HOW TO OVERHAUL AN EXISTING TOILET CISTERN
With regular use, your toilet can go through Litres of water every day, putting stress on the its components like the rubber seals, copper pipes, porcelain bowl, and cistern. Although toilets generally have a long lifespan, some indicators will tell you that it may be time to make a change. A regular toilet has a life expectancy of 20 to 30 years, but some toilets have been known to keep working until they are past 70!
Extending the life of your toilet is possible with gentle use and proper maintenance. Another way to get more mile out of your toilet is to overhaul the existing toilet cistern. Repairing a leaky toilet cistern is a common plumbing fix. Here are some important things to keep in mind when you are considering overhauling your existing toilet cistern.
STEPS TO OVERHAUL YOUR TOILET CISTERN
Cut the water supply to the toilet by turning off the water valve that usually runs from the floor or the base of the wall at the back of the cistern. Drain the remaining water from the bowl and the cistern by flushing. Then, use a towel or a sponge to get rid of any remaining water. Take out the lid and use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts on the bolts that attach the cistern to the bowl.
Place the rubber gasket into the opening at the bottom of the new cistern. A few manufacturers will have already set this gasket during production. Lay the new cistern in place, making sure to align the mounting holes in the cistern with the holes in the bowl. Place the rubber washer over every mounting bolt and slip these into the cistern from the inside. The rubber washer should be placed inside the tank, while the metal washer and nut are set at the end of the bolt. Lodge the metal washer over the end of the bolts from the back of the bowl, and then secure the nuts onto the bolts.
Use a screwdriver into the bolt from within the toilet and keep the nut in place using an adjustable wrench. Use the screwdriver to tighten the bolt. Make sure that you do not over-tighten because you could crack the bowl or your new cistern. You can now turn on your water supply. Flush the toilet to fill the cistern and the bowl, and to check if there are any leaks.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PLUMBER
Although there will be times that a Do It Yourself repair is tempting, there could be larger issues that are not quickly noticeable. Unless you are a licensed plumber with extensive plumbing knowledge, you’ll be leaving a lot up to guesswork when you opt to overhaul a cistern on your own. It is always advisable to ask an experienced plumbing company like Active Plumbing to assist you out. By law these jobs need to be done by a qualified plumbing technician, Don’t Risk it use an accredited Plumber.
