Cistern leak after using limescale remover

myrnahaz

My bathroom is about 45 years old and the porcelain toilet cistern is covered in cracks. I didn't realise that the cracks actually went right through to the inside until I poured limescale remover into the cistern (thinking I'd be smart and get the stuff evenly spread over the bowl just by flushing) - but it must have cleaned all the limescale that was sealing the cracks because the cistern now leaks like a sieve (we get about about half a bucketful every day).
We don't want to buy a new one yet (we need a whole new bathroom not just the loo), so do you think we could use something like fibreglass inside & outside the cistern to hold it together temporarily?

bookduck

would not yacht varnish do? There must be another cheap type of plastic coating or waterproof coating that you can put on even if it is for roofing.

Saying that,you do get porcelain sealant (for tiles) from Topps

bockster

i had a pourur cistern previously, i removed and dismantled it and smeared normal silicone sealant all over the inside, i was quite surprised it worked a treat.:j

Ximian

bockster wrote: »

i had a pourur cistern previously, i removed and dismantled it and smeared normal silicone sealant all over the inside, i was quite surprised it worked a treat.:j

First thing that came to mind was a fishtank, silicone sounds like a good idea for the toilet tank for the short term especially if the OP is going to rip and replace the bathroom suite it makes sense to repair. Over the long term I'd imagine the silicone peeling off (if smeared thinly enough) and possibly blocking the flushing mechanism.

WobblyGoblin

How long until you are going to replace the bathroom? If it will be a while then the silicon sealant inside the cuistern sounds like a good idea to me - keeps everything neat on the outside - but could be a bit of faff to dismantle/get the inside dry enough.

If it's not going to be too long then some kind coating on the outside might be easier. Not sure how easy it is to get but Bookduck's yacht varnish sounds good. Otherwise having a look around a DIY shop for some kind of waterproof sealant may be a good bet

espresso

I agree with the suggestions but Mrs Plumber will be along soon telling you that "a patch job is unsafe practice and is not recommended" but what does she know!

:rotfl:

myrnahaz

Thanks for all of your suggestions (all good). DH suggested pond paint but I thought he was mad, but it's obviously an option.
WobblyGoblin - the toilet urgently needs to be replaced (and will be later in the year) but we live in a 'money pit'; the gas boiler is on the verge of being condemned so we HAVE to change it this summer. Then, because we'd have a condensing boiler, we'd get rid of the copper tank and make the massive airing cupboard smaller and make the bathroom bigger. Also, our mains drains/sewer is ancient and connected to next door (and they keep blocking), so DH wants to change ours so they go straight out to the main sewer, which means that the soilpipe and drains in the bathroom will be going in a totally different direction so the bathroom (which is 45 years old) will be totally rearranged.
Also, six of us share one bathroom - including DS and DIL who are living with us until their house is ready (DIL is pregnant) so we hoped to start the work when they leave (I just hope the cistern doesn't explode in the meantime).