How To Replace A Toilet Cistern?

Toilet cisterns are essential components that relay water into your toilet bowl when you pull the flush lever.

If a plumbing problem like damage or leaks arises with your cistern, you may wish to replace the thing entirely. Fortunately, replacing a toilet cistern is not complicated. All it takes is a little bit of elbow grease, an hour of your time and maybe a helping hand.

Want to know how you can approach this sort of plumbing work? This guide will provide a complete overview of the process to make the replacement easy and hassle-free. So, scroll away!

What You’ll Need

You can procure the following basic tools to replace a toilet cistern with no issues. Some of these are essential tools that are part of any DIY plumber’s kit and will play a vital role in your plumbing tasks.

1. Wrenches

Wrenches are an essential part of any plumbing kit, with adjustable wrenches being the go-to tool for a plumber. Their adjustable jaws give them a versatile edge, making them extremely useful when taking the cistern out and putting in the replacement toilet cistern.

2. Plumber’s Tape

In addition to an adjustable wrench, the plumber’s tape will assist you in connecting the replacement cistern back to the water inlet pipe. Its usefulness isn’t limited to simply tightening joints; it can also help seal the pipe and prevent leaks.

3. A New Toilet Cistern

Naturally, you’ll need a new cistern to act as a replacement for the old toilet cistern. You may ensure no cracks or blemishes on the new one to eliminate the need to replace it shortly.

How To Replace Toilet Cistern

You should first diagnose the problem before replacing your cistern, as sometimes repairs are possible or there’s another plumbing problem altogether. Is the toilet cistern leaking? The toilet won’t flush? Does the toilet keep running? The toilet is blocked? The answers to these questions will help you narrow down the cause and decide whether to DIY or call in a local plumber near you.

Now that you’ve arranged the tools, it’s time to take the old toilet cistern out and fit in the new one. The process is simple and will take you mere minutes to finish.

Here are the steps to replacing your cistern.

1. Turn Off The Water Inlet

Firstly, cut off the water supply to your water inlet hose by turning the stop tap on the side of your cistern. This will allow you to remove the old cistern without spilling water everywhere. You can also opt to shut off the main supply, though that is generally not needed.

2. Empty The Old Cistern

Next, pull on the flush lever to empty the cistern. It’s important to completely vacate all the water from the cistern, especially if it is made of materials like ceramic, to make lifting it easier. Doing so will also prevent spills.

3. Remove The Old Cistern

Toilet cistern units are typically connected to the wall in two places and the water inlet hose. To remove your cistern, you’ll have to remove the nuts and bolts holding the cistern to the wall and the interpipe.

Pick up your trusty wrench and loosen all the nuts and bolts along with the inlet hose. You can then proceed to lift it away from the toilet.

4. Place The New Cistern

Affix the inlet pipe at the bottom of your new unit, and remember to use plumber tape to seal the joint properly.

Next, align the cistern to the wall and tighten the nuts and bolts. You may want to ensure they are held together properly so they don’t fall apart later during use.

5. Resume The Water Supply

Once you’ve checked everything, restart the water supply and allow the new cistern to fill up. Flush the toilet pan a couple of times to test it, check for leaks, and you’re done.

When Should You Replace Your Toilet Cistern

You may need to replace your cistern if you run into issues that can’t be solved with repairs or by tightening the pipes. These can include:

1. Leaks

Sometimes, due to a fault in your cistern’s inlets, you may experience leaks that don’t simply stop with seals. They could occur at the joint, or it could be a cistern rupture.

If you can’t stop the leakage after attempting sealing methods, it may be time to replace the cistern.

2. Flush Mechanism Malfunction

Is your toilet not flushing correctly? It may be due to a clog or faulty flushing mechanism.

In the case of the former, clear out any clogs by using baking soda and vinegar. You may have to retire the old toilet cistern units if it’s the latter.

3. Runny Cistern

If you’re facing a constant inlet of water in your toilet bowl through the cistern, the cistern pipe may have come loose or been damaged. If the pipe loosens, you can easily tighten it with a wrench.

However, some kinds of damage are difficult to repair, signalling a need for replacement.

4. Aesthetic Reasons

Is your toilet cistern no longer matching the aesthetic you’ve aimed for? You can easily find toilet cistern replacements on the market that will suit your fancy and elevate the look of your bathroom.

Get Your Toilet Cistern Replaced Today!

Be it functional or aesthetic, you may need to replace your toilet cisterns for various reasons. Not only is it more convenient to DIY the cistern replacement, but it’s also significantly more affordable than hiring a licensed plumber to do it for you.

Toilet cistern replacement is always the last resort when related issues crop up. Though replacement is simple, exploring other solutions first will prolong the service duration of your old cistern.

If you face an emergency plumbing situation while performing a replacement, feel free to contact our Melbourne plumbers. WP Plumbing has established a trusted reputation for rapid, affordable toilet repairs and replacements – and changing toilet cistern components is one of the simplest jobs of all for our experienced guys. It’s always wise to reach out for assistance when you have difficulty solving plumbing problems. With our diverse range of plumbing services, we can help solve your issue in no time!

If you need more tips about toilet issues, browse our blog section. We have several expert-written posts about everything from fixing a clogged toilet to dealing with a sewage backup.