How to remove a cistern from a toilet: what are the cisterns, removing and disassembling the cistern

The cistern is the most fragile and damaged part of the entire toilet bowl structure. Experts believe that almost eighty percent of all malfunctions lie in this element. To replace the cistern, you will need to completely dismantle it.

The device of the drain tank, regardless of the type, is quite simple. But without knowing its intricacies, replacing it can be a daunting task.

What are the flush cisterns

Knowing the specification will allow you to choose the right model. All cisterns can be divided into groups according to various criteria.

According to the location of the toilet cistern, the following varieties are distinguished:

1. Monoblock - the tank and the toilet bowl form a single whole. It is impossible to replace the upper part without changing the entire toilet.
instagram viewer
2. Separate - the tank and the toilet bowl are independent from each other.

By the type of attachment there are:

• mounted models;
• attached models;
• built-in models.

The type of drainage mechanism can be:

• pneumatic;
• lever;
• push-button;
• stock.

For filling and discharging water:

• float - have a valve made in the form of a piston or membrane;
• the side ones are equipped with an automatic camera that looks like a glass.

Tank design

As previously mentioned, all tanks have the same structure - the differences are solely in design features. How does the drain tank work?

Any cistern is, first of all, a container for water. It can be made of ceramics, plastic or metal. The shape of the tank can be very diverse, and from above it is supplied with a lid, which is made of the material used for the production of the tank itself.The water is drained by a button, handle or lever. They are connected to a drain mechanism.

The main thing inside any tank is: fittings, float, siphon, diaphragm and a lever for adjusting the jet.

It doesn't matter what kind of mechanism is installed inside, it consists of two parts. This is a drain and a locking part. Locking allows water to fill the tank. It shuts off the water when it is completely full. The drain part, comes into effect after the drain button is pressed.

Any toilet tank has a standby mode. When it is in this mode, water fills the tank until it reaches the required limit. The weight of the water begins to press on the rubber pear, and that, in turn, blocks the water.

In order to discharge the water, you must press the button. Here options are possible - depending on the design features of the tank. When the flush mechanism is activated, the hole opens and, without an obstruction, water rushes into the toilet.

Removing and disassembling the drain tank

A control system that monitors the intake and level of water is available in each tank. In modern toilets, mechanisms are installed that are rather complicated in their design.

In new homes, there are not only new models, but also old ones. They can be disassembled right on the spot without removing the tank. But you can also dismantle it. Which option is optimal depends on various factors.

As a rule, dismantling is necessary in order to completely replace the tank, along with the entire mechanism, with a more advanced model.

Reference! The drive only needs to be removed if there is a leak in the places where it is connected to the toilet. If the gaskets are worn out, the fastening bolts have broken off, and cracks have appeared.

Removing the water reservoir

Usually, the toilet cistern is secured with two studs or bolts, the diameter of which is from five to seven millimeters. Metal studs are used for fastening. It can be bronze, brass, steel.

Steel is used on older types of tanks. Steel products are relatively short-lived. It happens that a year after the purchase, such fasteners are eaten through by rust.

There are two mounting holes that are made in the bottom of the tank. There are also a couple of holes on the rear shelf of the device.

Studs are threaded through the holes, on which the gaskets are put on, after which they are tightened with nuts. The tank and the toilet are connected by a pipe that is insulated at the junction.

The tank removal process has the following sequence:

1. It is necessary to stop the flow of water.
2. Unscrew the water supply hose.
3. Empty the tank.
4. Unscrew the release button and remove the cover.
5. Wipe the tank dry.
6. Unscrew the nuts that hold the studs under the shelf.

It remains to raise the tank so that it moves away from its seats, but also to move it to where it will be convenient to work.

Now you need to understand how to disassemble the flush mechanism, because it is available in all models of toilet bowls equipped with a flush system.

Dismantling the drain mechanism

All mid-range devices usually have a dual button system. Pressing any button starts the operation of the drain and collection unit. There are a wide variety of modifications of these devices.

But they all have the same build scheme:

• there is a head with buttons and a thread for the valve mechanism;
• threaded valve;
• rubber gasket;
• nut for fastening.

The head is removed before removing the cover. Then you need to remove the gasket, which is located on the fastening nut. The spacer can be pentagon-shaped in its inner part, or it can be circular.

As a rule, the fastening nut has the same shape. The gasket is removed, the nut is unscrewed. Once the mechanism is released, it can be easily removed. The filling system can be removed in the same way.

The armature is made of plastic. The device can be disassembled if desired, but it is much easier to buy a new one.

Removing the tank lid

If you go back to modern models of toilet bowls, you will notice that the question of removing the lid often arises.

In modern designs, everything is arranged somewhat differently than in older models. But, in general, the system has remained unchanged - the cover is pressed by a nut that enters the valve mechanism.

In modern toilets, the pressure nut has been replaced by a head with buttons.

To remove the cover with one button, you must:

• hold down the button and hold it;
• turn the head with the button clockwise;
• unscrew it from the bushing of the valve mechanism.

Devices with two buttons are more difficult to remove.

Dismantling the tank with a double button

In tanks where there is a double button system, different mounting methods are often used. In this case, simple unscrewing of the head is not possible.

It should be disassembled in the following steps:

1. We press the small button into the body.
2. On the inner wall, which opened when pressed, we find a groove.
3. We squeeze out the retainer in this groove.
4. We extract the large button, followed by the small one.
5. We unscrew the fixing screw.

The cover can now be easily removed.

Removing the old toilet cistern

Oddly enough, but in many apartments there are still "ancient" toilets. They require repair only when the parts wear out. There are no special questions when it is necessary to remove and repair the tank. The design is very simple.

To remove the cover, you just need to unscrew the handle of the drain stem, and then unscrew the nut.

The inside of the tank has a float mechanism, which is responsible for the collection of water, and the actual drain mechanism. At the bottom of the tank there are two holes through which the valve is attached.

The tank in the toilets of outdated models is removed no more difficult than in modern devices. Two bolts at the bottom are simply unscrewed.