Toilet cistern device

Tags:Bathroom and toilet, Plumbing

HDespite the wide variety of design solutions, the main element of the toilet - the cistern - has remained unchanged for one hundred and fifty years. Its main function is to provide an intense flow of water, which ensures a quick flush and forms a plug of clean water that traps odors. All this makes the most important element of the toilet cistern, the device and the design of which depends on the configuration of the toilet and the design of the toilet room.

Modern flush cisterns can simulate a wide variety of materials

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1 Modern flush cisterns
2 The device and principle of operation of the drain system
- 2.1 Shut-off and drain fittings
- 2.2 Systems with two buttons
3 Advantages and disadvantages of various types of tanks
4 Choosing a tank
5 Video: toilet cistern device

Modern flush cisterns

Despite all its simplicity, the cistern remains the most important plumbing element. Its task is to hold the required amount of water and drain it in accordance with the specified parameters. Externally, the cistern is a small container installed above the toilet and equipped with a button. In order to ensure the accumulation of water and forced flushing, drain fittings are used - a system of valves and levers. A toilet cistern, the device and functions of which do not differ between different models - it is not only a tank, it is a simple and reliable system that will work flawlessly only if it is correctly installed.

If the flushing system in all cisterns is the same, then their design, appearance and placement methods can vary greatly.

Hi-Tech style toilet and cistern

Separated

The tanks are not supplied with any pumping systems; the water is drained by gravity. This means that the flow rate depends on two things - the height of the water column and the volume of the tank. The first models of toilets were installed in pre-revolutionary houses, where the water supply and sewerage systems were far from perfect. Residents could not afford to drain a large volume of water due to the need to save money, however, for a high-quality flushing, the water flow had to be quite intense.

Separate systems that were installed in Stalinist houses

The solution to the problem was a design that is sometimes found today.A small drain tank is suspended at a height of a person's height or higher, connected to a water pipe. The cistern for the toilet, the device of which implies the upper placement, is supplied with a long cord. In modern washrooms, this design cannot always be installed for technological reasons, but in retrointeriors these models look amazing. A huge plus of these tanks is a high-quality flush with a small amount of water. The disadvantage is the increased noise, in addition, retro models are rare designer items that are expensive.

Modern variations of separate cisterns

Compact

A convenient, familiar and very functional way of installing the cistern is directly on the toilet. Such a container is attached using bolts, and a gasket is installed between the two faience parts. This design is easy to use and maintain. The maximum height of the flush tank button is less than one meter, so both a child and an adult can handle it equally well. The tank lid is usually used as an additional shelf. Such a container can be opened, checked, and parts replaced if necessary.

WC type compact

Monoblock

The monoblock toilet is a variation of the compact toilet. In this case, all the advantages that are inherent in a conventional compact are retained, in addition, there is no need for fastening. The downside is that in the event of breakage, chips and other physical damage, it will not be possible to replace the toilet bowl or cistern separately, you will have to dismantle the entire set at once. The flush cistern for toilet bowls, the device of which does not require additional fasteners, is the most convenient to install.

Monoblock - a system when the toilet bowl and cistern are combined

Installation

The installation is a metal structure that allows the cistern to be built into the wall and held there. The most modern option, it is suitable for those who wish to save space, as well as make their toilet room stylish and unique.

Toilet room design

In this case, all communications, including the place where the tank is attached, are hidden in the wall and the dismantling of such a device is associated with a major overhaul. The classic design of a toilet cistern with a button assumes its location on the wall, while the tank itself is not visible. The drain fittings and connections remain accessible for routine maintenance, and through the front panel, you can check the health of the system elements.

This is how the process of servicing the built-in cistern looks like

The device and principle of operation of the drain system

The schematic diagram of the drain mechanism is as follows: the valve closes the hole, being pressed by the weight of the water on top. When the button is pressed, the valve rises, the hole opens, and the water is drained down by gravity.

Drain valve - kit

Shut-off and drain fittings

In addition to flushing, the tank must also accumulate a given amount of water. For this, a float mechanism is used that stops the water supply when a certain level is reached.

Intake mechanism

Systems with two buttons

The volume of water in the drain tank is on average 8 - 10 liters, which is enough to completely flush out the feces and form a plug of clean water in the siphon. The situation does not always require a large flow of water, sometimes several liters are enough. An important feature of any drain system is that the smaller the volume of liquid, the quieter the tank works. Modern fittings are equipped with a membrane mechanism that allows the separation of water flows. In order to drain a small amount of water, the toilet flush cistern with two buttons can only open part of the membrane, while the volume of the flushed liquid is from 4 to 6 liters.If you press another button, all the water is drained from the tank, since the membrane opens the hole entirely.

Double flush button on the built-in cistern

Advantages and disadvantages of various types of tanks

It is incorrect to evaluate a particular model of tanks. In most cases, the choice in favor of a particular type of equipment is made for subjective reasons, such as design, overall dimensions, the possibility of repair work. The containers themselves are not subject to any serious damage. However, there is a criterion that is worth paying attention to - the quality of the components. A reliable and durable tank is a guarantee that, firstly, the owners and their neighbors will not be flooded due to a failed locking mechanism. The second trouble that can happen due to faulty valves is the passage of water. At the most crucial moment, the tank may be empty, in addition, the water consumption due to such a breakdown increases significantly. The quality of the fittings must be confirmed by a technical passport and a seller's guarantee.