Bathroom Toilet

ifti

Hi

we are in the process of getting a new toilet but slightly confused weather to get a push button or a level one.

we have a level one downstirs and its good as gold very old but working and doing its job plus replacing the syphon was easy to do.

ive heard the insides(syphon) of the push button ones dont last very long and are a nightmare to change.

can someone help us out.

thanks in advance

Wookey

By level WC do you mean low level? If so these are easy to change as you say, push button type cisterns are usually found on close couple WC's, these have the added bother of removing the cistern from the pan to get at the syphons backnut and will usually require a new foam washer and coupling kit to be replaced as well. Longevity of any syphon washer is usually down to how its used and abused during its working life. It shouldn't take a plumber more than 1/2-1 hour more to replace a close coupled syphon over a low level one.

ifti

hi,

thanks for the reply

yes, by level i mean low level (sorry)

the syphon on the low level i chnaged myself, it wasent too hard.

a few of us in the house can do small plumbing jobs but we have never tried a push button WC. how long would you say they usually last ?

were worried about taking the cistern off the wall and then messing up the wall holes!

thank in advance

moonrakerz

On this subject - have you noticed that no estate agent appears to know the difference between "low-level" and "close coupled" ? They are always described as low level.

Mankysteve

The close couple/push button ones don't don't use a syphon so there should be less to go wrong in it.

Found_true_love

Mankysteve wrote: »

The close couple/push button ones don't don't use a syphon so there should be less to go wrong in it.

Dont you believe it, you know that little rubber washer on the bottom of the flushing mechanism, when it looses it ductility it doesnt seal propely and lets water from the cistern into the pan all the time.

Answering ifti, I think you mean a flush mechanism operated by a LEVER verses a push button dont you, both close coupled and low level can be operated by either, a concealed cistern is actually a type of "low level" cistern (as it is conected to the pan by means of a flush pipe as opposed to being directly connected) and is normally operated by a push button (in this case nornmally pnumatically or by cable to operate the flush mechanism)

All types of flush mechanisms or syphons are easy to change as long as there is easy access to the cistern and if necessary to be able to take off the cistern is also a great help.

Those people who have been persuaded by the bathroom fitters/installations companies to have boxed in and tiled over concealed cisterns without the means of a lift up/off lid are in for a real hard (expensive) time to replace a faulty mechanism and/or fill valve.:eek:

Both push button acting on the flush mechanism and a lever acting via a rod on a syphon are as good as each other dont get hung up on one or other go for the one you like the look of the most.

jackieb

I've managed to change the syphon in my close-coupled cistern. Also put on a new fixing kit at the same time. I took the cistern off the wall. It was fiddly but I had a B&Q DIY book and managed fine. My husband said I wouldn't manage to do it but i'm stubborn. It's definitely do-able if you have some common sense.

david29dpo

The biggest problem i have found with push button flush is the button is screwed to the syphon through the lid. When the average housewife wishes to bung in a cleaner, pulls the lid off and breaks the fitting. Lost count the times i have fixed these!

ifti

hmm, thanks for the replies

quick question : does the cistern need to be taken off when chaning the syphon on a closed couple toilet with a level just like a push button one. might get a push button one if the process is the same.

the pic below is something we were looking at but i dont like the two sink taps and prefer a mixer. the one on the right that is slightly chopped off is what we might get instead.

the one we have downstairs is connected by means of a pipe so the cistern doesnt need to be taken off the wall at all.



thanks in advance.

david29dpo

Most if not all cisterns have to be removed to change the syphons.

ifti

hmm, so if its going to be removed from the wall is it just better getting a push button one ?