also Read:
How to Flush in Western Toilet
How to Flush American Standard Toilet
Precautions While Flushing An English/British Toilet
As you can see, flushing an English toilet is a pretty straightforward process. It’s all about using the right amount of water and making sure you’re flushing away your waste.
But there are some precautions that I would like to mention that you should know before you start flushing an English toilet:
1. Ensure That Tank’s Lis Locked
Before you start flushing, ensure that your tank’s lid is closed and locked. If it’s not, you’ll risk flooding your bathroom with water.
2. Put Your Hand Over The Handle
When flushing an English/British toilet, always put your hand over the top of the handle. This will prevent foreign objects from falling into your bowl while you flush.
3. Turn Off The Water Supply Valve
The next thing that you want to do is turn off the water supply valve near your toilet. This will prevent any leaks or drips from occurring while you’re flushing.
4. Flush Only Human Waste
Do not flush anything other than human waste down the toilet. If you flush something else down the toilet or have too many visitors who do so, your toilet may back up and flood your bathroom floor or overflow into your home’s plumbing system.
5. Know The Water Tank Concepts
Be aware that the clean water tank is higher than the dirty water tank. This means that if you accidentally flush something down the toilet that should go into the dirty water tank (like a toothbrush).
It will land in your clean water tank, and you will have to pump it out manually.
6. Don’t Flush Big Items
Don’t flush paper towels, tissues, or sanitary products down the toilet. These items can clog your pipes, so it’s best to throw them out in the trash instead.
7. Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals
If you have to use a plunger, make sure it’s not a chemical that contains chemicals like bleach or ammonia.
Because those chemicals could damage your toilet bowl and cause other problems later on down the road!
8. Use Cold Water For Flushing
Use cold water only when flushing—hot water will increase wear on your plumbing system over time because of its corrosive nature (not to mention how uncomfortable it would be if someone had to sit down on one of those seats while they were still hot!).
Conclusion
In the end, I hope that after reading this article, all of your doubts will be related to how to flush the English toilet. Always follow the precautions and tips for flushing toilets to save yourself from embarrassment or harm.