Fitting a Back to Wall WC vs 'Easy Plumb'

mrobsessed

Hi All,

I'm looking at getting a back to wall toilet where the pan is flush to the wall with no pipework visible and the cistern above. I notice that some models come like this but also have an 'easy plumb' version which is identical except that there is a gap between the pan and the wall where the soil pipe connects to the WC.

Does this mean there are significant problems with fitting a back to wall WC? Could somebody please explain what they are and how significant a problem this is?

Many thanks,
Mr O

victor2

We've just replaced an old 70's style toilet with seperate cistern with a more modern close coupled (i.e. back to wall) unit. We had to have the soil pipe (which went staight through the floor) extended back a few inches to do so, but as we were having a new floor, weren't too bothered about the concrete having to be dug up.
Was a bit pricey in terms of labour, although we had a much wider choice of suites to fit, so saved there. Alternatively, what a lot of people do is to install a close coupled toilet and build a little unit to go behind it in the gap between the cistern and the wall, perhaps what you mean by "easy plumb"?

mrobsessed

Thanks for your post.

Actually 'close coupled' refers to the cistern that sits directly on top of the toilet pan, rather than above and connected via a pipe. There are plenty of close coupled toilets that are not flush to the wall!

I've been looking at lots of toilets and notice that some back to wall models are called 'no access' while their non back to wall varients are called 'full access'. Again this suggests that it is more of a problem to fit back to wall toilets. Is a special connector to the soilpipe needed for these models?

I notice that the back to wall toilets tend to be more expensive than models with an exposed soilpipe, though perhaps this is simply because they look more stylish!

southcoastrgi

i really not quite sure what you are looking for ? a back to the wall pan is fitted to a unit with the cistern inside the unit so it's not seen, if you want the cistern on show with a flush pipe connecting the two then this is a low level pan & cistern

southcoastrgi

Low Level pan & cistern




Close Coupled pan & cistern




back to the wall pan

mrobsessed

Back to wall toilet with external cistern:



The issue here is that the area where the toilet pan connects to the soil pipe is covered by the external body of the toilet, so I want to know how difficult this makes them to fit and if any special plumbing is required.

Thanks for all your help.

Ruski

Flexible connections on the pan spigot and cistern. connect up 6" away from wall then push back into place.

HTH

Russ

mrobsessed

Thanks Ruski,

Is that a 'concertina' type connector? I've heard some plumbers say they don't like these - what are the issues with them?

Cheers,
Mr O

Ruski

Mr O

yep - they're not our favourite - but when a manufacturer recommends them what choice do we have?!!

Only seen one fail - buy a reputable make and you should be ok.

HTH

Russ

southcoastrgi

mrobsessed wrote: »

Back to wall toilet with external cistern:



The issue here is that the area where the toilet pan connects to the soil pipe is covered by the external body of the toilet, so I want to know how difficult this makes them to fit and if any special plumbing is required.

Thanks for all your help.

thats not a back to the wall pan it's a close coupled with enclosed sides

AlwaysSomething

I've just replaced a 30 year old toilet with a back to wall, concealed cistern, enclosed model, like the wooden boxed one above. You install the toilet before you enclose the box around it, so it's no more difficult than a non-enclosed toilet. I needed a very small height change from the old toilet to the new, and I used one of these:

It's called a pan connector. There are straight ones, angled ones, offset ones and flexible ones available. The whole job was cleaner and easier than I expected. Use a Mcalpine pan connector, not a cheap alternative. The Mcalpine ones aren't expensive.