The design of the toilet cistern is not a very complicated device. For its repair, you can, of course, turn to specialists. But it is better and cheaper, if you have the skills to work with the tool, to do the repair yourself. It won't be too difficult.
The device and principles of operation of the drain tank
The toilet cistern flush mechanism is divided according to the type of flushing. There are models in which, when a lever is raised or a button is pressed, all the water descends into the toilet bowl, flushing sewage into the sewer. In more modern models, an economical drain is thought out. That is, there are two buttons - when you press one, the tank is completely emptied, when you press the other, part of the water goes down.
Despite this, the insides of any type of cistern are almost the same.
The siphon for the drain tank consists of several levers, a pear, a float, valves, a button and gaskets. The drain in the toilet works on the principle of a hydraulic shutter.
Water, filling the tank, pushes the float, and it gives a "signal" to the shut-off valve to shut off the water supply. When the user presses the button, the drain cock opens and the water drains. This is how the drain happens.
Drain tank does not hold water. What to do? Focus on the four main elements of the drain system: valve, overflow, drain lever and faucet.
Float tap (or valve) - a part connected by a fitting to the inlet hose. A locking unit is attached to it, which is controlled by a float. If the tank is empty, the float pulls down the stopper of the float valve and the fitting opens. The float floats when the tank is full and closes the fitting.
The release valve is a special hatch fixed on a hinge. It closes the drain hole. When the hatch is closed, the float valve opens and the tank begins to fill. When it is open, the water flows into the toilet.
Overflow - a hollow column, directly connected to the toilet hole. The main function of this element is to protect the cistern from overflow.
Drain lever - a system that controls the water drain valve. Its main element is a holder with a rocker, which is attached to the valve (hatch) at one end. The user presses on a button that presses on the loose end of the rocker, opening the hatch. When the button is released, the rocker and sunroof return to their place.
The drain tank with a lower water supply has a slightly different structure, but the elements that need to be replaced or repaired are the same ason the cistern with side inlet.
Preparatory work
Pliers, work gloves (preferably rubber), wire cutters and spare parts may be needed for repairs to the cistern.
Before repair work, you need to turn off the tap at the entrance to the tank.
Most modern toilets have a flush button built into the lid. Naturally, before removing the cover, you need to disconnect the button and the decorative ring. After disconnecting the push-button mechanism, the ring is removed (it is easy to pry off with any sharp object). If the tank is fixed with fasteners, they are dismantled.
In the case of a two-button flush system, the buttons are pressed alternately and scrolled until disconnected.
Please note that the reservoir cap is not considered a spare part and is not sold separately. Therefore, it must be handled with extreme care.
Flush tank leaking: possible causes
It often happens that the water in the tank does not hold and constantly flows into the toilet. This happens most often due to poor-quality siphon or other fittings, depressurization of the plastic parts of the siphon, or loss of pear elasticity. There may be several main reasons. Here are some of them:
- petal or pear does not fit tightly;
- the operation of the ball valve of the tank is not adjusted;
- connection of ball valve and hose is not tight;
- The connection between the toilet seat and the cistern is not hermetically sealed.
So the cistern doesn't hold water, whichmake? Let's try to figure it out.
You need to start with a visual inspection of the fittings and siphon for chips, cracks and other noticeable damage.
Diaphragm broken
Most often, water leaks in the toilet due to a malfunction of the membrane. It is beyond repair. Therefore, it needs to be replaced.
For this purpose, having removed the tank cover, you need to place the crossbar on its walls and fix the float lever on it. Next, the locknuts that connect the tank to the flush pipe are dismantled. Then it becomes possible to disconnect the siphon from the float arm and replace the membrane.
The pear has lost its elasticity
If the drain tank does not hold water, what should I do? Be sure to check the elasticity of the pear. The manufacturer warns that its work is short-lived, since rubber cannot maintain elasticity for a long time. After a while, it becomes stiff and does not hold a tight connection with the saddle, as a result of which water begins to seep. The solution to the problem is to replace it with a new one.
If the deformation of the pear is insignificant, you can use the advice of specialists. Temporarily (until replacement) make it heavier by putting a few stainless nuts on the axle holding it.
The saddle should hold the bag tightly. But during operation, plaque may form on it or corrosion appears, and the pear no longer fits snugly. As a result, water finds a way out.
You can fix it as follows. Remove the bulb and thoroughly clean the seat. Canuse fine sandpaper. When assembling, pay special attention to fasteners and nuts.
The reason for the unfitness of the bolts holding the saddle
If it is for this reason that the drain tank does not hold water, the repair is carried out according to the following scheme. First, the water is completely removed. Then, between the flexible hose and the float valve, the union nut is unscrewed, behind it the bolts that fasten the toilet bowl to the tank are dismantled. Further, slightly bending the tank, release the corrugation connecting it to the toilet.
Now the bolts are dismantled: both are required, even if one has become unusable. New ones (brass or stainless steel) are mounted in their place. You need to tighten it carefully, without applying much effort and avoiding shifts and distortions. Now you can assemble the structure and use it.
Stop valve malfunctioned
Detecting this breakdown is not difficult. The valve must be pressed by hand. Ideally, the water should stop seeping through. If it continues to leak, then the valve is faulty. The solution to the problem is to replace the valve.
You can do it yourself as follows.
Empty the tank. Carefully remove the cover, having previously dismantled the button. Next, move the float arm along with the float (if they are not one-piece construction). You can now roll up the hose adapter and disconnect the plumbing and external fitting.
Next, the nut inside the tank is loosened, pressing the tap (valve). Then the outer nut is twisted, which fixes the valve body inside the tank. Now the broken part is easily dismantled and placedreplacement (an internal nut must first be screwed onto its fitting). Screw on the outer nut, pressing the hidden one. Then connect the water hose and turn on the water.
What else to look for if the drain tank does not hold water? Perhaps the reason is the deviation of the release button height adjuster. The displacement of the valve relative to the outlet hole leads to a stable leakage of water. To solve this problem, you need to adjust the height of the valve in accordance with the instructions supplied with the siphon.
If the problem persists, this part of the drain mechanism will have to be completely replaced.
The tank fills with water non-stop
The malfunction is that the float lever has shifted or warped. The fix is quite simple: lower it below the incoming water pipe (not lower than 2.5 cm). And thoroughly fix all fasteners.
If the float in the drain tank is on a plastic lever, then adjust it by tightening or loosening the screw. Or, on some models, adjustment is done with a plastic ratchet.
If adjusting it didn't solve the problem, you need to inspect the pin that holds the float lever. She may have broken. In this case, it can be replaced with a piece of wire (preferably copper, steel will rust) of identical thickness.
The hole in the plastic valve that the pin enters is also subject to wear. In the process of work, for example, it can become oval. This damage is beyond repair. Plumbers advise to remove the valve,to present at the store and buy an identical one.
Perhaps because of the float, the drain tank does not hold water. How to repair it? If it has become heavier due to the water accumulated in it, it must be drained, dried and the cracks or crevices that have appeared should be treated with a sealant. After repair, the part is put in place. This is a temporary fix. Ideally, the float should be replaced.
Trigger problems
The most common trigger failure is an unadjusted overflow. In the case when its tube is installed low, and the float allows you to draw water above this level, you can fix the problem by simply adjusting the tank filling level.
So the cistern doesn't hold water. What to do? The scheme is simple. It is necessary to lift the overflow tube (it easily pulls up). Further, two scenarios are possible.
First. If the water stops flowing, but leaves through the overflow tube, then we raise the tube, and the problem is solved. And the second. If the overflow tube is at the maximum level (which threatens to overflow water), then lower the float slightly.
