Today there is no problem with buying modern plumbing fixtures. In supermarkets you can find plumbing fixtures from BelBagno (Italy), Roca (Russia) or Gustavsberg (Sweden), and budget options are presented by the trade brands "Marlin", (China), "Vidima" (Bulgaria) or "Cersanit" (Poland).
All devices have different technical parameters, therefore, preference is given to ease of use, reliability and cost indicators. Even such a prosaic device as a toilet bowl is evaluated primarily for aesthetic and ergonomic indicators.
Modern toilet bowls rather reliable in operation and convenient to use, however, they have one rather "delicate" mechanism that often fails, especially in conditions of modern work of Russian utilities - this is a drain mechanism, which in most compact models is installed in the drain cistern. Malfunctions of its work are usually observed in the form of increased noise, leakage or poor-quality flushing of sewage.
Content:
- Toilet bowl design ↓
- Features of cisterns of compact toilet bowls ↓
- The design of the drain mechanism ↓
- Installation of drainage equipment ↓
- Adjusting the filling valve and drainage mechanism ↓
- Elimination of possible malfunctions ↓
- Cost indicators of drain fittings repair kits ↓
In order to avoid discomfort in life, and to save neighbors from flooding, it is necessary to monitor the quality of work drain fittings, and if the slightest malfunction occurs, either fix it yourself or invite master plumber.
Toilet bowl design
Any design of a compact toilet, regardless of its type, floor-standing or hanging (wall-mounted), consists of three main elements:
- bowls, which are of three types - funnel-shaped, dish-shaped or visor;
- flush cistern with flush mechanism (flush fittings);
- filling valve, which ensures the required level of filling of the tank.
In most designs, fastening the tank to the bowl is carried out using a bolted connection.
In addition, toilets are classified according to the material of manufacture and the method of attachment. Bowls and flushing containers of modern products are made mainly of sanitary porcelain and earthenware, polymer materials and cast iron.
According to the method of fixing, compact toilets are divided into:
- floor - classic, the most common models;
- attached, adjacent to one of the walls of the bathroom;
- suspended (wall)
Features of cisterns of compact toilet bowls
Washing tanks for floor products are installed on an elongated shelf of the bowl and are bolted to it. To seal the junction between the surface of the shelf and the bottom of the tank, a rubber O-ring is installed. A filling valve and a flush mechanism are located inside the tank cavity.
The filling valve or water filling system is designed to fill an empty tank with water and shut off its supply when filling the tank. Most modern designs have float level indicators and diaphragm valves that shut off the fluid supply when the float rises. Piston filling valves are practically not used in models of modern compact toilet bowls.
The drain fittings are designed to open and close the drain hole. Today, the most common push-button water drain systems. They are divided into:
- ordinary, allowing only to open the drain hole;
- adjustable, in which the flow rate of the liquid when flushing the sewage is regulated;
- two-button (two-mode), providing two modes of draining.
The last two categories of flush fittings make it possible to organize a more economical water consumption.
The design of the drain mechanism
Today there are quite a few modifications of fittings for draining water. In most cases, it is done by lifting a special rod, pressing a button, or turning a lever. The latest models have special designs that provide more economical fluid consumption.
The most common two-button systems, in which the complete emptying of the tank is carried out by pressing one button, and the second serves for half emptying. In addition, almost all designs of drain tanks are equipped with an overflow system, which bypasses an excess amount of water through a special hole into the toilet bowl.
Overflow is insurance against overfilling and flooding of the toilet room and is only necessary in the event of improper adjustment or failure of the filling valve.
The main structural elements of the drainage mechanism are:
- drive buttons, lever or stem;
- drain siphon designed to seal the drain hole.
Siphon designs are available in various designs. The simplest is the valve, which is a rubber hemisphere (pear). When the rod is raised, the pear rises and opens the drain hole, so that water flows into the cavity of the toilet bowl.
Modern designs have an adjustment mechanism that allows you to adjust the fluid flow. Despite the improvement of the latest models of drain fittings, they all have almost the same principle of operation.
Installation of drainage equipment
Usually, when replacing the tank, the drain mechanism and the filling valve are already installed in its body. In this case, the installation of the drainage equipment is carried out in three operations:
- the cistern is fixed on the toilet bowl shelf;
- the water inlet system is connected to the water main;
- all the necessary procedures are carried out to adjust the drain and filling fittings.
All work is carried out after toilet installation to a permanent place and connect it to the sewer.
The sequence of operations for installing (assembling) the drain tank is as follows:
- A sealing gasket is installed on the toilet bowl shelf. Recently, self-adhesive gaskets are often included in the installation kit.
- Modern models are fixed on the bowl with special bolts, which are inserted into the container through special conical cuffs inserted into the mounting holes;
- The nuts of the bolted connection are tightened. In this case, special care must be taken - when tightening the bolted connection, the bottom of the container may crack or a piece of the bowl shelf may break off.
- Using a special flexible hose (not included in the kit and purchased separately), the inlet valve connection is connected to the water main.
- Check the tightness of the connection and all elements of the fittings, and, if necessary, carry out its adjustment.
- The last operation is to install the cover and connect the drain valve mechanism to the drive rod or lever.
Adjusting the filling valve and drainage mechanism
Usually, installation and adjustment work does not cause difficulties and can well be done independently. This requires an adjustable (gas) wrench, a set of socket wrenches and screwdrivers. All adjustment work is carried out in accordance with the installation and adjustment instructions for the specific model of the compact toilet.
In the event of a malfunction of the drain mechanism, a repair kit is usually purchased, which is available in plumbing stores or ordered from online stores. In this case, a clear correspondence between the toilet bowl model and the drain fittings must be observed.
Elimination of possible malfunctions
Let's consider the most common faults of the flush cisterns, determine their causes and outline possible remedies:
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A cistern leak when water is continuously drained into the toilet bowl is possible for two reasons:
- wear of the flush valve bulb;
- incorrect adjustment of the filling valve.
In the first case, to eliminate the leakage through the drain hole, it is necessary to either replace the rubber bulb by purchasing a new one, or weight the old one by putting on the drain mechanism stem or several steel nuts or a cast iron plumbing clutch. In the second case, the rocker of the float mechanism is bent, which will allow the valve to close completely at a lower water level in the tank.
- Often, the toilet bowl begins to flush the sewage with poor quality when the tank is completely filled and the pear is open. The reason for this may be clogging outlet. To eliminate it, it is enough to lift the pear, with tweezers or fingers, inspect the hole between the handle and the shelf of the bowl.
- If water leaks at the junction of the bottom of the tank with the toilet shelf, simply replace the gasket. The sequence of work is the same as when installing a new tank.
Cost indicators of drain fittings repair kits
Today, repair kits can be purchased for most domestic models of compact toilet bowls, which are easy to install on your own. Prices depend on the brand and the specific product.
The Russian repair kit "Roca" can be used in the models of toilet bowls "Element", "Meridian", "Dama Senso", "Nexo" and some others. Replacement O-rings, gaskets, mounting bracket and hardware are sold with the drain assembly. The cost of the repair kit is 2.0 thousand rubles.
The Russian installation kit of fittings "Dual choice" will cost 890.0 rubles for the toilet bowl repair.
Repair kit "IDO 64441" designed for toilet bowls "IDO Mosaik" and "Trevi E", including a complete filling and drain mechanisms, costs 6.5 thousand rubles.
