Do you feel as though the cistern in your toilet is leaking too much? Learn how to replace your toilet cistern yourself by following our straightforward, step-by-step guide!
When you pull the lever to flush your toilet, water is transferred into the bowl by toilet cisterns.
You might want to completely replace your cistern if it suffers damage or leaks due to a plumbing issue. Thankfully, changing a toilet cistern is not difficult. A little elbow grease, an hour of your time, and perhaps a helping hand are all that are required.
Are you interested in learning how to approach this kind of plumbing work? This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the replacement procedure to make it simple and trouble-free. So, stop scrolling!
What you will need
To easily replace a toilet cistern, you can easily acquire the following fundamental tools. Some of these are essential tools that should be in every DIY plumber’s toolbox and will be essential to your plumbing projects.
1. Wrenches
Adjustable wrenches are the preferred tool for a plumber and are an essential component of any plumbing kit. They are extremely useful for removing the cistern and inserting the replacement toilet cistern due to their adaptable jaws, which give them a versatile edge.
2. Plumber’s tape
The plumber’s tape, along with an adjustable wrench, will help you reconnect the replacement cistern to the water inlet pipe. It can be used for more than just tightening joints; It can also aid in the sealing of the pipe and stopping leaks.
3. A new toilet cistern
Naturally, you will need a new toilet cistern to replace the old one. If the new one doesn’t have any flaws or cracks, you won’t have to replace it soon.
How to replace a toilet cistern
Before replacing your cistern, you should first figure out what’s wrong because sometimes repairs are possible or there is another plumbing issue. Is there water in the toilet cistern? Why won’t the toilet flush? Is the toilet still working? Is the toilet obstructed? You can narrow down the cause and decide whether to do it yourself or call a nearby local plumber with the answers to these questions.
It’s time to remove the old toilet cistern and install the new one now that you’ve arranged the tools. The procedure is straightforward and can be completed in a matter of minutes.
The steps for replacing your cistern are listed below.
1. Disable the water inlet
First, turn the stop tap on the side of your cistern to disable the water supply to your water inlet hose. You won’t have to worry about spilling water when you take out the old cistern because of this. It’s also possible to turn off the main supply, but this is usually not necessary.
2. Empty old cistern
Fill the old cistern up by pulling on the flush lever next. To make it easier to lift the cistern, it’s important to empty it completely of all water, especially if it’s made of ceramic. Additionally, spills will be prevented.
3. Remove the antique cistern
In most cases, the water inlet hose and the toilet cistern unit are connected to the wall in two different places. You will need to take out the nuts and bolts that hold the cistern to the wall and the inter pipe in order to remove it.
Grab a reliable wrench and loosen the inlet hose as well as all the nuts and bolts. After that, you can lift it out of the toilet.
4. Place the new cistern
Attach the inlet pipe to the bottom of your new unit and ensure that the joint is properly sealed with plumber tape.
After that, tighten the nuts and bolts and align the cistern with the wall. You might want to check to see that they are securely fastened so that it doesn’t break apart when you use it.
5. Turn on the water supply
After you’ve checked everything, turn on the water supply again and let the new cistern fill up. Once you’ve checked for leaks and flushed the toilet pan a couple of times, you’re done.
When problems arise that cannot be resolved by making repairs or by tightening the pipes, you may need to replace your toilet cistern. Some examples include:
1. Leaks
You may occasionally experience leaks that do not simply stop with seals because of a defect in the inlets of your cistern. They could break out in the cistern or at the joint.
After attempting various sealing methods, if the leak continues unabated, it may be time to upgrade the cistern.
2. Malfunction of the flush mechanism
Is your toilet not flushing as intended? A clog or malfunctioning flushing mechanism could be the cause.
Use baking soda and vinegar to get rid of any clogs in the first case. If this is the case, you might have to get rid of your old toilet cistern units.
3. Runny cistern
If water keeps coming into your toilet bowl from the cistern, the cistern pipe may have broken or come loose. Using a wrench, you can easily tighten the pipe if it becomes loose.
However, some kinds of damage are hard to fix, so they need to be replaced.
4. Reasons for aesthetics
Is your toilet cistern no longer in line with your desired aesthetic? There are a lot of options for toilet cistern replacements on the market that will satisfy your preferences and improve the appearance of your bathroom.
Replace your toilet cistern right now!
You may need to replace your toilet cisterns for a variety of reasons, whether they are aesthetic or functional. DIYing the cistern replacement is not only more convenient but also significantly less expensive than hiring a licensed plumber to do it for you.
When related issues arise, replacing the toilet cistern should always be the last option. Even though it is simple to replace, you should look into other options first to extend the life of your old cistern.
Feel free to get in touch with our Melbourne plumbers if you find yourself in need of immediate assistance with your plumbing while replacing it. Changing the components of a toilet cistern is one of the simplest tasks that our skilled technicians can handle, and J.O. Plumbing has built a solid reputation for providing quick and affordable toilet repairs and replacements. If you’re having trouble solving a plumbing issue, it’s always a good idea to ask for help. We can assist you in quickly resolving your problem thanks to our extensive range of plumbing services!
Check out our blog section if you want more advice on issues with the toilet. From dealing with a sewage backup to fixing a clogged toilet, we have a number of expertly written posts.
